Art & Design: Industrial Design, MFA
for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Art and Design, Industrial Design Concentration
The School of Art & Design and Industrial Design program are accepting applications for Fall 2025 admission to the MFA in Art & Design, Industrial Design concentration.
Overview
Industrial Design is the human centered design activity that determines the nature of products, services and experiences produced by industry. This approach to design reconciles the needs of the user and the producer, combining desirability, viability, feasibility and responsibility. Industrial designers also champion the use of design thinking, a user-centered approach which has broad application in many social and business contexts. Our definition of Industrial design extends to include the design of interfaces, interactions and user experiences.
The degree of Master of Fine Arts (MFA) with specialization in Industrial design prepares you for a professional career in higher education or design practice. The program of study is highly individualized in order to help you achieve professional excellence by matching your interests, skills, and career goals with the challenge of higher-level study in design, also acknowledging the range of opportunities for interdisciplinary study at the University. The program is international in scope and stresses the development of design solutions that are human-centered and culturally appropriate.
The three-year MFA is recognized as a terminal qualification in design which enables you to teach Industrial design at University level. That program includes the opportunity to assist faculty and to teach courses to undergraduate students. It also acts as a preparation for advanced research degrees. There are some funds and scholarships available for study in that program but due to the teaching practice element, it is not possible to study the MFA without funding for Teaching Assistant appointments
By contrast, the two-year MDes program is an advanced professional qualification suited to developing your future design career in practice. The content of both programs is broadly similar and students on both programs are in the same classes and studios. However, there are no funding opportunities for students in the two-year MDes program except for occasional GA and RA appointments.
Both study options are available for those with undergraduate degrees in industrial design or a relevant discipline ( Graphic design, Architecture, Engineering or Business ) and ideally with appropriate professional experience.
For people who are not ready to make the commitment to a two or three-year program, you could consider the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Design Thinking which comprise the first two studio courses of the MFA done in one residential semester, giving graduate credits which can be used towards the MFA.
Admission
Applications are considered for Fall Semester admissions only. International applicants or applicants who are not native English speakers must present a recent TOEFL score of at least 590 on the paper-based version, 250 score on the Computer-based exam, and a score of 96 on IBT exam.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience for master and doctoral students.
Facilities and Resources
Resources for graduate students in art and design include the Krannert Art Museum’s excellent permanent collections and changing exhibitions; the Ricker Library of Art and Architecture, one of the largest art and architecture libraries in the nation; the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; School of Art and Design facilities, which include extensive computer laboratories, digital photography and video editing equipment, wireless networking, ink-printing facilities, ceramic, woodworking, and metal shops, rapid prototyping and laser cutting, black/white and color darkrooms, shooting studios, and a wide selection of production and presentation equipment via reservation and checkout facility. A variety of lectures, symposia, musical programs, dramatic productions, and other cultural events associated with a large and progressive university complement the Art and Design Facilities.
Financial Aid
Fellowships, assistantships, and tuition and service fee waivers are awarded each year on a competitive basis, with consideration given to the applicant’s grade point average and, in the case of applicants for the M.F.A. programs, quality of creative work.
for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Art and Design, Industrial Design Concentration
The ID Graduate Coordinator will advise you from the outset to develop a plan of study including elective and seminar courses.
You must register for at least 12 hours of credit each semester to maintain full-time student status (particularly important for visa status). Requests for part-time status must be made before the semester needed by contacting the School Graduate office. The two-year program averages out as 16 credits a semester to make up 64 credits required for graduation. The three-year program involves study for 12 credits for five of the semesters, including a 300/400 level Design Elective with credits not counting toward the degree, and only 8 credits for Thesis completion in the final semester.
For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate studies requirements and the Graduate College Handbook.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTD 501 | Industrial Design I: From Inquiry to Ideation | 6 |
| ARTD 502 | Industrial Design II: From Ideation to Implementation | 6 |
| ARTD 503 | Industrial Design III: Design Project Formulation | 6 |
| ARTD 504 | Industrial Design IV: Thesis Research | 6 |
| ARTD 505 | Industrial Design V: Thesis Ideation | 6 |
| ARTD 506 | Industrial Design VI: Thesis Project Implementation | 6 |
| ARTD 599 | Thesis | 4 |
| Design Studio Electives (from Art and Design, Architecture or Engineering, approved by Graduate Coordinator) | 8 | |
| Academic Elective (approved by Graduate Coordinator) | 4 | |
| Additional Electives, including Seminars (approved by Graduate Coordinator) | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Seminar, enrollment varies by program | 8 min |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall | 12 |
| Minimum GPA | 2.75 |
for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Art and Design, Industrial Design Concentration
At the end of the program, students will be able to:
- Inquiry and insight: Select and use appropriate research and experimental methods, to access existing data or to generate new data, to analyze and draw insights, with a particular emphasis on user needs.
- Ideation: Produce creative proposals to identified design opportunities, using design thinking, modelling, and prototyping strategies, with an appropriate integration of functional, technical, ergonomic and visual factors.
- Implementation: Select and use appropriate making and manufacturing processes with an understanding of the potential of new technologies, and the demands of sustainability.
- Informing: Use visual and verbal communication, to explain and persuade, as appropriate for different audiences.
- Self development: Carry out independent learning and reflexive evaluation of your work, as well as to plan and implement action, individually or in teams, effectively managing self and others.
- Contextualization: Locate your own activity within the multiple contexts of design practice, including the theoretical, professional, cultural, environmental and technological contexts.
for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Art and Design, Industrial Design Concentration
School of Art + Design
School of Art + Design
Art + Design faculty
School Director: Alan Mette
Associate Director & Director of Graduate Studies: Laurie Hogin
138 Art and Design Building, 408 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-0642
Graduate Studies Advisors:
MA; PhD in Art History: Lisa Rosenthal
MA; EdM; PhD in Art Education: Laura Hetrick
MFA in Studio: Ryan Griffis and Emmy Lingscheit
MFA in Industrial Design: David Weightman
MFA in Design for Responsible Innovation: Molly Briggs
College of Fine & Applied Arts
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Admissions
Ellen de Waard
Graduate College Admissions Requirements