Master of Fine Arts - Industrial Design

The School of Industrial Design's MFA program provides advanced study within focused fields of physical design. In addition to classroom and collaborative coursework, each student works toward producing a final thesis project.

Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

MFA Thesis Project

• Present an original thesis concept worthy of the MFA degree
• Demonstrate the feasibility of their thesis project
• Explain the relevance of their project to their professional goals
• Complete an approved body of work which represents an advanced level of achievement in their area of focus

Research & Analysis

• Clearly define the problem/opportunity, hypothesis, main objectives, and product requirements in their project brief
• Conduct adequate research and communicate findings using appropriate supporting materials

Visual Communication

• Produce work that demonstrates proficiency in branding, graphics, drawing, rendering, 3D modeling, and model making

Design Process

• Explore materials, color, form, manufacturing, ergonomics/human factors, and sustainability
• Incorporate understanding of costs, bill of materials, and specifications into design planning process
• Use innovative processes and design methodologies to develop conceptually strong projects (including brainstorming, mapping, sketches, and synthesis/testing of many ideas)
• Explore secondary designs: packaging, engineering, user interface, and/or user experience

Presentation Skills

• Give clear and concise professional presentations (verbal and visual)
• Accurately present their ideas in writing

Professional Readiness

• Produce a professional portfolio of work demonstrating their skills to a potential employer
• Organize a final, stand-alone gallery exhibit of their completed thesis project

*Note App Fee Waiver in effect for ApplyBoard to reduce the application fee to $50*