Just as “Ars Sine Scientia Nihil Est”1, so is design without any engineering. In this platform, problem-solving education is enhanced by sponsored industrial projects for corporations like Airbus and Festo (on Robotics), and the Technical University of Munich (on biomedical electronics). A deep knowledge base on materials is pertinent, as is their related fabrication, and environmental technologies. This approach is beyond the mere belief in data, pure aesthetics style, or the visual storytelling of fictitious product concepts.
Whilst a trend for designing virtual products and furniture-craft projects persists, here fundamental research is fostered through a scientification of computerised industrial design at university level, which successfully leads to patents comprising novel and applied solutions.
Armed with the ability to invent and improve physical tools, and referencing the paragons in nature, students of this platform will learn to initiate innovation and improvement for the future progress of society.
Implementing analytical thinking to understand problem areas and create unique concepts
Applying experimental design methods to explore the possibilities within the physical world
Practicing the ability to create both divergent and convergent solutions as a team, and as an individual
How to obtain an initiating problem-solving context from observing the experimentation with real, physical materials
How to permutate real-world findings by giving chance a chance
How to apply the metaplane knowledge gained to the area of industrially viable application
Creative methods to provide novel design concepts by using a morphological matrix
Clear and concise visual communication skills to represent drafts and to convey ideas
Following the approach of polymath thinking to create a multi-constrained solution
Kan is a geometrically crafted aluminium drink can—a product of the progressive exploration of practical yet beautiful form through the technique of crushing and folding. Through multiple prototyping and precise calculations, Kan is able to retain the strength of a regular drink can, and yet is able to fold and compress into itself when torsion is applied.
Zheng Han John
GR-ID is a frame scaffold system that reduces scaffold related fall-from-height accidents. Firstly, its redesigned scaffold frame has its holding position situated near the frame’s centre of gravity; this improves postural stability while carrying it. Secondly, the accompanying snap hook’s ability to glide across its joint-guardrail intersections simplifies and streamlines the 100% tie-off process.
Abel Fam
Foldariods is a series of foldable daily tools that is designed to maximise storage capacity and enhance the interior in your homes through the geometrical pleasing aesthetic of the folds.
Being inspired from the ‘distance-angle’ relationship principle in folding, Foldariods are created by a self-drafted template that allows them to form from a single sheet to its structural shape without much complexity.
Anthony Yu Wei Tong
3D printing lattice structures with a flexible material allows Halo to be a new type of protective head wear that is both lightweight and permeable. It is supported by an application that quickly generates files for printing using photogrammetry to ascertain necessary measurements.
Jolene NgAs part of our strategy to evolve constantly, a major component of the course is the Course Platforms.
It allows students to tailor their individual course of learning by selecting and participating in 2 concurrent design studios from a variety of 7 to 10 different design projects offered every semester —ranging from
The range of different topics reflect the ever-expanding role of an innovator and industrial designer; not only are students able to receive exposure to different areas of innovation, they also get the opportunity to learn different approaches to designing from the individual studio leaders and industry collaborators.
In addition, the vertical format of the design platforms encourages cross-learning of ideas, skills and methods while junior students work alongside and / or compete with senior students.
Students in a lower year will take up the role of a junior designer, whilst senior students will have the opportunity to assume the role of a senior innovator. This arrangement reflects the prevalent importance of group dynamics in industry practice, where design teams often comprise of junior designers, innovators and sometimes a creative director.
The platform program features real life innovation projects in collaboration with the following industry partner:
B.A.(ID)
The Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design, B.A.(ID), is an undergraduate honours programme consisting of coursework driven by a synergistic three-pronged approach:
Design Thinking: Out-of-the-box innovation strategies and investigative methods to discover new ideas and unmet needs.
Multi-Disciplinary Aptitudes: Behavioural science, social economics, business strategy and engineering and technology knowledge help out graduates develop entrepreneurial strategic thinking and holistic problem-solving capabilities.
Artistic Sensibility: Training of imagination, taste, and crafts, to provide appropriate aesthetics and emotions to ideas so that solutions are both functional and desirable. The combined approaches equips our graduates with high-level strategic thinking, and enables them to translate problems and ideas to tangible, desirable solutions etc.
To broaden the students’ exposure, around two-thirds of each cohort goes for a one-semester overseas exchange programme during their 3rd year to distinguished design schools.
Our partner schools include:
University of New South Wales, Australia
University of Alberta, Canada
Duoc UC, Chile
Tsinghua University, China
Zhejiang University, China
Tongji University, China
Aalto University, Finland
ENSCI, France
ENSAD, France
International School of Design or ISD, France
Institut supérieur de design, France
Folkwang University of the Arts, Germany
Politechnico di Milano, Italy
Kyushu University, Japan
KIT, Japan
Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico
TU Delft, The Netherlands
TU Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Hangyang University, South Korea
Seoul National University, South Korea
KAIST, South Korea
ECAL, Switzerland
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
University of Leeds, United Kingdom
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Arizona State University, USA
Crafting User Experiences in Retail & Government Services is a specialization platform electable by students of the Division of Industrial Design (DID).
DID was founded in 1999 as Singapore’s first university-level course in Industrial Design. DID offers a highly selective degree course in Industrial Design. We teach a potent combination of design thinking and innovation methods, with a clever mix of artistic, humanistic, technological and business disciplines.
Our vision is to make life better through design; to equip students with trans-disciplinary skills and thinking processes required to find unmet needs, to solve complex problems involved in creating viable new products, experiences, interfaces and environments. Our graduates are enabled to take up highly valuable and versatile roles as creative designers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders of change.
Originally as part of the Department of Architecture, our programme has built a stellar track record and gained independence in just 11 years. We are ranked among the world’s top 30 University for the subject of Art and Design by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016, and also ranked as the top university in Asia.
