Industrial Design is concerned with all the human aspects of machine-made products and their relationship to people and the environment. The designer is responsible for these products and their impact on society and nature. The designer accounts for the product's human factors engineering, safety, form, color, maintenance and cost. Industrial design deals with consumer products as well as industrial products. In order to achieve these ends, designers must be involved in four major design and research activities: human behavior, the human-machine interface, the environment, and the product itself. Areas of design investigation include furniture, housewares, appliances, transportation, tools, farm equipment, medical/electronic instruments, human interface, and recreational support equipment.

The Department of Industrial Design has a multidisciplinary pedagogy and product design and development. The Industrial Design Program has specialized a studio experience for all students entering the second semester of freshmen year at the College of Design. Design Fundamentals focuses on exposure to the basic concepts of two- and three-dimensional design and provides a comprehensive introduction to the various fields of design. The faculty of the Department of Industrial Design firmly believe that there is an essential need for students in a research and technically-based university to engage in course work that fosters creative thinking.

The Department of Industrial Design, like each program of the College of Design, has a unique procedure for Admissions.