Master of Industrial Design

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Auburn University

Program Overview

Auburn University’s Master of Industrial Design (MID) is a research-oriented, STEM-designated program focused on developing expertise in design research and product-system development, with attention to human interaction, manufacturability, marketability, profitability, and environmental impact. It suits students seeking advanced preparation in industrial design through a combination of design orientation, computer/industrial design, portfolio development, industry collaboration, and thesis or non-thesis study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with INDD 7010 Design Orientation, which introduces graduate study directions, research methods, and areas of industrial design, followed by INDD 7020 Computer/Industrial Design, where research, analysis, and application are synthesized around products, systems, and their users. Students also develop their professional presentation skills through INDD 6120 Portfolio and can pursue electives such as INDD 6030 Case Studies in Design or INDD 7660 Design Methodology.

Year 2: The second year emphasizes advanced independent design and professional application through the required INDD 7910 Industry Practicum, which provides an industry collaboration experience, together with INDD 7990 Design Thesis for thesis-track students or INDD 7980 Non-Thesis Design for the non-thesis option. Students can further specialize through subjects such as INDD 7620 Design Management, INDD 7630 Human Factors, INDD 7670 Systems Design, and INDD 7650 Design Theories.

Focus Areas

Design research, product-system development, human factors, computer/industrial design, design methodology, systems design, design management, aesthetics, sustainability, manufacturability, marketability, environmental impact.

Learning Outcomes

Develop advanced design research skills, apply research and analysis to products and systems, address human and technical factors, create professional design portfolios, conduct independent thesis or non-thesis design work, and apply industrial design knowledge through industry collaboration.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Master of Industrial Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and Auburn states that the Industrial Design curriculum is designed to meet NASAD accreditation standards.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Auburn’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design states that its Industrial Design programs have achieved national recognition and ranking, while the university describes the MID as consistently acknowledged as one of the top industrial design graduate programs in the United States.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Industrial Design (MID) at Auburn University is strongly practice-oriented, combining design research, product-system development, digital modeling, prototyping, and industry collaboration. Students work in dedicated industrial design studios and graduate labs, using professional software and fabrication equipment to develop and test physical and digital prototypes. The program also requires an Industry Practicum, while Auburn’s long-standing collaborations with industry and outside organizations give students opportunities to work on authentic design challenges.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Industry Practicum: INDD 7910 Industry Practicum is a required 5-credit component of the MID, providing an industry-collaboration studio experience.
Industry collaborations: Corporate and external partnerships have supported curriculum-based design and research projects for more than 25 years, including collaborations where industry professionals work with students in studio experiences that replicate product-design team and manufacturer relationships.
Design research projects: INDD 7010 Design Orientation requires students to develop a research/project proposal, while INDD 7020 Computer/Industrial Design integrates research, analysis, and application around products and systems and their users.
Professional software: Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Rhino 3D, KeyShot, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Microsoft Office 365 are available on Industrial Design workstations for modeling, rendering, design development, and presentation.
Industrial Design Graduate Lab: INDD Grad Lab provides dedicated graduate workstations, large-format and color printing, and a MakerBot 3D printer for digital-to-physical prototyping.
Rapid prototyping: Laser cutters and CNC milling are available in the Rapid Prototyping Lab, including Universal and Epilog laser cutters and a Roland MDX-650 CNC milling machine for producing three-dimensional parts and conceptual models.
Industrial Design studios: Dedicated studio spaces provide workstations equipped with professional design and visualization software, large-format presentation displays, and an environment designed for collaborative studio work.
Fabrication facilities: Wallace Hall fabrication shops provide equipment and trained personnel to help students create prototypes and scale models, with additional metalworking, woodworking, CNC, laser-cutting, and related fabrication resources.
Study abroad: International study opportunities are available in selected cities across the United States, Europe, and Taiwan, allowing Industrial and Graphic Design students to extend their learning beyond Auburn.
Thesis and non-thesis projects: Advanced design work can be developed through the MID thesis or non-thesis pathway, with coursework beyond the core structured around the student’s area of interest.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Auburn’s Master of Industrial Design is designed to prepare graduates for advanced roles in product and system development, with an emphasis on human interaction, manufacturability, marketability, and environmental impact. Its research-oriented structure, portfolio development, and industry-connected design experiences can support careers across product development, design research, and related creative industries.

Career pathways include:

Industrial Designer: Apply advanced product and system design skills to professional design practice.
Product Designer: Develop products that address user needs, manufacturability, market considerations, and environmental impact.
Design Researcher: Use design research methods to investigate users, systems, and emerging product opportunities.
Design Strategist: Apply design methodology, systems thinking, and design management to organizational and product-development challenges.

Career development and industry opportunities:

Career Services: CADC Career Services provides industry-engagement opportunities and career-development support aimed at internships and full-time positions, while Auburn’s Career Discovery and Success provides graduate students with career strategy, job-search materials, employer and alumni connections, workshops, and Handshake appointments.
Industry collaboration: Auburn’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design works with corporate clients in studio experiences that replicate the relationship between a product design team and manufacturer.
Industry partners: Auburn documents collaborations involving organizations including NASA, 3M, IBM, Emerson, Frigidaire, Herman Miller, Black & Decker, and InterfaceFlor, among others.
Employment outcomes: Auburn reported a 90% job-placement rate in 2020 for its graphic design and industrial design graduates combined; this is a historical figure and is not published specifically for the MID program.
Salary figures: Not stated on the official Auburn MID or CADC career pages reviewed, so Auburn-specific salary figures are not provided here.
Accreditation value: The MID is NASAD-accredited and STEM-designated. Auburn states that its Industrial Design curriculum is designed to meet NASAD and SACS standards, providing an established accreditation framework for the program.
Graduate preparation: Students can complete either a thesis or non-thesis pathway, allowing the degree to support either research-oriented development or professional design practice.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MID, students interested in advanced research can pursue doctoral-level study in a related design or interdisciplinary field. Auburn offers a Ph.D. in Consumer and Design Sciences, which includes research areas such as functional and creative apparel/product design, and a Ph.D. in Building Construction for students whose interests move toward construction, building technology, sustainability, or related interdisciplinary research.