What You Will Learn
If you want to design objects, products and services that will be mass produced and used by millions of people every day, consider a rewarding career in industrial design.
- Use your creativity to develop solutions to world-wide problems
- Work with people who appreciate your passion and value your talent
- Take products to market to help others and change the world
In this 60-credit Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Design program, you will be taking courses in a diverse and interdisciplinary studio environment, with faculty who are renowned in their field, gaining insight to multiple areas of design focusing on your influence within industry. At CCM you will acquire a solid understanding of design principles through the study of history, design theory and research-based studio courses. Project work explores various media and software programs that are applicable to the industrial design profession.
Upon graduation, you can be ready to launch your career or further your education at a four-year institution, towards a Bachelor of Industrial Design (B.I.D.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.
Curriculum
Our Industrial Design program features a combination of a 30-credit design core and ten credit towards the industrial design track. Core courses include History of Design, Drawing, 2D For Designers, 3D Design, Color Theory, Design Concepts, Design Rendering and a final Portfolio Preparation course enabling you to have your work presentable for professional job applications or future educational goals. The track focuses on CAD and Drafting courses. This is in addition to the 20-credit general education foundation for all design majors at CCM.
Careers in the Field
The CCM program is a perfect fit if you are seeking to launch your career in one of the following roles:
- CAD Modeler/Designer/Drafter
- Industrial Design Assistant
- Materials and Manufacturing Assistant
- Production Assistant
- Revit Drafter/Modeler
Furthering your education with completion of a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university may open additional doors as a designer for commerce including bicycles and cars to footwear and snowboards. Other areas including working with ceramics, packaging, sustainability product and, as well as furniture and accessories. There’s no limit to what you direction you can go with a degree in industrial design.
Upon completion of the AFA, the majority of Industrial Design track students at CCM transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. CCM graduates have transferred to the following institutions based on their CCM grade point average and portfolio:
- Academy of Art University
- Art Center College of Design
- Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
- Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University)
- Kean University
- Montclair University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Parsons School of Design
- Pratt Institute
- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
If you are uncertain about your career goals, or having difficulty deciding which design track to pursue, the staff at CCM can help you determine what to do!
Why Study Industrial Design at CCM?
- Studio classrooms with state-of-the-art equipment and software specifically for design students
- Learn how to use the AutoCAD program to prepare drawings and work with advanced digital imaging software like Adobe Revit to generate modeled images with a critical determination.
- Additional materials and resources allow extensive opportunities for creative exploration in research and process
- Studio class size average is 13:1 fostering a mentoring relationship between the student and professor
- Faculty are dedicated and highly accomplished with many maintaining a professional practice, bringing real world problems to the design curriculum and classroom
- An active campus life offering over 50 student clubs and organizations plus Division II/III athletic opportunities
Paying For Your Industrial Design Education
Earning an associate degree in design is a powerful investment that will pay off over the course of your life, in both increased earnings and job satisfaction. But what is the upfront cost, and how do you afford it?
There’s good news: Money is available to help you pay for school! Our Financial Aid staff can provide lots of information about the process of finding funds to help pay for your education.
Featured Courses
Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) I and II
This two-semester course is an introduction to the concepts and operation of engineering drawing preparation using computer-aided drafting (CAD). The emphasis is on how CAD can reduce drawing time and improve accuracy. Students learn to use the AutoCAD software program to prepare drawings. Additional topics include prototype drawings, blocks, attributes, x-reference, grips, paper space and development of 3-dimensional solid modeling.
2D for Designers
A studio course that explores a variety of techniques of visualization to develop and present design concepts. Students learn to use elements and principles to achieve a synthesis of form, space, composition, and content. Emphasis will be given on communicating ideas for realization as architectural and interior spaces, consumer products, packaging, and fashion design. The course is designed to address the range of formal issues, processes, and material practices students will encounter as they move into the more specialized areas of design.
Design Concepts I
Design Concepts I is a detailed exploration of scale and proportion through two and three-dimensional sketch problems varying in levels of complexity and duration. Design projects explore relationships between historical and cultural systems and human proportion. Verbal and graphic communication skills are emphasized as a method of articulating the development of visual concepts and solutions to design problems. Communication tools such as perspective are explored in detail. Projects, which include architectural, interior design, fashion and industrial design are reviewed through juried presentations.
Your Industrial Design Faculty Advisor
Professor, Chair, Department of Design and Media Studies