Department of Technology: Industrial Design

Concentrations
Furniture Design
Product Design

Drafting and designing skills are valuable in many businesses and industries today. The Industrial Drafting and Design concentration in the Department of Technology is preparing its graduates to use those skills in professional settings, equipping them with problem solving techniques and a variety of methods for communicating their solutions. Students in this program have frequent opportunities to enter their creative ideas in national design competitions. Students who complete a BS in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Industrial Drafting and Design usually pursue one of three careers: working for an architect; working as a designer for a manufacturer or a design firm; and working with CAD or as a CAD manager for a manufacturer


Entry-level Careers
CAD operator in industry
Draftsman
Work with or for architects
Work with or for product designers


Related Careers
CAD graphic design (i.e. NASCAR paint jobs)
Furniture design
Interior design
Mapping/city planning
Self-employed/private business
Theater set design


Personal Traits
- Ability to work in a team on brainstorming and problem-solving
- Ability to work independently on drawing assignments
- Creativity
- Willingness to apply widely accepted drafting principles and practices in order to communicate effectively
- Willingness to observe ethical use of computer software products
- Willingness to pay close attention to details
- Willingness to work both at the drafting table with pencil and instruments and also with computers


Related Skills
- Become a better and well-informed consumer
- Communication skills (verbal, written, drawings, models)
- Computer skills/Computer ethics/CAD skills
- Make technical presentations
- Problem-solving techniques
- Read and to understand blueprints
- Read and to understand product design specifications (PDS)
- Understand manufacturing techniques
- Use drawing instruments


Job Searching/Career Planning
Industrial Distribution Magazine and Resources
Job Junction-Manufacturing Jobs
WWW Computer Architecture Page


Professional Organizations/Associations
American Design Drafting Association
The CAD Society
Industrial Designer’s Society of America
National Association of Industrial Technology
National Association of Manufacturers