Los Angeles Industrial Design Schools
Although there are no industrial design certificates available in the Los Angeles area, there are several schools that do offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field. Read about the coursework in programs at three colleges that are located within about half-an-hour of downtown. This article includes a table of statistics and other details about the profiled schools as well.
- California State University - Long Beach has a bachelor's program in industrial design that offers a broad view of the field. The campus is around 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
- Situated about 13 miles from central L.A., the Art Center College of Design offers a master's degree in industrial design. Students learn about aesthetic values, materials, and techniques.
- Otis College of Art and Design offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design, which shares a similar focus in learning content and curriculum as a program in industrial design. The school's program focuses on teaching students the skills to design and develop products across a range of industries that includes soft- and hard-line product categories. The school is about nine miles from L.A.'s downtown area.
Comparison of Schools
Review the following table to find out more about the profiled colleges beyond their educational offerings. The facts and figures on acceptance rates, costs, financial aid, student enrollment and more could help you narrow down your school options even further.
| California State University - Long Beach | Art Center College of Design | Otis College of Art and Design | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | 4-year; public | 4-year; private, not-for-profit | 4-year; private, not-for-profit |
| Total Enrollment (2021) | 40,190* | 2,319* | 1,252* |
| Campus Setting | Large city | Midsize city | Large city |
| Tuition & Fees (2022-2023) | $6,884 in-state; $18,764 out-of-state* | $49,942* | $52,460* |
| % of First-Year Students Receiving Any Form of Financial Aid (2020-2021) | 80%* | 67%* | 100%* |
| Acceptance Rate (2021) | 47%* | 76%* | 80%* |
| Retention Rate (2020-2021) | 85% of full-time students* | 85% of full-time students* | 78% of full-time students* |
| Graduation Rate (students began studies Fall 2015) | 87%* | 85%* | 78%* |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics.
California State University - Long Beach
California State University - Long Beach offers an undergraduate program with industrial design instruction. The school's bachelor's degree program in industrial design emphasizes creative problem solving, providing students with technical knowledge of industrial design materials and tools. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits the following program.
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design
The 120-credit industrial design curriculum covers design methodology, perspective and rendering systems, modeling and prototyping techniques, visualization techniques, 3-D computer-aided design, 2-D computer-aided graphics, and production techniques. Students at the school also have opportunities to gain hands-on experience with companies like General Motors, Oakley, General Electric, Kawasaki, Apple, Xerox, Hewlett-Packard, and Toyota. In addition, students have access to semi-private workspaces, which are available 24 hours a day.
Before students are able to take junior and senior design courses, they must undergo a portfolio review. This program is also longer than a typical bachelor's program and may take 10 semesters of full-time study to complete.
Art Center College of Design
The Art Center College of Design is in Pasadena. The school offers degree programs in several fields of study, including a master's degree program in industrial design.
Master of Science in Industrial Design
Students in the Art Center College of Design's 2-year master's degree program can learn to develop intuitive research skills, formulate 'human-centric designs', and produce innovative business solutions. Required courses cover design investigations, visualization, materials and methods, sparks and connections, 3-D development, and system design research. Students also take a studio course in each term. Completion of the program can prepare graduates for careers in environmental design, business consulting, entertainment design, consumer product design, communications design, and advanced design.
Incoming students are required to submit a portfolio that showcases their design abilities. The school also requires candidates to submit two essays, in addition to the other admission requirements. The college, together with Claremont Graduate University's Drucker School of Management, offers a dual Master of Science/MBA in Innovation Systems Design.
Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design is in Los Angeles and offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design that is useful for students interested in industrial design careers.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design
The curriculum of this program includes coursework focused on digital design, product development and visual communication. Students develop skills in 2-D graphic design and 3-D computer-aided design. This program can be completed in eight semesters of study.
