BEng Industrial Design

The Chinese design industry is growing exponentially and rapidly, transforming global markets with creative “designed-in-China” products for international consumers. In the context of global design innovation, the BEng Industrial Design programme uses studio-based practice to examine, explore, and act. The programme emphasises research-led learning, sociocultural discovery and mapping, creative processes, experimentation with materials and technology, technical execution, and visual communication.

Students work in well-invested studios, workshops and fabrication laboratories (Fab Labs). They learn how to develop ideas and concepts through visual research and sketching, and then progress this work through prototyping and testing. Access to traditional and innovative prototyping facilities, such as 3D scanning and printing and laser cutting, enables this progression.

In addition to technical skills, students learn how to think about users and about the social and commercial roles of design, design theories, and business models. Indeed, being a designer these days is as much about social responsibility as it is about visual creativity. Designing for a global sustainable future is part of the XJTLU ethos.

Students are taught by renowned international designers and thinkers. They also have access to local and international networks of designers and manufacturers through extracurricular activities and staff members’ networks. Internships and placements are a fundamental part of learning. The programme’s blend of academic and professional expertise and specialist technical resources forms a rich experience that enables each student to establish their profile as an industrial designer.

Why should I study Industrial Design at XJTLU?

By studying this programme, you can expect to:

• discover how to map, model, and combine technology with human experience to create innovative design solutions for specific design contexts or situations;
• engage in experiential learning through project-based education, which is enhanced by state-of-the-art industry-level prototyping and manufacturing facilities;
• learn from an international and multidisciplinary team of academics and design practitioners in China, the world’s manufacturing hub;
• participate in collaborative projects with our industry partners, and/or internship opportunities at national and multinational companies;
• study in Suzhou, one of China’s most multicultural cities, which provides a unique perspective based on its world-leading high-tech companies and its rich cultural heritage; and
• earn two degrees: an XJTLU degree recognised by China’s Ministry of Education and a globally respected degree from the University of Liverpool, a prestigious member of the UK’s Russell Group.

By the time you graduate from the BEng Industrial Design programme, you will have:

• developed a specialised skillset with the ability to plan, design, develop, and produce a wide range of physical and digital products, in a variety of contexts;
• attained a comprehensive set of design communication skills, including visual language and form development, to effectively support, render, and enhance your ideas, concepts, and design narratives;
• gained experience in designing, planning, and leading user-focused research initiatives aimed at exploring, analysing, and identifying opportunities for improving the user’s quality of life;
• developed an understanding of the cross-sociocultural implications of designing for different markets and how these factors establish specific design parameters;
• learned about the properties and specifications of a variety of materials, as well as tools, machinery, fabrication, and manufacturing systems;
• gained practical insights into how to leverage behavioural patterns, materials, and technology to foster creative innovation;
• cultivated marketing and product management skills; and
• acquired specialised knowledge and honed the skills and thinking necessary to lead and excel across a spectrum of design disciplines.