Good, affordable Industrial Design schools in the Midwest?

<p>So, I'm currently an Industrial Engineering major and I sort of just went into it because nothing else interested me and I was doing well in classes like calculus/physics/economics. Put simply, I was unsure. Now, I think Industrial Design is what I want to do, Industrial Engg is basically financial risk assessment, optimization, efficiency and all that...which I really don't find interesting at all. I lean more (and am better) at designing things and making sure everything fits and works without flaws (really interested in product/exhibit/furniture design).
Just fyi, I'm a second-semester freshman (not into the program yet, but given my situation and their requirements, I'm as good as in). So, my school doesn't offer Industrial Design and I was looking for good schools in the Wisconsin-Illinois area that do...UIUC seems very promising but their out-of-state tuition is a tad bit too high for my likings.
Are there any respected ones in Wisconsin?; because I'd be paying in-state tuition then.</p>

<p>U of Arts seems very good too, but then again, the whole private school tuition deal.
I can wait another year to transfer (all deadlines have passed, anyway), but if anyone can recommend me a good, affordable Industrial Design school in the Midwest area, I'd really appreciate it.</p>

<p>In state for you : [B.F.A&lt;/a&gt;. Degree in Art - Academic Programs - UW-Stout](<a href=“http://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bfaa/]B.F.A”>http://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bfaa/)</p>

<p>NASAD Accredited Programs: [Industrial</a> Designers Society of America](<a href=“http://www.idsa.org/absolutenm/templates/?a=118]Industrial”>http://www.idsa.org/absolutenm/templates/?a=118)</p>

<p>Check Milwaulkee Institute of Art and Design - I think they have ID. Not so sure about affordablity tho.</p>

<p>Check out University of Cincinnati and Ohio State, both are considered to have excellent prgrams , especially at University of Cincinnati.</p>

<p>you mean, you won over your folks? how did you do that?</p>

<p>Thanks for the recommendations, guys. I can’t believe I haven’t looked into Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design before this…its really good (especially in Industrial Design), decent tuition and great location (for me, atleast). Will definitely look further into this one.</p>

<p>@bears and dogs: lol, I’m surprised people still remember that. I haven’t actually convinced them yet, they just think that majors like Industrial Design have a much more real-world grasp than things like graphic arts and web design (which I was shooting for). Nevertheless, I think Industrial Design is pretty much my dream major. If I can figure out a way to work this within the next year or so, I’ll definitely go for it.
Seriously wish my school offered it so that I could double up without changing anything else except my workload.</p>

<p>go visit or take summer class before you jump off the cliff. MIAD in particular does not have rigorous -sh adult classes for the summer but you get to see facilities and talk to teachers. I feel somewhat responsible to fellow Asian mom dad grandma uncle house gods etc… if you’d mess up, alright?
<a href=“MIAD - Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design”>MIAD - Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design;

<p>fammom or drae, if you are out there do you know this kid could transfeered into CMU?
Maybe he could get money?
Bet his folks would like that, don’t you think?</p>

<p>I think it would be worth his while to check out CMU. There’s lot’s of opportunity to interface with engineers, computer science and business majors at CMU. But they have really focused art and design, theatre and music programs as well.</p>

<p>Here are some links:
[Admission</a> > Transfer Students](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)
[School</a> of Design Overview :: College of Fine Arts Admission Procedure](<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/admission/finearts/design.html]School”>http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/admission/finearts/design.html)</p>

<p>The school of Design has its own admissions requirements. They weigh admissions 50/50 grades and portfolio. Their SAT expectations are a bit lower than the rest of the school (590-690). If you don’t have a portfolio they let you do a home test/design project instead. They seem to like to see that a student takes initiative and visits the school in person (my son did his portfolio review in person).</p>

<p>It’s a great education. A lot of crossover between the comminication design/industrial design majors. They start their foundation year together and then come back for a group project in senior year. So while your focus could be industrial design there would be a chance to explore interactive design while in the program. The students we met were very engaged and had a great bond with one another. I think AxeBack’s parent would be very proud to see him there.</p>

<p>They do not meet full need but when they gave us an early estimate for Financial Aid I was pretty impressed with what they came up with. We’ll see when the real numbers come in. </p>

<p>One other thing about Carnegie Mellon…they run a tight ship over there. They’ve got the marketing, presentation thing down pat. It makes it easy to get info from them so I would encourage the OP to make a call or send an email and learn a little bit more about his options</p>

<p>Thanks, thanks a lot bears and dogs. I’ll definitely check it out before going. And haha, I’m actually giving this a lot of thought (not jumping straight into it; I’m aware of the risks).
And yeah thanks drae27, I read all about CMU’s ID program from those links, it seems fantastic. Just…Pittsburgh…and out-of-state tuition. I’ll look into that stuff more, but for now, this seems good.</p>

<p>Btw bears and dogs, do you think its possible for me to go through with Industrial Engineering (the way I’m going right now), get a sort-of “minor” certificate in art/design courses (which is possible here at my school) and still end up at a design company working alongside or with designers? I mean, the basic purpose of industrial engineers and industrial designers is essentially the same thing - to optimize products and things based on efficiency, aesthetics, ergonomics, economics…and ID’s take a design-oriented approach to that whereas IE’s do it in a more integrated math/stat fashion. But they are highly intertwined, right? I really don’t know, so I’m curious if I can end up where I want to without risking messing up my college career.</p>

<p>Axe-
You could finish your program and like you said, take art/design on the side. Maybe do a study abroad at a school that has ID or take summer courses somewhere so that you could build a portfolio and then go to graduate school for ID.
You may want to read up on Core 77. Lots of student/schools advice for ID:
[Core77.com</a> • View forum - students and schools](<a href=“students and schools - Core77 Discussion Boards”>http://boards.core77.com/viewforum.php?f=1)</p>

<p>sorry kid, I don’t know anything about ID only some kids are jobless after spent fortune at some art schools, but that goes to any majors at art schools. something tells me you should stick with the math since not many people could do that no matter how hard they tried, while anyone can draw or make chairs or dishes if taught all right, wait, industrial means cars and fridge? That sound big and cool.
drae, you are so sweet, go to sleep.</p>

<p>oh, how much your folks make? It is common assumption Asian parents have- non ivy privates are too much money if kid could go to good in state school that every neighbor knows its name.
CMU is cheaper than OOS if your folks are poor. Then again, good intended Asians are not usually poor-poor.
PS. it is OK to get federal aid, it is not going to be the shame brought upon family.</p>

<p>OK
I slept a little and now remember that, this guy, an industrual designer made maybe the best selling trash can.
He used to live in my friend’s building and not that rich.
now, like, bigshot. did all method cleaning supply bottles and stuff, too fussy for my taste but his book was funny and you’d think
" hey, bet I could do that!"</p>

<p>Karim Rashid
Design your Self: Rethinking the Way You Live, Love, Work, and Play</p>

<p>Thanks for looking out for me bearsanddogs. I fell asleep so early last night (missed Project Runway) that I woke up in the middle of the night. What else to do but check CC and watch PR on lifetime.com.</p>

<p>Anyway…Axe - if you are worried about getting a job after school I suggest you seriously look at University of Cincinnati DAAP. The program is 5 years long but 1.5 years of that is spent going on paid co-op work experiences. You end up paying tuition for just the 3.5 years. </p>

<p>But you have to consider that it sounds like you are planning on doing another year at UW. I don’t know how many credits would transfer and you still would have to make up all of the foundation classes for ID. You would probably have at least 3 more years of school no matter where you went if you do transfer. There are a lot of skills to gain in this field. It is intense work with long hours. </p>

<p>As for career paths…yes you could be a design star like Karim Rashid or Jonathan Ives. Or you could work for Fisher Price Toys, Nike, Nissan, etc or for a design consultancy like Smart Design. </p>

<p>There is a need for engineering skills in these places. Something you could do if you stay in your current program is to get an internship at a design firm/department. Ask around at your school if any teachers have connections. Start researching and writing letters. You may make a great relationship with a company while you are still in school and get hired. You never know. Your enthusiasm, passion and initiative can take you far.</p>

<p>Ok I see your point bears and dogs. Yeah I agree with you about the math thing…its actually always been my best subject. Right now, I’m also doing pretty well in Regressional Stat and Calc III, maybe I should stick with it and go through with IE…
and yeah drae, thanks. The idea about the interning at a design firm sounds great, I’ll surely try for it. I looked into U of Cincinatti too, not bad at all. My only concern is the fact that I’ll be paying out-of-state tuition and I’ll be so far away from home.
I see your point also about the need for engineers. Maybe this is fine the way it is, I really need to think more before making such a quick decision.</p>

<p>what is that you say? statics regress when you get so smart? CalcIII? how far is that thing supposed to go, and you only freshman? get outa here.
why oh why I quitted abacus class 6th grade and algebra 8th grade… It’s all art schools’ admission req’s fault.
oh the mystery of numbers, theories, why things fly float get cooked digested come out and flush down clogs and plunges… math and science of everyday life…the other half of my poor unused brain, oh oh oh… I am jealous</p>

<p>My D wants art AND science. Is looking at which art schools have the best science classes!</p>

<p>@bears and dogs: lol! well thats actually average here for all my other peers in IE (they’re in the same math classes as me). i had AP stat in high school, got credit for it and was able to take the next level (2-semester sequence, I’m in the second one now), and had calc AB so i did calc II last semester, calc III this one. Being in those classes doesn’t make you smart…you have to actually do well (I’m just getting by with B’s).
And as for how far, I need two more math classes (I’m thinking DiffEqs and Linear Algebra) and two more stat classes (because IE has a heavy emphasis on this).</p>

<p>Yeah so thats why I’m thinking I should stick with this and go through with it for now.</p>

<p>@redbug: Thats almost every flagship state school in USA, if they have a good art program, they’re bound to have a great science program too. What state?</p>

<p>could my kid borrow your brain for one SAT day, and one or two final day? I will forever grateful.</p>