Industrial Design

Dean Benstead

Gaining experience consulting for product design consultancy Joneschijoff since my second year of study enabled me to develop my work to a level where I was confident entering competitions. I won the inaugural 2010 Melbourne Design Awards, Product Design, Automotive and Transport category. Further experience at the recent 2011 DesignEx mystery box challenge which placed 4 young designers from Melbourne to come up with a vision for the bathroom of the future which was designed and prototyped over the three days of the show. My current major project explores the future of motorcycles through aesthetics and air as the power source. I have gained interest and sponsorship from Yamaha Australia and Engine Air here in Melbourne to develop a working prototype and further design development.

Jessica Bird

RMIT’s Industrial Design program provided great opportunities and a hands-on aspectto learning. Theory was nearly always either taught through or accompanied by a practical project. Opportunities to study abroad and be involved in projects with industry connections were really valuable.

In 2008 I spent a semester studying at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India. Along with two fellow students (Philippa Abbott & Kate Steele) we worked with four young cycle-rickshaw drivers to redesign a rickshaw to be more efficient, reduce maintenance and detrimental health impacts. The intense five-week project resulted in a working prototype of the rickshaw.

We also designed a micro finance scheme to allow drivers to purchase their own rickshaws so they can become more independent and create better opportunities for the livelihoods of themselves and their families.

In 2009 I was involved in a studio project lead by Mick Douglas that worked with residents of the Carlton Housing Estate to design and retrofit a shipping container as an arts platform for creative community engagement. The project came to life the following summer with support from the City of Melbourne, operating as a performance and workshop space, meeting area, and mini market, bringing the local community together over a series of evening and afternoons.

Michael Gray

I have wanted to be a car designer ever since I was a kid, and Industrial Design was the right qualification for employment as a creative designer at a car company. What I don’t like about the course is the workload but once I stop feeling sorry for myself I like being able to draw and sculpt and develop creative ideas such as a new vehicles or product design. Turning an idea into something tangible can be a frustrating but rewarding process. Presenting my work makes me conscious of how clearly I am communicating my ideas to others as well, which I believe will be really important beyond uni.

The course teaches you relevant practical skills such as drawing, fabrication and CAD, and facilitates application of those skills creatively, so you develop an inventive and critical way of working. Don’t worry if you think you are no good at some or any of these things now, because the point of the course is to allow you to learn them.

Youseff Tayeb

Industrial Design really enabled me to meet and work with some great people on very interesting projects. It’s given me a wide variety of contacts within various industries and really opened up a variety of career possibilities to choose. There is no 9 to 5 with this course - it’s 24 hours a day. You end up living and breathing the course and eventually the profession. You have to be passionate, dedicated and attentive to detail.