1. Program Overview
The ShanghaiTech Industrial Design Program, with Smart Design at its core, is a newly launched undergraduate program at ShanghaiTech University. The program consists of the study, research and design practice centered around smart products for the future, environment and service modes, smart design approaches and tools, as well as the relationship between humans and intelligence, and future-facing lifestyles in the future. This discipline offers students with solid design training, profound scientific literacy, top-notch scientific and technological foundation, cutting-edge industrial practice, ample opportunities for overseas exchange, and personalized training schemes provided by mentors throughout all four years. Its purpose is to nurture a generation of smart designers who are ready to participate in the innovative design of smart products and lead the iteration of smart design methodologies at professional design and research institutes. The graduates of the program can quickly grow in the fields of design for interaction, services, and business models, so that they will become leading industrial designers who can play leading roles in development, research, planning and management.
The Announcement of the Filing and Approval of Undergraduate Majors in Colleges and Universities in 2020, published by the Ministry of Education
2. Program Specs
Industrial Design（Code: 080205）
Four Years of Schooling
Awarded with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (B. Eng).
3. Enrollment requirements
Only science students can be enrolled to the major 'Industrial Design' (Candidates from provinces with the “new college entrance examination reforms” must provide the score in physics.)
Only candidates from certain provinces in China will be enrolled directly to this program in 2021. Students from other provinces will have the chance to transfer to this major after they are admitted to the University and meet the criteria.
4. Targets
The aim of this program is to cultivate innovative designers with the following qualities: profound humanities literacy, a strong sense of social responsibility, a broad international vision; solid basic design skills, cutting-edge scientific knowledge, keen ability to find and solve problems, and a strategic mindset that takes into account of both user demands and technological innovation; ability to engage in the research, development, and design of intelligent products, ability to research and apply intelligent design methodologies, ability to actively participate in social innovation, and ability to embrace the changes and development of the economic and industrial landscapes.
5. Curriculum
The courses for 'Industrial Design' at ShanghaiTech University follow the principles of being 'Broad', 'Specialized' and 'Integrated'.
'Broad': Extensive humanistic quality + Profound scientific literacy
Extensive knowledge of humanities: History of Modern Art, Theory of Design History, General Theory of Civilization and Science and Technology, Introduction to Economics, etc. To establish a strategic vision by attaining extensive knowledge of humanities, arts and social sciences;
General education in sciences: Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics, Introduction to Information Technology, Introduction to Modern Life Sciences, etc. To build a strong foundation for interdisciplinary learning by mastering solid knowledge and tools in mathematics, natural sciences, and applied sciences.
'Specialized': Solid design ability + Keen knowledge of science and technology
Core design courses: Design Expression Series, Modeling; Design Research, Design Psychology, Ergonomics, User Experience, Product Project Management, etc. To develop the core ability and mindset for design in students, to train them to fully express through design, and to teach industry insights and industry-standard methodologies;
Core science and technology courses: System and Signal Processing, IoT and Big Data, Artificial Intelligence in Art Design, Materials and Manufacturing, etc. To master the applied knowledge and design approaches, which are necessary for “smart designs”, while utilizing ShanghaiTech University’s resourceful faculty in the field of intelligent science and technology,
“Integrated”: “Science and Tech x design”
——Fusion of higher-order interdiciplinary knowledge through design
Advanced 'science and tech x design' courses：Introduction to Robotics, Human and Machine Cognition, Virtual Environment, Product Sound Design, Smart Transportation, Smart Medical Care, etc. The integrated clusters of “science and tech x design” explore to interdisciplinary solutions to problems in the fields of 'human & robot', 'immersive product experience', 'smart city', etc.
Intergrated Studio Classes：Form Design, Function Design, Emotional Design, Interaction Design, System Design, Graduation Capstones. To continuously integrate the knowledge and skills of “science and tech x design”, while considering the cognitive patterns of students, by undertaking the comprehensive design process each semester until the capstones.
6. Abilities to Develop
After four years of studying, graduates will have gained core abilities in the following fields:
① Design centered mindset and design research abilities that are analytical, innovative, critical and evolving.
② Ability to perceive, implement and promote design.
③Ability to understand, evaluate, apply and analyze cutting-edge intelligent technologies;
④Ability to cooperate and integrate in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural environments;
⑤Leadership.
7. Training styles
Personal: Small class teaching. Professor mentorship. Full attention to each student’s academic, professional and personal development throughout all four years;
International: International faculty. Various courses are either taught bilingually or adopt classical original textbooks. Ample opportunities for foreign exchange. Chance to move on to world-class international graduate projects seamlessly.
Relevance to the industry: Core courses are taught by full-time professors in tandem with working professionals in the industry. Front-line design practices are deeply integrated into the classroom by closely following the frontline trends of the industry and talent demands.
Connection with cutting-edge research: The Creative Technology Labs of the School of Creativity and Art will deeply participate in classroom teaching and offer senior students with opportunities to participate in scientific research and practices. ShanghaiTech University has more than 300 scientific research project groups, which also provide strong support for the technical realization of smart products that are quintessentially interdisciplinary.
8. Development Paths
① Working professionals: Join the innovation industries in the following fields: smart products, the Internet industry, system and service design, user experience, etc.;
②Further studies: Pursue master's or doctor's degrees at established local or international institutions;
③ Entrepreneurship: Create new ideas, methodologies and models for the industry, while taking into account emerging technologies, new materials, and innovative processes.
9. School Overview
The School of Creativity and Art at ShanghaiTech University was officially founded in November 2017 by the Dean, Mr. Li Ruigang. Its Vice Dean is Mr. Wang Shouzhi, a historian in the field of design. The School of Creativity and Art is committed to the teaching of humanities and arts, and the wholistic development of its students. Its missions are interdisciplinary integration, incubation in the innovation industry, and the realization of far-reaching international impact. It integrates the teaching resources from ShanghaiTech University’s Schools of Physical Science and Technology, Life Science and Technology, Information Science and Technology, and Entrepreneurship and Management. It has formed an eco-system that covers industrial design, smart technologies and commoditization. It also utilizes the strategic position of Shanghai as a city of creativities. All these conditions create a unique learning environment for the cultivation of new generation designers.
10. Contact us
Contact Person: Ms. Qu
Landline：021-20684701
WeChat Service Account：18917008036
