Is Industrial Design Like Architecture?

Industrial design is a profession that focuses on functional, aesthetic, and ergonomic designs for products used in everyday life. It is a blend of science, engineering, art and technology that creates solutions to improve our lives. While industrial design shares many similarities with architecture, there are some notable differences that set them apart.

Both professions are focused on creating a user experience, but the end goals are quite different. Architects are concerned primarily with the structural integrity and aesthetics of a building; they focus on creating spaces that are both beautiful and functional.

Industrial designers take the focus away from building structures and instead focus on making products more efficient and aesthetically pleasing. While both professions involve an understanding of form, materials, construction methods, engineering principles, and regulations; industrial designers must also consider how their designs will be mass produced.

In addition to the difference in end goals, the processes used by architects and industrial designers also differ significantly. Architects will often spend more time researching potential sites for a structure before beginning their design process.

They must consider factors such as local regulations, zoning laws and available resources before committing to a design plan. Industrial designers may or may not have similar considerations depending on the product they are designing; however their process is much more focused on prototyping and testing different solutions.

The two professions also vary in terms of their educational requirements. Architects typically require an undergraduate degree in architecture or related field along with several years of professional experience before becoming licensed practitioners. Industrial designers can earn either bachelor’s or master’s degrees in industrial design or related fields such as engineering or product development.

Conclusion:

So while industrial design does share some similarities with architecture in terms of user experience and form factors; it ultimately has its own unique set of processes and educational requirements that separate it from its architectural counterpart.