School of Industrial Design


Mackenzie Building 3470
Telephone: 520-5672
Fax: 520-4465

The School

Director of the School:

Martien de Leeuw

The School of Industrial Design does not offer a program at the graduate level. However, it does offer graduate-level courses which can be used towards a degree program in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering. Members of the school are available to supervise graduate research.

The interests and capabilities of the faculty members lie in the following areas:

User Studies
Applications of ergonomics and anthropometrics in industrial design; study of users from a market perspective.

Form Studies
Form development in industrial design; computer-aided design in industrial design.

Mass Production Studies
Advanced manufacturing methods in industrial design; quality and product life of manufactured goods.

Design Systems and Methods
Research and development in systems and methods as they apply to industrial design.

Contextual Studies
Cultural, social and ethical issues in industrial design.

Graduate Courses*

  • Industrial Design 85.500F1, W1
    Directed Studies in Industrial Design
    Reading and research tutorials.

  • Industrial Design 85.531F1,W1,S1
    Creative Problem Solving and Design
    This course outlines problem-solving processes and how they can be applied in engineering design. The


    student will be introduced to and be expected to practice various systematic and creative problem-solving techniques. The emphasis is on the student’s learning methodologies rather than accumulating information. The techniques may be successfully applied in any engineering specialty.
    (Also offered as Engineering 88.561)