Where you can study
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Specialise in Industrial Design for your Bachelor of Design at Massey
Industrial design is about designing better and smarter products used in daily life. It includes practical design and study of the manufacture and use of products, equipment, and furniture.
The Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) encourages innovative thinking and creative application of new technologies. You’ll learn how to meet social, cultural, economic, and environmental needs of people of today and the future.
You'll learn to arrive at design solutions and show them by using many materials and techniques to create models and prototypes with a professional level of finish.
Your learning is studio-project based. You'll research and design a diverse range of items from tools to kitchenware, jewellery to sporting goods, furniture to agricultural equipment. You'll learn how effective use of good design in production and marketing is an essential element in the achievement of business success.
Get the full picture
Further study
Extend your study and work on an independent research project in the Bachelor of Design with Honours or take a creative product or idea to market in the Master of Design.
Planning information
If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
About this major
The Industrial Design major in the Bachelor of Design consists of 135 credits.
Minors
Completing a minor is optional and may be a way for you to show the breadth of your degree.
A minor must be in a different subject from your major and be made up of at least 60 credits.
If you’re interested in doing a minor you should contact us using the Get advice button on this page. Our student advice team will be able to talk you through your options and help you plan your degree.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Courses you can enrol in
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Core courses for the Bachelor of Design
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Bachelor of Design core courses
Industrial Design courses
Part One
Course code: 198157 Product and Industrial Design 1.1: An Introduction 15 credits
Focused on the development of product through a sustainability context, shaped by materials exploration, this studio provides an introduction to product and industrial design practice. Students develop creative and analytical thinking, idea generation, visualisation and making, central to three-dimensional design practice. Students will develop techniques and processes in critique, form-giving, problem solving, user-experience and affective design.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198158 Product and Industrial Design 1.2: Furniture Design 15 credits
In this studio students will develop three-dimensional design skills in making, prototyping, materiality, ergonomics and user-experience as they design and make furniture. Students will gain an understanding of the theoretical, historical and practical applications of these skills in Product and Industrial Design by exploring the development and production of furniture as products in one-off, batch or mass production contexts.
View full course detailsPart Two
Course code: 198263 Product and Industrial Design 2.1: Experiential Design 15 credits
Successful design development requires the integration of individual features and functions to achieve higher levels of design integrity. In this studio course students will explore and articulate creative responses to design challenges through critical awareness of contextual issues, elevating user-experience and perceived user benefits. Students will develop and apply core techniques, skills and processes in Product and Industrial Design.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198264 Product and Industrial Design 2.2: Dynamic Workflows 15 credits
Accelerating innovation requires strategy and implementation of a range of design activities. Students will gain knowledge, integrating digital and physical three-dimensional workflows for Product and Industrial Design, used in the visualisation, making and design of tangible products. Skills in CAD modelling, rendering, concept development, output methods and presentation are gained across a range of methods synthesising digital and physical contexts.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198265 Product and Industrial Design 2.3: Empathy, Impact and Consequence 15 credits
In this studio course students will explore and articulate creative responses to design challenges through critical inquiry and responsible design, to examine contemporary issues relevant to Industrial design in global contexts. Students will develop and apply core design techniques, skills and processes, along with an understanding of consumer research and its consequence, within the design context.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198266 Product and Industrial Design 2.4: Manufacturing Realities 15 credits
Students will move beyond designing product concepts to realisable manufactured batch production by articulating issues and considerations particular to developing products for manufacture. Considerations include robust design, design for recovery, costing, planning and manufacturing standards. Through a design and build project students explore and apply their individual and collaborative practices as required for developing a product within a user-experience context.
View full course detailsPart Three
Course code: 198358 Product and Industrial Design 3.3: Definitive Design Practice 30 credits
In this studio students develop and realise a complex project to demonstrate proficiency in Product and Industrial Design. Students work within a defined thematic using appropriate practice methods to advance and resolve complex design challenges to produce high-quality tangible outputs. In this milestone project students gain independence, demonstrate multifaceted problem solving skills and showcase their design skill set and practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198367 Product and Industrial Design 3.1: Context Specific Project 15 credits
The landscape of Product and Industrial Design is broad in application and reach. Establishing project scope informs the development of expectations of salient outputs to a design enquiry. Students establish a critical position through individual or collaborative exploration, with opportunities for varied contextual applications. Students consolidate and expand design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their design.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198368 Product and Industrial Design 3.2: Industry Based Project 15 credits
In this studio students will negotiate a critical position through individual or collaborative professional practices, with opportunities to apply their specialist skills to a range of contexts. In addition to advancing Product and Industrial design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of design work, students will develop and apply transferable skills relevant to professional and industry facing environments.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
This is an open-entry qualification from 2026. For 2025 entry, please see the portfolio requirements. Once you have applied and enrolled we encourage you to book a Creative Review to ensure you are on the right track.
Application closing date
- For Semester One start: Applications close on 30 November, for study commencing the following year.
- For Semester Two start: Applications close on 30 June.
Late applications will be considered subject to available spaces.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Fees and scholarships
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Fees Free website.
Scholarship and award opportunities
Search our scholarships and awardsFees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Graduates are well prepared for professional careers in fields like product design consultancies, design departments in manufacturing industries, architectural practices, social services departments, and industrial policy development in private and public corporations.
You will typically start your career as a design assistant or junior designer. You could then progress to senior or management positions in private practices or in manufacturing and construction industries. Some of our graduates have become directors of successful export-orientated manufacturing businesses, or design consultants in both New Zealand and overseas.
Graduates may also continue to postgraduate studies and further develop their design abilities, knowledge and research interests, and skills.
Many of our students have won prestigious national and international design competitions, such as the Dyson, Electrolux, Sony, LG and Red Dot awards. Graduates are working in consumer product companies such as Fisher and Paykel, Apple, Nike and Philips and creative industries such as Weta Workshop.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
Related study options
Concept Design – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Imagine new worlds with Massey's Bachelor of Design with Honours (Concept Design). Learn how to design concepts for entertainment and education within film, animation, television, gaming, and location-based experiences.
Concept Design – Bachelor of Design
Imagine new worlds with Massey's Bachelor of Design (Concept Design). Learn how to design concepts for entertainment and education within film, animation, television, gaming, and location-based experiences.
Industrial Design – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Industrial design is a great choice if you enjoy designing, inventing, and making three-dimensional products. From smartphones to movie sets, industrial design transforms people’s lives - and Massey grads are at the forefront.
Integrated Design – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Take a unified approach to design. Develop strong design strategies and contextual understanding, applying your technical skills in the design fields of your choice.
Integrated Design – Bachelor of Design
Take a unified approach to design. Develop strong design strategies and contextual understanding, applying your technical skills in the design fields of your choice.
Mātauranga Toi Māori – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Study creative arts and help shape a future where te ao Māori is at the forefront of Aotearoa creative industries. A first for Aotearoa tertiary education, the Mātauranga Toi Māori major engages te ao Māori in any of our creative disciplines in Design – Concept, Fashion, Industrial, Integrated, Photography, Spatial, Textiles or Visual Communication Design.
Mātauranga Toi Māori – Bachelor of Design
Study creative arts and help shape a future where te ao Māori is at the forefront of Aotearoa creative industries. A first for Aotearoa tertiary education, the Mātauranga Toi Māori major engages te ao Māori in any of our creative disciplines in Design – Concept, Fashion, Industrial, Integrated, Photography, Spatial, Textiles or Visual Communication Design.
Spatial Design – Bachelor of Design with Honours
From designing a home interior, or public building to an interactive exhibition, or a virtual world, spatial designers have myriad opportunities at their fingertips. Let your imagination soar.
Spatial Design – Bachelor of Design
From designing a home interior, or public building to an interactive exhibition, or a virtual world, spatial designers have myriad opportunities at their fingertips. Let your imagination soar.
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz