Interdisciplinary Programs

 

 

 

The Interdisciplinary Programs in Design and Innovation (PDI) allow students to combine the B.S. degree in Design, Innovation, and Society with other  minors or bachelor's degree curricula. We formerly called referred to these interdisciplinary programs as "product design and innovation," but our approach to design and innovation has become increasingly broad. As a result, we now refer to these interdisciplinary programs in design and innovation as PDI. Here are some common options that students pursue:

• B.S. in Design, Innovation, and Society with a minor in management, communication/graphic arts, communicatoin/web design, computer science, or arts. Some students also pursue two minors.

• B.S. in Design, Innovation, and Society with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

• B.S. in Design, Innovation, and Society with a B.S. in Management.

• B.S. in Design, Innovation, and Society with a B.S. in Computer Science.

• B.S. in Design, Innovation, and Society with a B.S. in Communication with a focus on graphic design.

 

 

There are many other possible combinations that can be tailored to individual needs.

The core of PDI--what distinguishes our program as interdisciplinary design rather than just engineering design or industrial design--is our interdisciplinary studio sequence.  With a broader scope than typical industrial design or engineering programs, we seek to "bridge" these disciplines to create new products, services, and media in the context of social needs and environmental concerns. The interdisciplinary design studios provide a forum to integrate skills to solve long term and emerging problems of society. A typical studio project finds members of student teams researching different aspects of problem and then contributing their knowledge and creativity towards synthesizing a team solution. Studio projects address issues ranging from larger systemic problems to smaller focused problems, so that students have a broad exposure to the broad spectrum of design practice. The studios develop students' skills in using computers and digital modeling techniques, as well as in drawing, visualizing, communicating, and working together, in short all that is necessary to put their creativity to work as leaders of design and innovation, whether it be in a multinational corporation seeking ways of addressing diverse markets, or in a practice that creates innovative solutions to local community problems.

 

For additional information on our interdisciplinary Programs in Design and Innovation, contact Dean Nieusma, Director of PDI, at nieusma@rpi.edu.