Industrial designers design the things you use every day: shoes, headphones, chairs, vehicles, smartwatches and more!

As a graduate of this program, you'll be in high demand for the practical skills you've developed through hands-on learning. These skills include sketching, digital graphics rendering, model-making and computer-aided design (CAD). The program is project driven, and many of the design projects will involve industry collaboration to ensure real-world relevance.

In your third year, you'll choose a design specialization from the following:

• transportation design
• product design 
• interaction design

Transportation Designers design the appearance (styling) of vehicles including automobiles, motorcycles, personal mobility devices and off-road vehicles. Humber is the only industrial design program in Canada that offers a transportation design specialization. 

In Product Design, the emphasis is on the method of finding a solution to a user’s problem so that doing a task is easier or the user experience is more satisfying.

Interaction Design (UX - User Experience Design) is a new offering focusing on the integration of physical and digital products.

Courses

Admission Requirements

Admission selection is based on the following 5 requirements:

• .

  Academic

  To be eligible for admission, you must possess the following:

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including these required courses:
    • Grade 12 English (ENG4U or equivalent) minimum 65 per cent
    • Grade 12 Mathematics (MDM4U, MCB4U, MGA4U, MCV4U or MHF4U or equivalent) minimum 60 per cent (Students who do not possess Grade 12U Mathematics or who have achieved a grade below 60 per cent may be considered for admission. Students will be required to complete a math equivalency course during their first semester at Humber. Additional course fees will apply.)
    • Four Grade 12 U or M courses in addition to those listed above
    • Overall minimum grade point average (GPA) 65 per cent

  or

  • Mature student status

  or

  • College or university transfer status

  Mature Applicants

  Diplomas and Certificates

  An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or other postsecondary school, and will be 19 or older as of the first day of classes. Humber will invite you for testing to demonstrate that you meet all listed course requirements.

  Degrees

  An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or attended postsecondary studies, and will be 21 or older as of the first day of classes. Mature applicants for degree programs will be required to meet course requirements at the U/M level or equivalent.

  College Transfer Applicants

  Diplomas and Certificates

  An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

  Degrees

  An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants must have an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 65 per cent in the program. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

  University Transfer Applicants

  Diplomas and Certificates

  An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

  Degrees

  An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

• .

  English Language Proficiency

  All applicants whose first language is not English must meet Humber’s English Language Proficiency Policy.

• .

  International Credit Evaluation

  Canadian citizens or permanent residents with international education are required to provide a credential evaluation. Note, for international High school education course by course evaluations, ICAS must be used. For international post-secondary education, a WES evaluation must be provided. In situations where you expect to apply for transfer credit, it is recommended that a course by course WES evaluation is completed.

• .

  Portfolio

  A portfolio is a collection of work which tells us about your creative and problem solving abilities, your drawing skills and how you present yourself as an artist and designer.  Your portfolio is reviewed by Industrial Design faculty to determine your suitability for the program.

  Applicants must submit a portfolio that includes five creative pieces. Be sure to title each submission and briefly describe it (maximum 50 words each piece).

  The requirements for these submissions are as follows:

  Submission #1 – Perspective line drawing of a chair (two-point perspective).  You are encouraged to work in black line for the chair and to use construction lines to show proper perspective methods.

  Include a small photograph of the chair you have drawn as part of the submission page.  You may use your choice of medium for this piece. 

  The sketch is to be drawn freehand (i.e. tracing is not allowed). 

  Submission #2 – Perspective line drawing of one of the following three kitchen appliances:

  a) Kettle
  b) Coffee maker
  c) Kitchen stand mixer

  This piece should be drawn from an appliance or device and not from your imagination or an abstract method. Use construction lines to show proper perspective methods.

  Include a small photograph of the appliance or device you have drawn as part of the submission page.  You may use your choice of medium for this piece.

  The sketch is to be drawn freehand (i.e. tracing is not allowed). 

  Submission #3 – Colour still life study that demonstrates your use of colour and composition. You are encouraged to group everyday objects such as fruit, pottery or shoes. We will assess your representation of realistic details: shade and shadow, depth, tonal value and texture.

  Include a small photograph of the object(s) you have drawn as part of the submission page.

  The drawing is to be drawn freehand (i.e. tracing is not allowed). 

  Submission #4 – Three-dimensional work that demonstrates your manual construction skills.  Examples include sculpture, furniture construction, home construction, craft work (e.g. jewelry that you have designed), and costume design (e.g. Comicon).

  Submission #5– Your choice

  Submit one example of projects/pieces of your choice that further demonstrates your skills and design sense.

  Possible examples include:

  a) Something you designed and fabricated including the conceptual sketches and the finished piece;
  b) Images from a sketchbook you keep of products, figures or objects that inspire you;
  c) CAD drawings or digital graphics that show your talent as a designer (e.g. SolidWorks, Keyshot, or Illustrator, respectively);
  d)   A sketch, drawing or painting that illustrates your artistry.

  Not acceptable is photography and abstract art.

  For assistance with your drawing skills, we recommend:

  ‘Sketching: The Basics’ by Roselien Steur and Koos Eissen, Amsterdam BIS Publishers, 2016.

• .

  Writing Sample

  Part #1
  Describe your knowledge of industrial design, referring to products and designers, as well as styles that you find appealing.  (200 words)

  Part #2
  Describe the skills and talents you bring to the Industrial Design program. List your extracurricular activities (e.g. hobbies, passions, volunteer work) as well as previous work experience.  How do you think these experiences will contribute to your perspective of design, as well as help you as a student of design?  (250 words)

  Submission Instructions

  https://humber.ca/admissions/office-of-the-registrar/registration/submission-instructions.html

How to Apply

Applications are made through ontariocolleges.ca. See program page for details.

International Academic Equivalency

Admission equivalencies for Humber depend on your country of study. Please see admission requirements on the program page to enter your location.

Fees

Equipment & Device Requirements

Additional Costs

$1,000 - $1,500 – books, materials, additional software, etc. (for each year).

For information regarding fees for field-experience terms, refer to Fees.

Pathways

Humber offers a number of transfer options and pathway opportunities. Visit humber.ca/transferoptions or refer to the program page.

Contact Information

Patrick Burke, program co-ordinator
Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design
416.675.6622 ext. 4523
patrick.burke@humber.ca

Admissions Questions

Domestic Students

416-675-5000
enquiry@humber.ca

International Students

Contact the International Centre

international.humber.ca/contact

1-416-675-5067

Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.

Select information only is included in this printable PDF. For complete program details, refer to humber.ca/programs.