Industrial Design, AS

The Associate of Science degree in Industrial Design (Industrial Design, AS) prepares students for entry-level positions in the field,

related field, and/or transfer to a bachelor's degree program in a similar discipline. Students learn foundational skills in problem solving,

concepting, iterative prototyping, and acquiring proficiency with the range of technology platforms. Through research and critical

thinking, students apply such skills to address user experience, functionality/usability, and aesthetic form.

Upon completion of the program, students possess an entry-level portfolio that facilitates their transition to internships, freelance or

contract opportunities, or application to a bachelor's degree program at the university level. Graduates are prepared for potential

employment as Model Makers, Visual Designers, or CAD modelers/drafters. With further academic advancement and completion of a

bachelor's program, career opportunities include roles such as Product Designer, User Experience Designer, or Set/Exhibit Designer.

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

Aesthetically create and iterate on design concepts through sketching, hand rendering, CAD, and CAD rendering.

Demonstrate proficiency with the range of technology platforms used in industrial design.

Research, problem solve, conceptualize, develop, test, and prototype solutions for user experience, functionality and usability.

West Valley College projects steady and sustainable enrollment growth for the proposed Industrial Design Certificate and Associate Degree programs, aligned with regional workforce demand and institutional capacity.

In the program’s initial launch phase, the college anticipates enrolling approximately 20–25 students in Year 1, drawing from existing feeder pathways including Art, Digital Media, MakerSpace programming, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship coursework, as well as incumbent workers seeking reskilling opportunities.

As program awareness, industry partnerships, and work-based learning opportunities expand, enrollment is projected to grow to 35–45 students annually by Years 3–5.

Based on course sequencing, retention patterns in comparable design and CTE programs, and embedded academic and career supports, the college projects the following annual completer outcomes:

• Certificate Completers: 12–18 students annually by Year 3

• Associate Degree Completers: 8–12 students annually by Year 3

Longer term, with full program maturity and strengthened employer pipelines, total annual completers (certificate + degree) are projected to reach  35-45 students per year.

These projections are supported by strong regional labor market demand, cross-disciplinary recruitment, dual enrollment interest, and integration of internships and portfolio-based capstone experiences that support persistence and completion.

Industrial Design is a marriage of arts and aesthetics with engineering making it a unique field of study that has broad applications in multiple industries. It is the one degree/program that SOAD does not have, and it would complete our Design education offerings in our effort to be a world-class Art & Design School.

Industrial Design, Associate of Science (Total Units: 41.5–42)

The Industrial Design Associate of Science degree requires 41.5–42 total units, including 38.5 units of major core coursework and 3–3.5 units of major electives. The curriculum is intentionally designed to provide students with an integrated foundation in design theory, visualization, engineering principles, materials processes, and advanced digital fabrication tools.

Students begin the program by developing historical and contextual understanding of design through coursework such as Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary or Design in Society. Foundational studio practice is established through Beginning Drawing, where students build observational, conceptual, and visual communication skills essential to product ideation and design development.

Technical and digital competencies are cultivated through courses including Adobe Creative Apps for Graphic Design and UX Design 1, ensuring students gain fluency in industry-standard creative software and human-centered design methodologies. Engineering and production knowledge is introduced through Introduction to Materials and Conceptual Introduction to Physics, providing applied understanding of structural properties, manufacturing feasibility, and product performance.

The manufacturing design sequence (Manufacturing Design I & II) and visualization series (Visualization 1 & 2 for Industrial Design) guide students through iterative design processes—from sketching and rendering to prototyping and presentation. Students further develop technical precision using SolidWorks for Industrial Design, a critical CAD platform used widely across product design and advanced manufacturing industries.

To support specialization and creative breadth, students complete one elective course in areas such as Color Design, Typography, Packaging Design, or Color Theory and Application. These electives allow students to tailor their design focus while strengthening portfolio development.

Collectively, the program’s course requirements prepare students with the technical, aesthetic, and applied problem-solving skills necessary for entry-level employment, internships, or continued study in industrial and product design fields.

III. Program Requirements

Couse # Name Units CALGETC Local GE Sequence

ARTHC1200/H Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary 3 3A A-3 Year 1, Semester 1, Fall

GDES001 Intro to Adobe Creative Apps 3 Year 1, Semester 1, Fall

GDES020A UX Design 1 4 Year 1, Semester 1, Fall

PHYS010 Intro to Conceptual Physics 4 05A/c(?) A-5 Year 1, Semester 1, Fall

ARTS001E Design in Society 3 A-7 Year 1, Semester 2, Spring

ARTS031A Beginning Drawing 3.5 Year 1, Semester 2, Spring

ENGR025 Intro to Materials 3 Year 1, Semester 2, Spring

IDES010 Design for Manufacturing 1 3 Year 2, Semester 3, Fall

IDES030 Visualization 1 for ID 3 Year 2, Semester 3, Fall

IDES050 SolidWorks for ID 3 Year 2, Semester 3, Fall

(Core Elective) 3-3.5 Year 2, Semester 3, Fall

IDES020 Design for Manufacturing 2 3 Year 2, Semester 4, Spring

IDES040 Visualization 2 for ID 3 Year 2, Semester 4, Spring

(Core Elective) 3-3.5 Year 2, Semester 4, Spring

Core Electives (Select one)

IDES060 Packaging Design 3 Year 2, Semester 2, Fall

INTD020 Color Theory and Application 3 Year 2, Semester 3, Fall

ARTS033C Color Design 3.5 Year 2, Semester 3, Fall

GDES009 Introduction to Typography 3 Year 2, Semester 4, Spring

Required Major Total: 41.5-42 units

Completion of local GE: 25 units (double-counting 3 units for ARTH C1200 and 3 units for PHYS010, and 3 units ARTS001E). Total Units:

60 units

IDES010 is advisory for IDES020

ARTS031A is advisory for IDES030

IDES030 is a pre-requisite for IDES040

GDES001 is advisory for IDES060

IDES010 and IDES050 Can be taken concurrently

GDES001 and IDES010 Can be taken concurrently

Year 1, Fall: 14 units

ARTC1200, GDES001, GDES02A, PHYS010

Year 1, Spring: 9.5 units

ARTS001E, ARTS 031A, ENGR025

Year 2, Fall: 12-12.5 units

IDES010, IDES030, IDES050, ELECTIVE

Year 2, Spring: 9-9.5 units

IDES020, IDES 040, ELECTIVE

Total Major Units: 44.5 - 45 units (dependent on electives chosen)

We are really excited to move this program forward and are working closely with San Jose State University with articulation. 

Program Goals and Objectives

The goal of the Associates of Science degree in Industrial Design is to prepare students for entry-level positions in the field, related

field, and/or transfer to a bachelor's degree program in a similar discipline.

Students completing the degree will have demonstrated skills in the design and development of product, product user experience, and

user experience related solutions. They will have a portfolio that can help gain entry level positions in product design (internship,

freelance, or contract positions) or possible employment as a Model Maker, Visual Designer, or CAD modeler/drafter. The portfolio can

also be tailored for applying to bachelor's degree programs. In either a work or school scenario the portfolio is the aspiring designer's

professional tool for advancement.

The objectives to achieve the goal will have students learn foundation skills in problem solving, concepting, iterative prototyping, and

acquiring proficiency with the range of technology platforms used in industrial design. Students will research, conceptualize, develop,

test, and prototype solutions. These solutions will have an emphasis on user experience, functionality/usability, and aesthetic form

using optimum parameters, accessibility standards, and human factors guidelines.

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

Aesthetically create and iterate on design concepts through sketching, hand rendering, CAD, and CAD rendering.

Demonstrate proficiency with the range of technology platforms used in industrial design.

Research, problem solve, conceptualize, develop, test, and prototype solutions for user experience, functionality and usability.

Diablo Valley College has a program but it is focused on Automotive and part of their Math and Engineering Division and West Valley Colleges is UX Design focused.  The Dean of the School of Arts and Design and Faculty reached out to Dan Smith and did not get a response.