The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture established a new degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design in 2003, becoming the first of its kind in a four-state region covering Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. The Industrial Design program emerged from an established and respected university in one of the largest and most dynamic urban centers: Houston. The resources and environment provided an ideal learning context for the discipline of Industrial Design with resources unique to the metro area, such as NASA, the Texas Media Center, and diverse industrial entities. “The Industrial Design program is rapidly taking its place as the premier program in the four state regions. Its award-winning students and faculty add an additional layer of rigor to the college’s platform of integrated disciplines: Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Industrial Design. The degree program in Industrial Design focuses on applied research, critical thinking, technology, and the art of making. Its curriculum emphasizes generative and discovery-oriented learning. Attention to craft and design innovation is further enhanced by a premier digital fabrication facility, the Burdette Keeland Design Exploration Center.”

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