Strengths
Industry insiders are impressed by grads’ technical savvy, team philosophy and design-process knowledge (Jonathan Sabine, co-founder of Toronto’s MSDS Studio, notes that “Carleton is still the school to go to for pure industrial design training”), alumni in the industry return to teach and hire students on a regular basis
Overview
Offering programs emphasizing a holistic approach (doing and process are emphasized in equal doses with theory and science), Carleton’s School of Industrial Design is just one of two schools in Canada recognized by the Industrial Design Society of America. Courses in design, manufacturing, business and tech build a solid foundation. Hands-on studio courses capitalize on facilities like sensor and prototyping labs, and a 12-week placement and three-term co-op designation provide real-world training. The Ottawa locale means unprecedented access to government R&D labs, plus collaborations with large corporations.
Notable alumni
Karim Rashid, Fitbit One designer Chad Harbe, Meraphase founder Bryce Rutter
