Although the design industry is changing more quickly than ever before, many college programs continue to use outdated frameworks that do not adequately prepare students for these rapid changes. To identify significant gaps between industrial design education and industry demands, this study carefully examines the most recent job postings and compares them with academic course curricula. This study pinpoints particular deficiencies in "hard skills", such as design-for-manufacturing expertise, new emerging technologies, and software proficiency, as well as sustainability integration. In addition to hard skills, the study examines the limitations of "soft skills" that prevent successful employment, such as communication, presentation, and portfolio relevance. This study presents program administrators and college instructors with a data-driven framework for assessing and modifying their teaching strategies. The ultimate goal of this research is to facilitate the transition from the classroom to the professional field by explaining this misalignment for the employability of graduates, as well as for maintaining the relevance of industrial design education in the larger ecosystem of the arts and humanities, producing innovators who are anchored in ethics and prepared for the workforce.

Authors:
Yihui Hua, Arizona State University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Yihui Hua is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at Arizona State University, USA and her research is focus on transdisciplinary design with in industry 4.0.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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