Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design

What Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design does

The School of Industrial Design is an academic department within the College of Design at Georgia Institute of Technology, a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1952, it is one of the oldest industrial design programs in the United States and serves undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design (BSID, STEM-designated), graduate students in the Master of Industrial Design (MID), and students in the joint MS-HCI program. The school's curriculum integrates aesthetic, functional, utilitarian, economic, sustainable, social, and cognitive considerations with hands-on studio work, fabrication shops, and industrial partners such as Airbus, Delta Air Lines, GM, Hyundai, and Autodesk. Its delivery model is in-person Atlanta-based instruction with international study-abroad options, and its marketing/recruiting motion runs through Georgia Tech institutional channels, a portfolio-driven admission process, and event-based showcases including Launchpad, the By Design speaker series, the Georgia Tech Auto Show, and the IDSA Southern District Conference.

The school's technology base centers on eleven research labs that anchor human-centered, evidence-based design education: the Algorithmic Craft Lab (parametric modeling and algorithmic textile generation, source of Algorithmic Lace and a pending Odyssey Flood Rescue Vest patent), the Body Scan Lab (3D scanning technology, Source of the SizeChina and SizeGlobal anthropometric databases referenced by Google, Amazon, Luxottica, OpenAI, Warby Parker, and Cartier), the CoDe Craft Group, the GM HMI Lab, the Health Design CoLab, the Interactive Product Design Lab (AR-augmented rapid prototyping), MultiSense.Studio, the REAR Lab (rehabilitation and assistive technology), and the Robotic Environment Lab. Core student-facing commercial-style offerings include the Launchpad Design Showcase and Make 10 marketplace, where students design, manufacture, and sell limited-run products in batches of ten.

Revenue flows from tuition and fees through standard Georgia Tech enrollment, supplemented by corporate partnerships and sponsorships (Airbus, Delta Air Lines, GM via the HMI Lab, Orange Sparkle Ball, Formation Design Group, Harmonic Design, Tractian, Black Diamond Motor Sports, Butler Tires and Wheels), research grants, and private philanthropy such as the James L. Oliver Professorship. As a public state-entity department, the school is not a commercial enterprise and does not disclose a separate operating P&L; its output is recognized through awards including the 2008 IDSA Gold Medal in Research (SizeChina), the 2019 Lexus Design Award Grand Prix (Algorithmic Lace), the 2021 Space and Satellite Hall of Fame induction (Jim Oliver), the 2023 Crystal Cabin Award University Category win, and the 2026 Crystal Cabin Award University Category win for the Airbus/Delta co-developed SMARTrack system.

Name

Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design

Legal name

Georgia Institute of Technology

Website

https://id.gatech.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The School of Industrial Design is an academic department within Georgia Institute of Technology that delivers BSID, MID, and MS-HCI programs to undergraduate, graduate, and continuing-education students, supported by eleven research labs and applied industry partnerships spanning aviation, automotive, and healthcare design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Industrial Design Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Additive Manufacturing Education & Academic Programs (IMAAAJAB)

Keywords

• Industrial design education
• Design research labs
• Human-centered design
• Undergraduate design degree
• Graduate design program

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: As part of Georgia Institute of Technology, the School of Industrial Design generates revenue through tuition from undergraduate and graduate degree programs including Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design and Master of Industrial Design.
2. Make 10 Marketplace: Students design and manufacture products in batches of 10, testing production and entrepreneurship strategies. Revenue generated from sales of student-made products.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Industry partners sponsor design showcases, research projects, and educational programs including companies like Orange Sparkle Ball, Delta, Formation Design Group, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design delivers accredited undergraduate (BS in Industrial Design), graduate (Master of Industrial Design), and joint MS-HCI degree programs, supported by eleven research labs, fabrication and prototyping shops, design studios, and multidisciplinary collaborations. The school's core deliverable is evidence-based industrial design education that prepares students to humanize connections between people and technology across automotive, aviation, healthcare, and consumer product industries.

Product overview

Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design operates as an academic unit within Georgia Institute of Technology, offering undergraduate (BSID), graduate (MID), and joint MS-HCI degree programs. The School maintains eleven research labs including Algorithmic Craft Lab, Body Scan Lab, Interactive Product Design Lab, and GM HMI Lab, where faculty and students conduct human-centered design research. Student-facing offerings include the Launchpad Design Showcase (semester-end exhibition featuring Make 10 marketplace where students sell manufactured products), the By Design speaker series, SID Awards program, and annual Georgia Tech Auto Show. The curriculum integrates aesthetic, functional, sustainable, and cognitive considerations, preparing designers for technology, automotive, healthcare, and consumer product industries through evidence-based approaches and experiential learning across fabrication shops and multidisciplinary collaborations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design (BSID)
• Master of Industrial Design (MID)
• MS-HCI (Human-Computer Interaction)
• Pre-College Summer Program
• Summer Courses

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IDSAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Georgia Tech hosted the IDSA Southern District Design Conference 2026, bringing together students, educators, and industry professionals for portfolio reviews, career clinics, and Student Merit Awards. The conference theme was RE(CONNECT).
• AirbuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Airbus partnered with Georgia Tech Industrial Design graduate students for the Circular Design Research course, developing aviation cabin innovations including Crystal Cabin Award-winning projects. Students worked on real-world aircraft interior challenges with direct industry input.
• Delta Air LinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Delta partnered with the school for Circular Design Research, providing real industry data and challenges for student projects on cabin operations, sustainability, and passenger experience. Projects focused on reducing food waste and improving turnaround efficiency.
• Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference CenterminorOthersPreferred hotel venue for IDSA SDDC 2026 conference attendees, located at 800 Spring St. NW Atlanta, adjacent to campus.
• IN2 InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted storytelling workshop for designers at IDSA SDDC 2026; experience innovation design agency with 20+ years of industry experience.
• TractianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunchpad Design Showcase sponsor, supporting the school's end-of-semester student showcase event.
• Black Diamond Motor SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunchpad Design Showcase sponsor supporting student design showcase.
• Butler Tires and WheelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunchpad Design Showcase sponsor.
• Orange Sparkle BallminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign firm sponsor of Make 10 Award and participant in Industrial Design Career Fair, providing entrepreneurship support for students.
• Formation Design GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Industrial Design Career Fair recruiting students for internships and employment.
• Harmonic DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Industrial Design Career Fair recruiting design talent.
• HyundaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSangYup Lee, VP of Design at Hyundai, delivered keynote at the 2026 Georgia Tech Auto Show, discussing future of mobility and design.
• Lockheed MartinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly employer of alumnus Jim Oliver who designed antenna positioners, sensors, and stabilizers for U.S. Air Force satellites; legacy connection to aerospace design.
• Scientific-AtlantaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJim Oliver worked at Mead Packaging and Scientific-Atlanta where he led antenna development that helped launch ESPN and CNN; legacy industry connection.
• Thai GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLisa Marks collaborated with Thai government on bamboo trade project exploring craft revitalization for economic empowerment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pratt Institute - School of Design: Major private design school with industrial design programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. Comparable as a leading U.S. industrial design program with similar studio-based pedagogy and industry partnerships.
• Parsons School of Design (The New School): Major NYC-based design school offering industrial design and product design programs. Lisa Marks' alma mater and comparable in offering both BFA and graduate industrial design tracks with a craft-meets-technology orientation.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Premier private design school offering BFA and graduate industrial design programs. Comparable as a top-tier U.S. industrial design program competing for similar student talent, though with stronger fine-arts orientation and higher tuition.
• ArtCenter College of Design: Premier private design college especially strong in transportation/product design. Comparable as a top industrial design program with deep automotive and consumer product industry ties, particularly relevant given GT ID's GM HMI Lab and Auto Show.
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): Private research university with strong industrial design, GIS, and prototyping programs. Comparable as a STEM-designated design program at a technology-focused institution with similar maker-culture orientation.
• University of Cincinnati - College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP): Top-ranked public university industrial design program with STEM-designated BSID and co-op model. Closely comparable as another leading public-research-university ID program with strong industry connections and similar scale.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): Large private design college offering industrial design programs with strong industry placement. Comparable as a leading U.S. industrial design program competing for similar students with a stronger private-college commercial model.
• Carnegie Mellon University - School of Design: Top research-university design school with strong technology and HCI integration, mirroring Georgia Tech's STEM-design and research-intensive model. Directly comparable for technology-focused industrial design education and interdisciplinary work with engineering.
• Virginia Tech - School of Design: Public research university industrial design program with strong industry and government ties. Directly comparable as another top public-university ID program within a major research institution.

Broad incumbents

• University of the Arts London (UAL) - Central Saint Martins: One of the world's leading design schools with a strong product/industrial design program. Comparable as a globally recognized industrial design program at a major art-and-design institution, though broader in scope than GT ID's technology-research focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLqMB28CWh3FLYUqLtgOaRtXjTvnf2VNcE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/georgia-tech-industrial-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design