Industrial Design

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

Develop creative solutions to everyday needs. Put a fresh twist on the tried-and-true or invent an original product that’s 100% your own. In the Industrial Design program, you’ll explore functionality, ergonomics, and aesthetics. Learn how to express concepts using rendering software. Ready to flex your creativity? Channel your ingenuity and bring innovative ideas to life? With a degree in Industrial Design, you’ll learn how to do exactly that.

Specialized Learning Labs

#1

First & Only B.S. Degree of Its Kind in PA

17

Average Class Size

industrial designer at computer

Careers

  • Industrial designers
  • Interaction designers
  • Environmental designers
Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

​​Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

​Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

​​Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

Learn From Experts: What is industrial design?

What is industrial design? Tom Ask, industrial design professor tackles this and the most asked questions about this career path. Learn how you can innovate tomorrow with creative solutions to everyday needs. Whether it's a new product or a fresh twist on an old design, you'll learn how to bring design ideas to life.

Maker Profiles:

Alum and Student Stories:

All Signs Point to Success

Cory Karges is the design manager for the company responsible for much of the creative signage at Universal and Disney, such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, an immersive coaster experience added to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal.

Engineering Inspiration

Penn College alums Jeff Feeman, and Frank Carr, engineer inspiration for thousands of spectators every year at Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster, PA - one of the top three theatre destinations in the United States. 

Tomorrow Maker in Action

As part of her senior project, Elizabeth Snedeker redesigned a common, yet troublesome surgical instrument used for partial-knee replacements. Her design has impressed a prominent orthopedic surgeon, as well as the maker of the current extractor tool.

Senior Projects:

During the final semester, students complete a capstone project that focuses on the design of a product or system of their choice. Check out the latest senior projects! 

Basketball Training Sleeve

Designed by Nolan Frederick

cosplay accessory

Cosplay Accessory

Designed by Julia Faser

Childs Toy Designed to Hold Pacifier as a Memento

Designed by Kenni Powell

Slip On Shoe Design

Designed by Kyle Benton

Diorama for a new game design 

Designed by Alexander Geyer

Toy Design

Designed by Ben Pace                        

Hiking boot for Brazilian market

Designed by Graham Burnett           

Immersive exercise equipment for paraplegics 

Designed by Jon Ditto

Testing training system on scent dog

Designed by Nina Hadden

Ethnographically based surgical tool design

Designed by Elizabeth Snedekker                    

Fitness watch with tactile interfaces 

Designed by Andrew Goth                

Mechanical keyboard with tactile and acoustic design 

Designed by Graham Burnett           

School desk design for El Salvador 

Designed by Ben Pace                     

Internals of training system showing microcontroller and custom designed impellers

Designed by Nina Hadden

Tour Schedule: Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.

Undergraduate Open House

Sunday, April 26 9 AM - 3 PM

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Contact

Admissions Office

Student Working In Lab

Facilities: Industrial Design Studio

Perfect your drawings and bring concepts to life in our collaborative studio space. Complete with a model shop and work benches, the studio is used for lab and available outside of class for project work.

Launch Virtual Lab Tour

Industry Partners: Work with experts to become an expert

Penn College's strong corporate partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.

Internship: Your knowledge in practice

Hanna Williams grew up on a farm with soil on her boots and a love of John Deere in her blood. After a life-changing car accident inspired her to seize the day, she decided to pursue industrial design at Penn College. Her can-do spirit earned her an internship at John Deere, an invaluable experience that landed her a full-time engineering position with the company.

Meet Hanna

 

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Hanna Williams

Student Experience: The community as their classroom

Student constructs his future at K'NEX

Some people spend a lifetime searching for that elusive “dream job.” Thomas Proske spent a summer experiencing his, thanks to an internship at a prominent toy maker.

Meet Thomas

Student Life: Lead and put your skills to the test

Society of Inventors and Mad Scientists (SIMS)

SIMS supports the creative design of products, systems, and environments. This organization encourages innovation, creation, wonderment, and fun in pursuit of whimsy and functionality through the active participation in design competitions, events, and projects.

Learn more

Student Wildcats of Robotic Design (SWORD)

SWORD allows students to learn and enhance valuable skills in design and manufacturing situations, project management, business presentations, graphics and web design, and computer applications. As part of the club, students build a vehicle to compete in a Design Series competition.
Learn more

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Get Involved

Penn College News:

Penn College receives awards at the Toyota Green Grand Prix

April 21, 2026

Pennsylvania College of Technology students and faculty earned accolades at the recent Toyota Green Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, New York, a competition that…

Penn College golfers ‘ready to rock’

April 21, 2026

“We’re ready to rock and roll,” Penn College golf coach Rob Lytle said as his team prepped for this weekend’s United East Conference Championship, where it…

Penn College students team up to make universal robotic gripper

April 21, 2026

Ken J. Kinley likes to pair students from different majors to tackle assignments in his Robotic Applications class at Pennsylvania College of Technology. The…

Banishing barriers to opportunity

April 20, 2026

From the Spring 2026 Penn College Magazine: The Internship Support Fund, supported largely by companies attending the college’s Recruitment Days, enables…

Spotlight on Sports: Six teams taste victory in stellar week

April 20, 2026

In one of the best combined weeks in program history, six Wildcat teams tasted victory, with the men’s and women’s tennis teams each posting two wins and…

Board of Directors approves Strategic Plan, takes other actions

April 18, 2026

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Board of Directors on Thursday approved the college’s 2026-30 Strategic Plan, authorized the appointment of the firm to…

Tri-Alpha holds second induction ceremony

April 17, 2026

The Penn College Lambda Xi Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for first-generation college students, welcomed 35 students, marking its…

SGA Silent Auction again breaks record

April 17, 2026

For the second consecutive year, the Student Government Association Silent Auction set a new fundraising record: $6,344. The annual event raises funds for the…

Students work with local businesses to practice market research

April 17, 2026

Carrying out Pennsylvania College of Technology’s mission to equip its students with real-world knowledge, students in a Marketing Research class recently…

Calling all cars: Events bring car/truck enthusiasts to two campuses

April 17, 2026

Two recent student-hosted events brought the best of new and old vehicles to the Schneebeli Earth Science Center, where the Diesel Performance Club hosted its…

Study Abroad: Gain global experience

See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.

Learn More

View the Industrial Design Tool List

Program supplies and books are available for purchase through The College Store.

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.