This is the latest installment of D-School Futures, our interview series on the evolution of industrial design education. Today we have answers from Jim Budd, chair of Georgia Tech's School of Industrial Design and coordinator of its Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction with a specialization in Industrial Design.

How different is industrial design education today than it was ten years ago? Will it look very different ten years from now?

The impact of digital technologies over the past ten years has radically reshaped society and has led to similar changes in the challenges and opportunities for industrial design education. The first changes we saw in industrial design education began with the use of more powerful digital tools to support traditional drawing and prototyping design activities—the advent of 3D modeling, rapid prototyping, laser cutting and integration of CNC tools for manufacturing. More recently, we have begun to see a much more significant impact of technology on everyday life. Wireless communication combined with the growing prevalence of sensor-based technologies are changing the way we live, work and play. This now provides opportunities for designers to play a more central role in our ability to integrate technology into everyday life in a more seamless and meaningful way.

As a result of these changes we are beginning to see industrial design grow and mature as a discipline, and I expect we will see more clarity in the range of options available in the field across the board for our future graduates.

What would you say to a prospective student who worries about the relevance of an ID education in an increasingly digital world?

Personally, I believe an ID education provides an excellent grounding for multiple career options. The skills and knowledge you acquire through a design education prepare you exceedingly well to deal with society's "wicked problems." A thorough understanding of design methods helps designers develop an uncanny ability to ask the difficult questions and probe for the root of problems that inevitably leads to better solutions. There is a universal demand for that kind of approach—particularly when it comes to dealing with the implications of digital technologies.

Jim Budd in the Interactive Product Design Lab. Top image: an interactive wearable with an accelerometer and a network of LEDs controlled by RFID sensors

A interactive children's toy built around Lego Mindstorm parts, including a touch sensor, a microphone and a proximity sensor

What sets Georgia Tech's industrial design program apart from ID programs at other schools?

Georgia Tech is classified as a "Tier-One Research Institution," and that has a significant impact on the curriculum requirements for our students. In particular, the first year is oriented toward building academic rigor to meet the overall institutional requirements in calculus and physics. That means our students have a strong base in technology, a good grounding in research, strong analytical skills and are quickly able to develop the ability to synthesize and develop comprehensive solutions to complex problems. We have also been able to leverage the technical strengths of the campus in engineering, computing and healthcare to conduct interdisciplinary collaborative studios in conjunction with industry sponsors each semester to provide our students with real-world design experience in preparation for graduation.

Our latest addition—a Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction with a specialization in Industrial Design (MS-HCI-ID)—provides a much-needed bridge between industrial design and computing to tackle the challenges of new digital technologies.

Three generations of models for a stroke rehabilitation glove

Laser-cut models and a CNC-machined full-scale prototype of a "utility bike"

What's the job market like for recent graduates of your program? Is now a good time to embark on an ID career?

We have begun to more accurately track job placement for our students over the past three years. Based on initial feedback, it appears 75 to 85 percent of our graduates from both our BSID and MID degree programs are able to secure design-related jobs within three months of graduation. This does not include students who are returning to school to take advanced degrees and does not include students we are unable to track. We have also begun to see a significant increase in the number of internship and co-op placement opportunities.

Overall, I don't believe there has ever been a better time to consider a career in industrial design. There is clearly a wider industry demand for design graduates, there are many more job options for design graduates, and the salary range for design positions is much more competitive.

If you had to give just one piece of advice to an incoming student in your program, what would it be?

Learn to work with your colleagues, share your knowledge and experience, and build a strong network of contacts.