General Programme How to enroll? Design for Impact is part of the bachelor's degree in Industrial Product Design that can be chosen as a minor in the fourth semester of the programme. As a product designer, are you fascinated by societal challenges? Do you want to co-create and design with specific target groups and with a focus on climate change, the sharing economy or living smaller? Then this minor is for you! You go through the integral design process of a product with an extra eye on social context. In doing so, you place the user central as co-creator and are involved in the development of new concepts. You design from your insights into design methodology, social innovation, service design and user experience. In this minor, you will arrive at new business models for products, 100% circular, 100% meaningful and inclusive though not necessarily 100% tangible. Choose your specialisation in semester 4 This minor is part of the Bachelor of Industrial Product Design and continues in the fourth semester of the programme. By choosing Design for Impact, you will put a specific focus on your industrial product design degree. You will still follow the umbrella module 'Industrial Design' in this semester, but even this module will be aligned with your choice of major. You will also receive specific subjects belonging to your area of specialisation in the other three taught modules of the fourth semester. Click on the button below to see how the programmes of the three minors compare. Course unit descriptions for this study programme How to apply as an incoming international student All information on nominations, applications and tuitions can be found here. Come and visit us All info days More info? Receive the brochure by post Subscribe to the newsletter of this study programme. First name Last name E-mail Leave this field blank Programme in Pictures Strengths of the programme Unique in Belgium Howest is the only Flemish university where you can study the Industrial Product Design bachelor's program. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to complete the entire program in English, together with international students from all over the world. Kortrijk is also one of the UNESCO Cities of Design. You can see this in the many creative programs on our campus and in the city. Hands-on In our design studios and prototyping workshops, you will work with current design tools, technology, and various machines. In this modern, well-equipped environment, you will have all the opportunities to work on real cases from the industry. Strong link with the professional field You often work closely with companies. During labs, projects, and internships, you apply all your design skills to concrete tasks for the manufacturing industry. In addition, you will visit trade shows and companies and during the design weeks, you will be coached by professionals from the field. Upon graduation, you will not only have a diploma, but also a strong portfolio. Volkswagen, B'Twin, Samsonite, Orange, P&G, Extremis, Renson, Barco, Inbev, Sioen, as well as the healthcare sector are just a few of the many companies and organizations we have already worked with. This also contributes to the high job security after obtaining your degree. Personal guidance At Howest, the professors know you by name. We don't have overcrowded lecture halls, but smaller class sizes where each student can flourish. This offers the great advantage that we can guide you closely. International opportunities Do you like to look beyond borders? Then during the Industrial Product Design program at Howest, you will certainly get the chance to do so. During study trips, you will gather inspiration from designers in Europe, the US, and Asia and visit renowned companies such as Lenovo or Boeing. Occasionally, you will also receive lessons from foreign guest speakers or work with international students in thematic design weeks. In the final year, you can spend a semester studying at a foreign design school or doing an internship in a foreign company. Hét grote pluspunt bij Howest is de persoonlijke aanpak. De lectoren kennen elke student en volgen je nauw op. De gebouwen van Howest hebben bovendien een ziel. Op de bruisende campussen heerst een gemoedelijke sfeer onder studenten en lectoren. Ook bij het administratief personeel en Stuvo staat de deur altijd open. Aan deze hogeschool leer je niet enkel in boeken, je stapt ook de wereld in en oefent in de praktijk. De uitgebreide stages bereiden je voor op de arbeidsmarkt. Na de opleiding ben je klaar voor het echte werk of kan je verder studeren als je dat wil. Evy Schacht Howest Alumna 2021 Register now! Have you decided? We look forward to welcoming you to our Howest community! You can find all information about registering via the link below. Apply now FAQ If you don't find what you're looking for or have a specific question about this program, please feel free to contact us. We are available every weekday from 9am to 5pm. Direct other questions to this contact person: What laptop and other hardware do I need? In the case you buy a laptop through Howest, you can look here which laptop is recomended by your course. In the case you already own a laptop or wish to buy a new one yourself, it needs to qualify to the same specifications. Can I study abroad in this program? Would you like to study abroad for a semester? Or are you interested in an international internship? You can! You will discover all the opportunities to go abroad within Howest on this page. During your studies, we will work together to make your international adventure a reality! What is the ideal preparatory course for Industrial Product Design? Unfortunately, there is actually no such thing. Or rather, every prior education has tangents! We touch on technical, artistic, scientific and humanities topics. We have students from almost every preliminary course. So for one subject, you can be ahead, while for another you are a freshman! We provide 'portfolio modules' in the curriculum. These support you in moving up, your study methodology and discovering your strengths and weaknesses. Besides prior education, your motivation and other interests are equally important! The chances of success are about the same for most preparatory courses. What is the relationship between theory and practice? Each module contains theoretical building blocks and application-oriented practical lessons. Industrial Product Design is mainly a practical course with about two-thirds being labs, workshop or consultation. So one-third of our classes are theoretical, ranging from ergonomics, technology, history of design to manufacturing techniques. The curriculum no longer includes languages. We teach mathematics and apply it in technology and engineering classes. This approach allows you to earn points throughout the year and also keeps the exam period an achievable and enjoyable one! How can I prepare? How do I know if I am making the right choice? We organise bootcamps at the beginning and at the end of the summer holidays. These two-day workshops will introduce you to our way of working, the design process and your future classmates. Getting a 'taste' here already can also help you make your choice for Industrial Product Design. And you will learn from the start what your strengths or weaknesses will be when you choose this bachelor's programme. You can register at howest.be/entry-courses. Can I continue studying after Industrial Product Design? Initially, we want to train you to bachelor Industrial Product Design. But in those three years, we also work on your personal identity, interests and abstraction skills. About one student in five gets a taste for it after Industrial Product Design and wants to continue studying. This may be in an additional bachelor's programme (some students still opt for an abridged programme in furniture design or plastics, for example). At home, you will find the master's programme in Industrial Design Design Engineering at UGent. Or you can opt for a master's in architecture or product development, at home or abroad; a postgraduate degree is also possible. Thus, at Howest you can combine a master class with part-time work, follow our start-up school or jump to a 'brand and packaging' course at another university of applied sciences.