Work in progress - a course design for a Master of Design program linked to the electronic and computer engineering graduates

A Master of Design program is normally opened to the bachelor´s degree graduates who are practitioners in painting, illustration or craft, as well as an industrial designer. An engineering degree in undergraduate or post-graduate level normally does not offer much design methods to build students´ knowledge and skills in industrial design area e.g. Ergonomics. However, a demand on electronic and computer engineering industry is an advanced designer with in-deep engineering background. The author had presented a paper in FIE 2008 to investigate if a student´s engineering background is useful in their studying in Master of Design program. The conclusion of the analysis at three Master of Design students´ projects was that a student, who has engineering background, has advantage in Industrial Design in electronic and computer engineering area. The existing Master of Design program is `by project´. In order to encourage electronic and computer engineering graduates studying in Master of Design program, this paper is to introduce a ¿bridge¿ course design for the first year students in Master of Design program before they start their projects. On the other hand, an alternative pathway in the ¿bridge¿ courses can enable a Bachelor of Design graduate to entry this technology oriented program.