Best Online Industrial Design Tutorials and Courses For Users of all Levels

Are you interested in learning about industrial design? There are many online courses that can help you get started, from beginner to expert levels. In this blog post, we'll share eight of the best courses for you to check out. Whether you're a total beginner or want to take your skills to the next level, there's something for everyone here! Keep reading for more information.

What is Industrial Design?

Industrial Design is the process of working with and developing ideas for products that may be sold to consumers. To do this requires a strong background in the humanities and a wide variety of skills, including sketching, engineering, and industrial design tools like SelfCAD for visualization. And it is such a broad subject that there are numerous reasons why someone might be interested in studying it, among all other sorts of design.

Top 8 Industrial Design Courses

This list will be handy for those who are considering a career in industrial design or who currently have some fundamentals but want to expand for the better. In this list of top 10 courses, We have included introductory level to advanced courses. Enjoy!

1. Introduction to Product Design Online Short Course - UAL

With over 23 years of experience in designing, making, and consulting, Jason Allcorn brought an in-depth Product Design course with practical examples that made this course stand out from the rest of the courses.

The course emphasizes project-based learning and hands-on exploration, particularly through sketching and model-making. Various theories and industrial subjects related to product design will also be addressed. The course aims to focus on project-based learning and hands-on experimentation, predominantly sketching and model-making.

What You'll Learn

• The importance of understanding your customer's needs when designing products.
• Enhancing your sketching and technical drawing skills.
• Develop a clear idea for your product in its early stages.
• Collaborating with the other members of the class.
• Going through generating ideas and developing concepts.
• + more 

2. Interactive Tutorials of SelfCAD

SelfCAD is a powerful 3D modeling program that gives industrial designers the ability to create complex designs with ease. The software offers a wide range of features and tools, making it a versatile tool for both amateur and professional designers. 

One of the most unique aspects of SelfCAD is its interactive tutorials. These tutorials guide users through the various features of the software, providing step-by-step instructions on how to create particular designs. The tutorials are also interactive, meaning that users can manipulate the 3D model as they follow along with the tutorial. This makes it easy to learn how to use SelfCAD, even for those with no prior experience in 3D modeling. As a result, the software’s interactive tutorials are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning how to create 3D models.

You'll learn about:

Here are 10 things you will learn from the SelfCAD tutorials:

• How to create basic 3D shapes such as cubes, spheres, and cylinders.
• How to add details and textures to your models.
• How to use Boolean operations to create more complex shapes.
• How to use sculpting tools to add realism to your models.
• How to create animation sequences with keyframes.
• How to render your models in photo-realistic quality.
• How to prepare your models for 3D printing.

3. Autodesk Learning and Certification

Autodesk is a leading 3D design software company, and its 3D design suite includes Fusion 360, one of the most popular applications for industrial designers. Autodesk also offers a great online learning platform with courses and certifications that can help you get up to speed with the software.

The course content is provided by domain experts who will show you how to use Autodesk Fusion 360 from the ground up. You'll learn about the tools available in Fusion 360 and how designers use them today. This course is also available on Coursera; however, this version will cost you money after registration (but not for long).

You'll learn about:

• Getting introduced to Autodesk products.
• The fundamentals of each product individually with the domain experts.
• More importantly, you’ll learn Fusion 360 as an industrial designer.
• The basic concepts of industrial design workflows.
• Using the tools within Fusion 360, such as sketching and modeling.
• 3D component modeling process.
• Assembling the 3D components with joints.
• + more

4. Industrial Design Foundations - Learn Squared

Oculus VR industrial designer Tim Zakri has leveraged cutting-edge technologies to create an outstanding course. From the fundamentals to developing 3D visualizations, the course allows students to participate in a community where they can grow their industrial design journey and more.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Introducing the fundamentals and history of industrial design.
• Understanding the design philosophy by taking through various real-life products.
• This will teach you to create 3D product models and components in CAD.
• And developing a meaningful design and implementing it in the project.
• + more.

5. Sustainable Packaging in a Circular Economy - edX

A circular economy recognizes that there are no waste products and that everything is reused or recycled in some way. The theory of a circular economy has been around since the 1980s, but companies like Coca-Cola, Dell, and Lego have recently implemented this model successfully. You should take this course if you want to build sustainable environments that tackle Earth's problems while being inventive and looking toward the future. Moreover, if you can make something like that, your product is more likely to be in high demand.

So, by taking this course, you’ll learn:

• Reduces pollution by not creating any waste products.
• Saves money through reduced costs associated with waste disposal. 
• Sustainable packaging best practices through case studies.
• Closed-loop packaging system.
• Developing business strategies.
• +more

6. Become an Industrial Designer - LinkedIn

LinkedIn Learning is a collection of online courses that can help you achieve your career goals. It offers courses for anyone who wants to learn a new skill, no matter their current level of expertise. LinkedIn created this course with the top 8 industry professionals who will guide you from fundamental to advanced Industrial Design concepts.

Course Highlights:

• Product design sketching.
• Prototyping for product design.
• Takes you through Rhinoceros 3D for architecture and product design.
• Learn: How to turn your concept into CAD.
• Teaches you how to turn your CAD into a functional 3D model ready for rendering and manufacturing.
• + more

7. Generative Design for Industrial Applications - Coursera

This course teaches you the fundamentals of generative design and how it can be applied to industrial design. You will learn how generative algorithms can be used to generate new ideas, as well as how they can help refine existing designs.

Course Highlights:

• Introducing the trends that are influencing the design industry.
• Advanced design skills with the help of Fusion 360 CAD.
• Reverse engineering design process and workflow.
• + more

8. Fundamentals of Manufacturing Processes - edX

This course is designed to provide an overview of manufacturing processes, from the design and analysis of parts to their final assembly. The topics covered include machining, welding, casting, and forming methods. In addition to discussing these processes in detail, you will also learn about how they are used in practice today.

What you'll learn:

• Manufacture process planning from the basics.
• The modules describe machining, casting, thermoforming, robotics, and more.
• Understanding the manufacturing system.
• Introducing you to the module that explains electronics.
• Manufacture cost and sustainability.
• + more

The Bottom Line

It’s important to remember that not all courses are created equal. Some are more focused on practical applications such as manufacturing processes, while others cover more theoretical aspects like product development and engineering fundamentals. However, regardless of your level, there's something here for everyone! Start by enrolling in the above courses and develop your skill to build something you have always wanted.

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Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.

Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.