Architecture Life

2 Responses on What is the difference between Architecture and Industrial Design?

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  By guess who at large at July 24th, 2008

  Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. A wider definition often includes the design of the total built environment: from the macrolevel of town planning, urban design, and landscape architecture to the microlevel of construction details and furniture. The term “Architecture” is also used for the profession of providing architectural services.

  Architectural design involves the manipulation of mass, space, volume, texture, light, shadow, materials, program, and other elements in order to achieve an end which is aesthetic as well as functional. This distinguishes Architecture from the applied science of engineering which usually concentrates on the structural and feasibility aspects of design.

  According to the IDSA (Industrial Design Society of America) “Industrial Design (ID) is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer.”

  Good luck in whatever you choose to do!!

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  By Eams at July 26th, 2008

  Hey, I’m an Industrial Design student at Carnegie Mellon, and I’ve got a number of friends in the Architecture department. Generally, Architects usually design environments, spaces and structures, and Industrial Designers design products, services, and interactions. However, there’s a lot of cross over between the disciplines, especially in areas like interior/environmental design or spacial interaction. On a personal level, I think Industrial Designers tend to focus more on the user experience, while Architects concentrate on the design concept.

  If you really like drawing with tools (e.g. drafting, or using CAD programs), you’ll probably like studying architecture. Most good ID programs will make you draw freehand, which is one of the things I like about it.

  Good luck, and from the sound of it, neither choice will make you unhappy.