BEng Industrial Design

China is at the forefront of global design innovation, reshaping markets with creative, ingenious, and desirable products. The BEng Industrial Design at XJTLU prepares students to thrive in this dynamic context through a curriculum that combines studio-based practice, cutting-edge technology, and human-centred design thinking.

The programme is:

• Industry-Aligned and Research-Led: Built around project-based learning that reflects real-world challenges, with an emphasis on technology, creativity, and human behaviour.
• Hands-On and Future-Focused: Students work in state-of-the-art studios, workshops, and fabrication laboratories (Fab Labs), developing ideas through sketching, prototyping, and testing. Facilities include 3D scanning and printing, laser cutting, and other advanced prototyping tools.
• Holistic in Approach: Beyond technical skills, students explore design¡¯s social, cultural, and commercial dimensions. With a focus on sustainability, graduates are equipped to design responsibly for global futures.
• Globally Connected: Teaching is led by internationally renowned designers and thinkers. Students benefit from staff networks, industry partnerships, and extracurricular collaborations with both local and global manufacturers.
• Career-Oriented: Internships and placements are integral to the programme, ensuring that graduates leave with not only academic knowledge but also professional experience and a clear personal design identity.

By combining academic depth with professional practice and global vision, the BEng Industrial Design at XJTLU equips graduates to become innovative designers ready to shape the future of industry and society.

Why should I study Industrial Design at XJTLU?

By studying this programme, you can expect to:

• learn how to map, model, and combine technology with human experience to create innovative design solutions for specific design contexts or situations;
• engage in experiential learning through project-based education, which is enhanced by state-of-the-art industry-level prototyping and manufacturing facilities;
• learn from an international and multidisciplinary team of academics and design practitioners in China, the world’s manufacturing hub;
• participate in collaborative projects with our industry partners, and/or internship opportunities at national and multinational companies;
• experience the uniqueness of Suzhou, one of China¡¯s most multicultural cities, which provides a singular perspective based on its world-leading high-tech companies and its rich cultural heritage; and
• earn two degrees: an XJTLU degree recognised by China¡¯s Ministry of Education and a globally respected degree from the University of Liverpool, a prestigious member of the UK’s Russell Group.

By the time you graduate from the BEng Industrial Design programme, you will have:

• developed a specialised skillset with the ability to plan, design, develop, and produce a wide range of physical and digital products, in a variety of contexts;
• attained a comprehensive set of design communication skills, including visual language and form development, to effectively support, render, and enhance your ideas, concepts, and design narratives;
• gained experience in designing, planning, and leading user-focused research initiatives aimed at exploring, analysing, and identifying opportunities for improving the user’s quality of life;
• developed an understanding of the cross-sociocultural implications of designing for different markets and how these factors establish specific design parameters;
• learned about the properties and specifications of a variety of materials, as well as tools, machinery, fabrication, and manufacturing systems;
• gained practical insights into how to leverage behavioural patterns, materials, and technology to foster creative innovation;
• cultivated marketing and product management skills; and
• acquired specialised knowledge and honed the skills and thinking necessary to lead and excel across a spectrum of design disciplines.