Industrial Design Engineering

"Hi there! I'm a first year at IDE that's very happy with my study choice so far! As someone who's both very creative and enjoys problem solving, IDE has been the perfect middle ground for my many interests. I enjoy how practical and real-world our workshops and projects are, helping develop my skills and prepare me and my portfolio for the actual job market. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to shoot me an email, I'd be more than happy to answer!"

“At IDE we design products all the time. Working on SolVive with my dedicated team was an incredible experience. SolVive is a ceramic facade system that helps buildings in cities like The Hague stay cooler during hot summers. The idea is inspired by nature, by animals like the sea star and the thorny devil. It uses clay tiles, moss, and air channels to cool things down naturally. We learned from each other and brought our ideas into an cohesive solution. We're proud of the result and excited to see it used in real life soon.”

"My experience in IDE is surprising. Working hands on with companies and applying the knowledge we learn directly into the field is quite different from just learning and making exams which I was accustomed to. For example, we designed a toy for children in the first semester which helped us grasp how to design for other target groups! I love The Hague as it’s a very international city full of kind people and our course is also full of people from all over the world! In the future, I would like to design for the world and work in different countries, maybe even do a master."

"This program's flexibility is crucial for me to reach my goals! What's so special about it is how we seamlessly apply the knowledge we gain to our projects, giving us a firsthand feel for the industry. Studying abroad is a journey, where I soak up knowledge while interacting with folks from all corners of the globe, constantly pushing my limits and exploring new perspectives. I'm eager to dive deeper into the technical side of Industrial Design Engineering, with the support of our lecturers and opportunities to innovate on campus and globally. As someone who dreams big, I aim to contribute to innovative design solutions in either the automotive or aerospace sectors." 

"At the end of each semester, we have the IDE Expo. An event to look forward to! Every team gets to show their final design, prototype, and poster to the client and the audience. I have been a part of 4 expos by now. Last time me and my team showcased our filtration gully designed to filter stormwater before it gets back into the underground water reserves. The project was part of the ‘Design with Nature’ semester, where we abstract nature’s principles to mechanical principles. Our team managed to integrate no less than 3 organisms in our design: the flamingo, the mangrove tree and the basking shark. Overall, the Expo is fun as you get to see other teams’ solutions as well."

"During this semester you will learn about engineering drawing and manufacturing. You gain knowledge about the strength and stiffness of materials. Also, you get to know standard parts that designers integrate into their products: bolts, nuts, bearings and springs. While learning more about those topics, you and your group members design a product. After 15 weeks, you will deliver a prototype. This time, a group worked on a belt for a wheelchair and another group designed a tracking mechanism for elephants in Africa. As a tutor I help the students moving forward. I like asking a lot of questions and I enjoy watching the enthusiasm of students identifying and solving the problem. Sometimes, real life clients don’t understand the problem themselves, so problem identification is an important part."

"We live in an ever expanding universe, innovation has become a demanding buzzword and our societal & environmental problems keep mounting on top of each other. Good designers stand in the face of such challenges with a smile on their faces and creative sparks in  their eyes. That’s the mindset I expect my IDE students to channel while we help them in building a good design skillset. We teach human-centered design here at IDE, hoping to expand it to life-centered design – where not only humans but all life is valued and designed for. My personal expertise is in the field of positive design, or in other words, design for happiness. And that’s what I hope for my IDE students to gain from this program as well: happiness!"

"The first semester ‘Basics of IDE’ is pretty much what it says it is. Your group of 4 or 5 students will work on a design for an external client. You start with user research to really understand your assignment. From those insights you generate a ton of ideas. Then you apply design methods to select and develop the best ideas. You also learn about group dynamics and cultural differences so decisions won’t be about the loudest voice. Classes like sketching, prototyping, business and strategy support you on the road to proudly presenting your design to the client at the expo. I love coordinating this semester because it’s super motivating to be a part of students’ amazing learning curve."

“IDE gave me the freedom to explore every corner of design, from industrial to digital, while working with real clients from day one. The program pushed me to experiment fearlessly but with guided support. It felt like having a safety net. The portfolio that I built up actually meant something. That hands-on experience? Game-changer. I landed my first job immediately and haven't looked back. Now, 6 years into designing AI products and pursuing my PhD, I'm still using the problem-solving mindset IDE taught me. Best decision ever, it shaped not just my career, but how I think.”

“Looking back to my studying days, I can now tell that IDE is a modular program, designed to be a series of knowledge puzzle pieces from which you can choose & start your own career path. IDE gave me the necessary tools to design a toy with a huge impact to children exposed to traumatizing experiences, and also curated me with the necessary soft skills & patience so I can deal with any obstacles. Now I work as a Product Designer at the largest handbags company in Greece, enjoying the big potential and challenges, trying to make a sustainable difference.”

"I work as a design researcher at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the group Designing Value Networks. There, I focus on how design can be used to learn, think in systems, and collaborate to solve real-world challenges. My projects are around sustainability, such as affordable housing in Europe and sustainable farming. My background in Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) made this career feel like a natural step. For me, design and research go hand in hand. I often switch between the two, combining creative methods, content design and writing to create impact."