Product Design pages in Japanese here + blog pages here

Life-enriching design through integration of functionality and aesthetics

Today’s small-lot, multiple-type production demands products that combine beauty and convenience. The goal of this course is to visualize and realize concepts from the point of view of both aesthetics and functionality.
This course deals with everything that a person uses throughout their daily life, from getting up in the morning until going to bed at night. Students will pursue original thinking through practical consideration of the meaning of a comfortable environment. Good design that can be used in society is achieved by careful observation of people, objects and communication.

Department profile (May 2009):

Total undergraduate students: 133
(M:60; F:73)
Foreign undergrad students: 4

Fulltime faculty: 4
Part-time lecturers: 22

Professors:

NOGUCHI Kazuhiro
MARUTANI Akira
YOSHIDA Haruhide
CHATANI Ayako
NAKATA Kiyoshi
KUROKAWA Kenkichi

Profiles in Japanese here

Curriculum:

1st year: Achieving basic skills in figurative art, by hands-on practice, and essential technologies including computer and traditional skills
Basic design, basic design (drafting), basic painting, 3D composition, traditions in Kyoto, material figurative arts (wood), material figurative arts (paper), handcrafts (bamboo), handcrafts (lacquer), basic CG
2nd year: building skills required for use of various materials, enhancing creativity with ability to transform ideas from 2D to 3D form.
3D figurative arts, 3D figurative arts (applied drafting & rendering), 2D figurative arts (characters), 2D figurative arts (color), practice of concept planning, material figurative arts (metal), material figurative arts (modeling & ceramics), industrial arts (resin), industrial arts (wood), computer graphics (DTP), computer graphics (CAD), basic design, photography
3rd year: Based on their interests, students select specializations
Product design, public design, product communication design, transportation design, editorial design, PCD (signage design), PCD (interface design), computer graphics (portfolio), computer graphics (applied CAD), environmental design, furniture design
4th year: Continued production of works based on own themes. An important aspect of this year is the requirement to produce graduation work and thesis and make associated presentations outside of the university.
Product design, public design, product communication design, environmental design, transportation design, editorial design, PCD graduation work and graduation thesis

A special series of lectures is provided to extend expertise in associated subjects

See also here