If you are looking forward to designing a new product, optimizing an existing design, or adding new aesthetics, or just want to explore an interdisciplinary field, Engineering Design is the right option for you!
What is Engineering Design?
Engineering Design is a branch that involves the application of scientific and mathematical principles to create new products and systems. It involves the integration of multiple disciplines such as Mechanical, Electrical, and Materials Engineering along with considerations for aesthetics, functionality, and user experience. Students from this branch develop strong design professionalism and a deep sense of aesthetics with a focus on automotive engineering, biomedical design, design for life, and robotics. Automotive systems and engines, computer-aided design, rapid prototyping, mechatronics, product design, controls, and vehicle dynamics are some of the key topics covered in this program.
Applications of Engineering Design
Engineering Design has a wide range of applications across various sectors. It involves fundamental principles that are key to the creation and improvement of Products, Systems, and Processes. Engineering design is extensively used in creating new products or improving existing ones. This includes everything from consumer goods (electronics, appliances) to industrial equipment and machinery. The automotive industry benefits highly from engineering design as it is used in designing vehicles, their components, and systems by considering several performance parameters. Other applications broadly range in Aerospace, Architecture, Electronics, Robotics, and Biomedical device designs such as prosthetics. These applications highlight the versatility of engineering design across different fields, contributing significantly to technological advancements.
Engineering Design at IIT Madras
Being the 16th and the most recent department of IIT Madras, Engineering Design was established with a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and research. The department offers two dual degree (5-year) programs with B. Tech in Engineering Design and M. Tech in:
- Automotive Engineering
- Biomedical Design
- Interdisciplinary Robotics (IDDD)
The curriculum typically covers topics such as product design, manufacturing processes, human factors, and design optimization. Here are some courses:
| Mechatronics System Design | Vehicle Dynamics |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Automotive Design | Human Factors in Design |
| Digital Signal Processing for Engineering Design | Computational Methods in Design |
The department has several state-of-the-art facilities including graphic arts studios and modern laboratories such as the Medical Equipment Dissection Lab. The course also includes business management, economics, foreign language, and ethics, with the right mix of theory and practicals. A compulsory industry internship for 6 months in the 8th semester makes the ED dual degree program very unique. The labs in the department have consistently aided students, who have built several systems. You can view the labs in the department here.
Collaborations
Students from this department get the opportunity to gain industrial experience as interns in companies like Titan, Philips, Siemens, JK Tyres, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra, Caterpillar, ITC, etc. Several renowned research centers and universities such as CERN, NTU Singapore, Purdue University(USA), Fraunhofer-Gesellschat (Hamburg), etc offer research internships for students.
The Engineering Design program at IIT Madras stands as a testament to the institute’s commitment to interdisciplinary excellence. Choosing Engineering Design means stepping into a realm where creativity meets functionality, where ideas transform into concrete solutions. The interdisciplinary nature of the program ensures that students develop a holistic understanding of the design process, preparing them to tackle complex challenges in a wide array of industries.
Welcome to Engineering Design, where you work with cutting-edge technologies in IIT Madras, with Industry collaborations, and contribute to groundbreaking research, making it the best place to build an impactful career!
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