A case study of China and US industrial design education: Industrial design education in a multicultural world

A variety of approaches are being used within the Industrial Design Education systems by different countries to meet various challenges being faced in a multicultural world. This paper presents a case study that addresses the undergraduate education methods used by Purdue University, Indiana, USA and Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China. It explains the current education environment through the study of curriculum, course contents, department objectives, intentions and goals. The paper also explores the possible reasons for the Industrial Design education reformation in China and provides an opportunity for the western world to learn about and rethink what Industrial Design education is going on in China.