School: Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Undergraduate program: Bachelor of Design
Graduate program: Master of Design
Number of students: 190
Number of faculty: 14
Notable alumni: rising stars D. Calen Knauf and Conrad Brown of Knauf and Brown, Beleaf creators Celine Jong and Cindy Nachareun, Judson Beaumont of Straight Line Designs, Zoe Garred of Fleet Objects
Website: http://www.ecuad.ca/academics/undergraduate-degrees/bachelor-of-design/industrial-design-major
Strengths: An esteemed faculty composed of local and global design leaders, a strong reputation cemented by its 2015 ranking among the world’s design universities by Germany’s Red Dot Institute
The overview: Conducted through the Faculty of Design & Dynamic Media, rigorous coursework and hands-on projects and prototyping focus on human-centered research, sustainable design, applied industry partnerships, materials research and development and contemporary theory. School grads go on to widely divergent careers, many as entrepreneurs and leaders focusing on socially and ecologically conscious pursuits. Key fabrication facilities include a 3-D printing studio and a dedicated health-design lab, while a social innovation lab strives to dramatically reduce resource and energy consumption.