The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s School of Design proposes a new 120-credit Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design, with Board approval sought June 30, 2026 and implementation targeted for August 1, 2027 pending THEC and SACSCOC approvals. The program emphasizes human-centered, studio-based learning that bridges physical product innovation and digital systems, leveraging advanced fabrication facilities including a 20,000-square-foot Fab Lab with robotics, CNC, and extensive 3D printing, and a new 6,900-square-foot downtown studio. Enrollment is projected to grow to 60 students with 12 annual graduates by Year 5, and the program’s cost model shows it becoming self-sustaining by Year 3 through tuition revenue.Standing up this new degree will require curriculum development support, studio and lab equipment optimization, industry partnership development, advising and recruitment marketing, and potentially specialized software and collaboration platforms that connect students with manufacturing and healthcare employers. Vendors in design/engineering software, fab lab equipment and maintenance, internship and portfolio platforms, and targeted recruitment marketing for STEM/arts students have a near-term window to influence how the program’s labs, industry engagement, and student success infrastructure are configured before the first cohort arrives in Fall 2027.

Industry partners such as Coca-Cola, Gibson, Cirrus, and larger corporations via UT Innovation Partnerships have expressed interest in internships and hiring, suggesting strong appetite for structured employer engagement and experiential learning infrastructure.