Howest University is known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education and research, and its close collaboration with industry, business and social profit sector. HOWEST is a member of Ghent University Association and is fully accredited by NVAO, the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation. The University has strong profile in product design. The organisation is joining the partnership with professionals who are teaching at the university, but also with their product design class, who will be part of the digital and design development.
Howest-Industrial Design Center (IDC) is an open knowledge center fully connected to the education and research program of the professional bachelor Industrial Product Design in Kortrijk, Belgium. Thanks to the association with Ghent University it works in close collaboration with the academic master Industrial Design Engineering. Howest is also part of a cluster with Digital Design & Development ( DEVINE), a 3-year bachelor’s degree fully taught in English and is part of The Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) and the Royal Conservatory.
The IDC is Belgian’s biggest maker space linked at Industrial Product Design program and the Industrial Design Center is a living lab where industry, research and education meet, make and co-create. The advanced technological and inspirational infrastructure wants to trigger cooperation, spark innovation and provoke solutions. IDC houses a unique blend of traditional machinery and high-end techniques and the machine park is open for students, researchers and professionals (industry, freelancers and start-ups).IDC conducts research & development within the field of industrial product design. The overall goal is to support professional designers in manufacturing companies and organizations with their innovative design activities, and as a result increase the quality of their integral design process.
IDC also focuses on initiating design competences with non-designers, to address social relevant challenges and to approach them by stimulating open and multidisciplinary collaborations.
