INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: FIRST

CHOICE, SECOND CHOICE OR NO CHOICE AT ALL

CHOO, LARIRIT, REÑA3 IND-1

I. IntroductionBackground of the study

University of Santo Tomas or UST is probably known as the oldest university in Asia which recently celebrated its 400 years of being an educational institution. It has been the home of a lot of students for generations and it has been known as one of Philippines’ finest schools. UST has a lot of courses to offer and one of those courses would be Fine Arts and Design.

University of Santo Tomas – College of Fine Arts and Design (UST-CFAD) teaches a copious number of students particularly, Industrial Design major. Industrial Design is a degree offered by CFAD in which the students are trained to design products for the industry in a simple but aesthetically wealthy way which can also be mass-produced.

Industrial Design in UST started during the 1980’s. It was under the CAFA or College of Architecture and Fine Arts which soon degenerated into two different colleges, the College of Architecture and the College of Fine Arts and Design. Some of the current Industrial Design professors in UST and practitioners outside UST earned their degree from this college under the Industrial Design major.

Looking back in history, Industrial Design during its earlier years in the Philippines is not well-known. Only few countries offer the said course. Industrial Design, being new and an enigma in our country, was only taken by few who may have took an interest into it, wanted to try something new or had no choice at all. Only a few decided to take up this course at first, fewer who graduated. Nowadays, because of the changing world, Industrial Design has become well-known and is now considered an internationally-based career.

Every year, there are numerous number of students who have chosen CFAD majors. There are four major courses in CFAD; Advertising Arts, Interior Design, Painting and Industrial Design. Unfortunately, majority of students from Industrial Design got the course for reconsideration to enter the university/college while others got it from their 2nd choice and only few have chosen to take up this course from the start. After some time, some of them realized that this field was meant for them and finally didn’t bother to shift to their desired course from the past.

Among the four majors of College of Fine Arts and Design, Industrial Design is second to painting in the least number of population. To find out how many students had Industrial Design for their 1st, 2nd or no choice at all, the researchers conducted a statistical research.

Objectives of the study1. This study aims to find out how many

Industrial Design students had Industrial Design as their 1st, 2nd or no choice at all.

2. This study aims to determine how many Industrial Design students got the course just for reconsideration to enter the university/college.

3. This study aims to determine whether Industrial Design major is just a stepping stone to enter the university or is it a course that is gradually starting to enter the limelight.

Significance of the StudyThe survey would contribute to the following:

1. Graduating High School StudentsThis will help them determine whether or not to take

Industrial Design as their course in college. A bird’s eye view from their upperclassmen that “have been there” may influence their course preference and their future plans.

2. First Year and Second Year Industrial Design Students

If they are still unsure of what they really want to do, they can still have the option to pursue another career while they still have the chance to do it. Things will get harder when they reach their 3rd year because it is an Industrial Design student’s point of no return.

Scope and limitationThis study is conducted find out the number of students in

the Industrial Design students’ population in UST took up Industrial Design because it is their first choice, second choice, no choice at all, because of reconsideration to enter the college, a stepping stone to their career plans or because it interest them. This study would help graduating high school students, freshmen and sophomore Industrial Design students on deciding whether to pursue it or not or to continue taking it up or change their course.

However, the survey for this study will only be conducted to Industrial Design students of University of Santo Tomas from first year up to fourth year level.

Definition of Termsa. AdvertisingIt is a form of communication for marketing and used

to encourage or persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners; sometimes a specific group) to continue or take some new action.

b. DesignIt is the creation of a plan or convention for the

construction of an object or a system.c. Fine ArtsIt denotes art forms developed primarily for aesthetic

and/or concept, distinguishing them from applied arts that also have to serve some practical function.

d. Industrial DesignIt is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, functionality, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production. e. Industrial Designers They develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys and combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day.The role of an industrial designer is to create and execute design solutions for problems of form, usability, physical ergonomics, marketing, brand development, and sales.f. Interior Design It describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an "effective setting for the range of human activities" that are to take place there.

g) Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other

medium to a surface(support base).h. Practitioners Someone who engages in an occupation, profession,

religion, or way of life.i) University of Santo TomasIs a private, Roman Catholic university run by the Order of

Preachers in Manila. Founded on 28 April 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest existant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia and is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one campus.

j) University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design

It is popularly known as "UST – CFAD", is the fine arts school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and the largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines.

Chapter 2Review of Related Literatures

Industrial Design in the PhilippinesThe Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design is a

four-year degree program in the Philippines that is primarily concerned with the design and development of usable products as well as the designing packaging and systems.

Aside from taking the said subjects, one is also given an opportunity to undergo an On-the-Job Training (OJT) program at graphic design studios, manufacturing companies or other similar establishments where one can further hone their designing skills.

The Current Most Popular College Courses in the Philippines

During certain points in the school year, it’s not surprising to see masses of seniors trooping to various university campuses for the purpose of taking their entrance exams.  After all, that’s a major step in being able to attend the college of their choice.Picking a college to attend is only half of the decision, though.  The other half involves choosing an actual course to pursue.  With the myriad of choices available, how does one narrow things down to a more manageable list?One strategy is to find out what most college courses people are into these days.  Don’t sweat it, as we’ve compiled a helpful little list for you.  Here they are, in no particular order.

Medical Courses:The aging populations of developed countries, medical tourism and the

expansion plans of developing ones have given rise to the increase in demand of health care workers.  According to the Department of Labor and Employment, the manpower request for graduates of health related courses has been steadily increasing by 2.3% yearly.

Nursing: while there seems to be a temporary surplus of nurses in the country, it is expected that the demand for graduates of this course will continue to increase within the next 10 years.

The current top overseas destination of graduate nurses are Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore, Kuwait, United Kingdom, US, Qatar, Taiwan, Ireland and Trinidad and Tobago.

Specialized nurses [operating, ER, anesthetic, scrub, theatre, critical care/ICU, pediatric, cardiac, burn, pediatric, oncology, catheter, and trauma] will also be in demand in European countries like Belgium, Spain, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Asian countries like Bruniei, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan on the other hand will need Dental Nurses, Chief Nurses, Head Nurses and Nurse Managers.Other medical workers like Doctors, midwives and Physical therapists will also be in demand in countries like Poland, Belgium, Germany and Singapore. 

Education:The growing lack of skilled educators in developed countries

has also sparked the rush towards education courses.  Specially needed are elementary, secondary, science, math, physical education and childcare teachers, professors and lecturers in KSA, Libya, Seychellles, Macau, US and South Korea.

Culinary Arts and Hotel & Restaurant Management:The rise of tourism as part of the development plan of quite a

number of countries here in Asia, the Middle East and some parts of Europe has also catalyzed the demand for Chefs, tour guides, hotel mangers and other tourism related workers.  Demand for skilled workers in this area has been increasing steadily by a factor of 3.5% yearly for the past 5 years garnering a total of 160,300 manpower requests from several countries.

Banking and Finance Courses:

The increasing inter-connectedness of the global economy as well as the

growth of the global financial market has also increased the demand for

graduates of banking and finance graduates.  Of special mention in this

category are Accounting Clerks, Bookkeepers, Auditors, Cashiers, Credit

Card Analysts, Finance Analyst/Specialists, Accountants (Account Officer,

Analyst), and Risk Management Officers.  These workers are in demand

in developing countries and financial centers such as Libya, Kuwait,

Singapore and Switzerland. Engineering Courses:

Projects regarding megacities construction in the middle east, plans to

increase manufacturing capacity, and the rise of renewable energy have

all resulted to the shortage of skilled engineers worldwide.  The last 5

years alone have seen 256,000 manpower requests from different

countries.  The demand for engineering graduates has been steadily

increasing by 2.5% yearly.

– Cyberservices:A particularly interesting development in the most popular

college courses based on global demand is in relation to cyberservices.  Demand for skilled workers in this industry has been increasing rapidly at about 6.4% yearly which is more than twice the other courses.  The last 5 years alone has seen more than 400,000 requests for manpower both locally and internationally.

It’s All Up to YouHopefully, I’ve gotten the gears in your mind turning.  Now

that you have a more manageable list to refer to, your next order of business is to reconcile your needs and wants with what the world needs and wants.

We’ll talk a little bit more about that in another article, though.  For now, keep in mind that this list will only applicable for so long.  The world and its preferences are constantly changing, and consequently, its most popular courses will change along with it.

3.Top Paying Best Hot Jobs in Philippines

Philippines and its high paying career options

The republic of is a South Asian country towards west of Pacific Ocean. It is the world’s 12 most densely populated country with an estimated population close to 92 million. Philippines is expected to bounce back in its economic situations in the coming years. It is estimated that the country will be earning largely from IT and sector, BPO segment, , , and agriculture business. These few segments are supposed to give a great economic rise to the country.

Philippines is a place for a large number of . It gives caters to international job seekers as well. Since it has a number of available people can make choice for their career in respective fields depending upon the selection criteria. Some of the career options that Philippines offer include:

– Call Center Jobs

One of the most easily available and jobs is of call centers. This is the kind of alternative

which is a source of income for many people. The best part of this is that it is open to even

who are looking to start their career. This gives a good start as there are multiple call

centers open, in fact almost every firm has their own customer care center, so people

willing to serve the customers are most welcomed. Another reason why this industry is

very popular is, people from almost every field are open to join even if they are not

graduated.One basic skill that a BPO agent is expected to have is good command over the ,

patience, and confidence as most of the business is done over the phone. Nearly every company pays around $300 per month which is close to 15000 pesos. This is a good start for people who want to start earning as early as possible. It is expected that the is going to expand around $9.5 - $12 billion in the following years.

It is not necessary that people shall get jobs that are voice based but call center do offers back office services like finance, and various corporate services.

– Technical Support Jobs

Similar to the BPO segment another highly paying job is the job in technical

support. These jobs fall in the category of the business process that act as an

outsourcing medium for many companies. They are business based and are

dealing with various . So people who have some technical background can join

these sectors that provide technical support to most of the companies that are

dealing with electronics, , banks, computers and even service providers that have

their own internet connectivity.The trend of this is upward because most of the companies believe that

giving the best solution to their customers will give them the best business. So most of the companies have hired or have open technical support centers for their users. These can be either voice based or can even be working only on and chats.

– Jobs in the Medical Profession

Apart from customer service sector Philippines is still in demand for many medical professionals like doctors

and nurses. However nursing is still one of the highly paid professions in medical field. Registered are always

in demand by most of the hospitals that are private and government based. It has been observed that most of

the girls still opt for this profession in spite of the hard work that it requires. This field not only gives good

salary but also gives respect.– IT Jobs

The of IT professionals in Philippines is still in demand. With most of the companies now believing in

internet marketing the demand of the IT people is also increasing. Most of the bigger firms are coming with big

projects which require people who are technically qualified. Therefore people from various technical

backgrounds can apply for jobs. Getting the right salary on the skills of the professional as the companies can

pay good salaries for people who are well qualified.

– Jobs in the Medical Profession

Apart from customer service sector Philippines is still in demand for many medical professionals like doctors

and nurses. However nursing is still one of the highly paid professions in medical field. Registered are always

in demand by most of the hospitals that are private and government based. It has been observed that most of

the girls still opt for this profession in spite of the hard work that it requires. This field not only gives good

salary but also gives respect.– IT Jobs

The of IT professionals in Philippines is still in demand. With most of the companies now believing in

internet marketing the demand of the IT people is also increasing. Most of the bigger firms are coming with big

projects which require people who are technically qualified. Therefore people from various technical

backgrounds can apply for jobs. Getting the right salary on the skills of the professional as the companies can

pay good salaries for people who are well qualified.

4.Fine Arts BenefitsWhy Study Fine Arts

As with any field of study, international students need to come to terms with exactly why they want to enter a specific career path or pursue a certain degree. There are many reasons and factors behind any decision and as a potential student you should consider the good and the bad behind receiving a specific degree. This is a decision that could affect the outcome of your entire life, and should be taken seriously and researched fully.

Those people that pursue a degree in Fine Arts recognize the sacrifices they may have to make in order to do what they really love. Bachelor's Degrees in Fine Arts (BFA) can open doors to many exciting opportunities that students have never thought possible. The degree itself takes a lot of hard work, networking, and creativity to obtain. Here are some reasons international students should consider pursuing a BFA degree:

Enjoyment – One of the most important reasons for pursuing a BFA degree. If you choose this path, it should be because you have a vision and are passionate about learning the fine arts. You shouldn't choose a degree that you don't believe you will be happy with.

Creative Outlet – If you are a creative individual, a BFA degree will allow you to expand on this creativity while also giving you the unique and valuable feedback of your peers and instructors.

Learning New Styles – It is a requirement of all BFA students to learn about present and past artistic styles and techniques. Obtaining this information may help improve your own work or expose you to new styles you never thought were possible.

Refining Skills – Throughout the time of your studies, you will come in contact with many professionals, workshops, and instructors in your specific field of study. The valuable feedback you receive from these contacts will help improve your skills.Connections – One of the biggest reasons people study for their BFA. Most programs have small class sizes which give you valuable one on one time with your instructor and co-ops or industry internships are often part of the curriculum.

Specialization – Usually the last two years of your degree are focused on one or two areas you wish to specialize in. This allows you to claim on your resume that you are an expert in a specific specialization and really stand out from other applicants.

Opportunity – Once you obtain your BFA degree the opportunities available to you are endless. Many industries such as fashion, film/television, education, art therapy, arts & culture management, and the entertainment industry are looking for people with degrees.

In addition to all these reasons, every student who enters a BFA program is required to take foundation courses or prerequisites before you specialize. Usually this consists of an art history course or survey of architecture and foundation drawing, sculpting, ceramics or painting courses. This can give international students valuable insight into fields of art that they may never have considered before. It should also be noted that when you study fine arts in the US, many areas of specialization are open to students including: interior design, communication arts, metalsmithing, advertising, and video game design. All US institutions require faculty to maintain professional records of their exhibitions or publications, which allow students to see if they want to specialize in their particular field.

If an international student knows that they want to obtain a BFA degree, then they may be searching for reasons why they should study fine arts in the US. There are many reasons why international students should consider studying in the US. Here are some reasons specific to US BFA programs:

Diversity – Universities in the United States have culturally diverse student populations and often practice the learning of other cultures in courses.

Choice – With over 300 fine arts colleges country wide, students will have plenty of schools to choose from including public and private universities.

Curriculum – Courses and programs are always changing since many programs have visiting professors and offer the chance to meet new artists.

Technology – Most universities are equipped with cutting edge software for students and many provide students with the opportunity to earn new technology.

Individuality – A trait that is encouraged by all professors. Every student learns the basics of fine arts and its past, but professors want to students to follow their own unique path.

Culture – The towns and cities where universities are located allow students to catch a glimpse of American culture. Nearby museums are also great places to seek cultural influence.

Safety – Universities always have the student's safety, well-being, and health in mind.

Language – Studying in the US will offer students the chance to refine their English language skills.

Choosing what and where to study can be overwhelming, but potential students need to make sure their reasons behind pursuing a certain degree are good ones. Some people will argue that a degree in the Fine Arts will mean nothing unless you are pursuing teaching. However, the unique opportunities provided to students who receive a BFA degree should not be overlooked. Many work closely with a professor in a specialized study that often leads to a career or apprenticeship that they wouldn't have been offered otherwise. International students should review their reasoning behind why they want to obtain their fine arts degree and should truly consider studying fine arts in the US. A students schooling experience should not only be memorable, but also something they loved to do every day.

Industrial design is a field that has witnessed unprecedented growth in the last few years. It includes designing of a number of commercial and consumer goods and it is an important component of automobiles, electronic items, and items for regular use in homes and offices, in addition to many other sectors. It provides brilliant opportunities to the fresh graduates in the field, who can work with highly esteemed companies from these different sectors.

Industrial design not only enables the manufacturers to enhance their revenues but also gives the designers a chance to exhibit their creative talent and therefore there is already a lot of competition in the field for getting hired by the best firms. However, certain things have to be taken into consideration before choosing industrial design as a full time profession.

Benefits of Taking up Industrial Design

Good companies are interested in hiring only the most able designers, which in turn needs you to be extraordinarily skilled and dedicated in the field. Therefore, you should go for this profession only if you are certain of your liking for the profession in addition to other basic demands of the profession like creativity. Even though computer aided industrial design can be of great help, it is always preferable to have a knack for sketching and drawing. This would aid you in maintaining a copy of your ideas as soon as they appear in your mind and help you to revisit them quickly.You should also be capable of balancing utility with attractiveness in a product that has been given to you to enhance its commercial viability. This means you have to think differently to create a product that is capable of catching the eye of a lot of consumers so that they become interested enough to buy it.

Industrial design, like all other professional courses asks for hard work and commitment for years. Education plays an important role in the field, which in turn requires you to enrol in an established institute from where you can jump to a good position in the industry.

CHAPTER 3METHODOLOGYMaterialsThe material used in this study is a survey form that involves the following:a. Respondents InformationNameAgeGenderSectionBirthdayAddress

Definition of TermsQuestionnaire1. What is your first choice degree program

upon entering UST?2. What is your second choice?3. Do you really want to pursue Industrial

Design? Why?4. If Industrial Design is not in any of your

choice why are you enrolled in this course?5. Do you have plans to transfer to another

degree program? Why?

Methods of SamplingThe samples are gathered from all the section of

Industrial Design. 12 samples per population will be asked to answer the survey. Samples will be gathered according to their section which is 12 samples per section; according to their gender which is 6 male and 6 female per section; and lastly according to their regularity in class, half of them should be regular students and the other half irregular. This method is used to understand why students would still choose Industrial Design even if they failed some of their subjects. This method also aims to know whether which gender prefers the said course. After the survey, the results will be tabulated and analyzed.

CHAPTER IVANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

The graph shows the degree programs which the Industrial Design Students chose as their first choice. Among the 30 samples, Advertising Arts was chosen by 9 students, followed by Interior Design with 8 students, next is Industrial Design with 7, then Architecture and Conservatory of Music with 3 students each, a total of 30 students.

The graph shows the degree programs which the Industrial Design Students chose as their second choice. Among the 30 samples, Industrial Design was chosen by 13 students, followed by Interior Design with 11, Advertising Arts with 9 and Architecture with 7.

The graph shows the number of Industrial Design students who said yes and no when asked if the really want to pursue the course. Whereas 11 students said yes and 19 students said no.

Chapter VSummaryThe study was conducted to know whether

Industrial design students chose their current course as their first choice, second choice or they have no choice at all. The study was limited to Industrial Design students of University of Santo Tomas from first year to fourth year. This study would contribute to the graduating high school students and freshmen and sophomore students taking up Industrial Design.

A survey was conducted to be able to gather data for the study. 30 students were asked to answer the survey. The survey aims to answer the following questions:

-How many Industrial Design students chose Industrial Design as their first choice?

-How many Industrial students chose Industrial Design as their second choice?

-How may Industrial Design students wants to pursue Industrial Design?

The survey resulted in:Out of 30 students, Advertising Arts was chosen by 9 students, followed by Interior Design with 8 students, next is Industrial Design with 7, then Architecture and Conservatory of Music with 3 students each as their first choice.

Out of 30 students, Industrial Design was chosen by 13 students, followed by Interior Design with 11, Advertising Arts with 9 and Architecture with 7 as their second choice.

Lastly, out of 30 students, 11 students said yes and 19 students said no when asked whether they want to pursue Industrial Design.

Conclusion

There are students who did not really chose Industrial Design as their course but they took it up because they were either recommended or reconsidered.

There are students who did not really choose Industrial Design as their first choice but still wants to pursue it anyway. It can be deducted that they enjoyed the said course.

One's area of interest highly influence one's choice of course.

For one to be able to pursue the course they took up, one has to enjoy the course they took up.

Recommendation

This study can be conducted in the remaining colleges in Fine Arts, too. This can help in determining which of the four courses in Fine Arts is the more in-demand. This can help the graduating high school students who wants to take up Fine Arts in choosing which course in Fine Arts they want to specialize into.

The study can be further used in other colleges within University of Santo Tomas. The results in the study could be used as guide to graduating high school students in choosing the course they would take up if they are still undecided.The study can also be an eye opener to college freshmen and sophomore if they are still uncertain whether they still want to pursue the course that they are taking up.