Bosman, GerhardSmit, J. D.Smit, P.Wagener, A.Ras, J. W.Topkin, Aiden2022-03-012022-03-012020http://hdl.handle.net/11660/11470The Central University of Technology (CUT) is an innovative institution that aims to be a centre of knowledge that will produce an excellent group of innovators who WILL contribute directly to society as well as the 4th Industrial Revolution society (CUT, 2019: online). It is an important institution that focuses on technological fields of studies including engineering, information systems and, health and environmental studies, etc. CUT also has various research units which include a CRPM (Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing), PDTS (Product Development Technology Station), FabLab, etc (CUT. 2019.online). These units are equipped with advanced machinery that makes it possible for the development of new products and technologies. So far, these units are mainly used by lecturers and researchers and not by students or the public. Industrial design is an ideal course that will allow students to make use of these machines and equipment. This will give CUT the opportunity to expand its course selections and allows students to participate in a course that offers the opportunity to be part of cutting-edge designs and inventions. An industrial design department on the campus of CUT is proposed which will contain all the equipment and expertise from CUT’s research units that students can learn from. This new department will be situated on the edge of the campus along President Ave nue which is close to the FabLab and CRPM units. The proximity to the public street will give students and the public to interact and share (exchange) knowledge. The focal point of the building should be that the department is structured in such way that the public can enter parts of the building and learn about industrial design. The public should be allowed to test the student’s designs and give feedback on how it can be improved or even re-designed. There should be constant exchange and collaboration between the public and the students. This will encourage critical thinking and foster life – long learning which are all competencies needed in the 4th Industrial Revolution. The aim is to explore boundaries on the CUT campus and dematerialize them without removing them. It is important for the interested persons from the public to learn from CUT without being enrolled at the institution. The department should be planned in such way that the public is always cognisant of what is happening inside. The main question asked during this investigation is: Can an industrial design department architecturally break the institutional ter tiary boundaries on a South African campus? The dissertation is structured into four parts. The first part looks at the problems and aims identified through topology, typology, morphology and tectonics. The second part explores the conceptual frame and theoretical underpinnings of the disserta tion. Part three explores the design process and its technical resolutions. A reflection of this dissertation concludes the fourth part. introduction and orientation Industrial design is the application of both art and science to improve the usability, appearance and ergonomics of an object or product (Fig.01). Industrial design aims to innovate the future. It is a field which requires one to analysis current trends and technologies to improve. Industrial design looks at: feasibility and manufacturing, human centred design, sustainable design, economics of the design, methodology research, and lastly future research. Industrial design aims to improve the lives of society while also focusing on aesthetics.enDissertation (M.Arch. (Architecture))--University of the Free State, 20204th Industrial Revolution societyInnovation institutionKnowledge CentreDissertationUniversity of the Free State