STRATEGY TO LINK AND DEVELOP SENIOR DESIGN STUDENT’S PROJECTS WITH LOCAL INDUSTRY

Abstract

Professional Insertion Project is a subject considered as "Design Study'' of the ninth and last semester of the degree in Industrial Design of the 2011 and 2017 programme (valid until 2023) at the Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Querétaro. It is executed as a Capstone Project and its objective is to integrate into the process of designing products, services and experiences, management skills, negotiation and professional connection with companies in the local industry for the student [1]. Even though in 2020 the state of Querétaro was ranked # 8 at national level for the development of its manufacturing industry, the work of a product designer is not very widespread and understood, unlike other countries, where the relationship between designers and companies is highly integrated and, in most cases, very profitable. That is why, and with the aim of increasing the employability of our graduates, we have designed a strategy for linking with local companies and spreading the relevance and value of design in their economic development, generating medium and long-term projects in which the company, the university and our students interact.