Two labs are attached to the the industrial design subject area:
The Industrial Design Lab (ID-Lab) conducts practical research into the trends and possibilities in the area of digital production. The knowledge gained in this way is passed on in tuition modules, workshops and lectures, and is also published online. A third industrial revolution is now in underway (characterized by concepts such as mass customization, on-demand production and the sharing economy), accompanied by a faster pace of activity at every level of the economy. This is creating the need for designers who can quickly pick up new technologies and processes, and learn to apply their new knowledge flexibly. Part of the task of the Industrial Design Lab is to enable the provision of training for this new type of designer. The ID-Lab is closely integrated with the curriculum of the Bachelor of Arts specialization in Industrial Design, but is also used by other specializations. There are also partnerships in place with companies and universities, in Switzerland and abroad.
The Design and Technology Lab features a unique interdisciplinary package of teaching and research. It is operated jointly with the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering of ETH Zurich. By involving external partners, students are able to tackle real design problems, generating direct benefits within industry and society. The resulting intensive exchanges between teaching and research, exchange of specialist subject knowledge, and shared public relations activities in the form of lectures, exhibitions, etc. help to generate an increased awareness of design and technology within academia, industry and wider society. The Design and Technology Lab is located in Technopark Zurich.