From Physical to Digital: The Journey from Industrial Design to UX/UI

The world of design is constantly evolving. Once shaped around purely physical products, the creative process today is being redefined by digital experiences. Industrial design education is built on core principles like understanding users, problem-solving, and balancing form and function. These same foundations are exactly what opened the door for product design to transform into UX/UI in the digital age.

For an industrial designer, a chair is never just an object; it requires considering ergonomics, materials, user habits, and usage scenarios. That mindset hasn’t changed—only the medium has. Today, the surfaces we shape are not wood or steel, but pixels and interactions.

In digital products, we do not design just a form—we design an experience. Mobile apps, websites, digital services… all touch users, solve problems, and leave an impression just like physical products do. The “user-centered thinking” embedded in industrial design still beats at the core of UX with the same strength.

When it comes to UI, the tactile texture, color palette, and details of a physical product translate into typography, contrast, iconography, and visual hierarchy in a digital interface. The materials may change, but the design principles remain the same: understand the user, solve the problem, and make it intuitive.

Today, many designers with an industrial design background bring a powerful point of view into digital product design. They aren’t just designing screens; they are bringing emotion, narrative, and design intelligence into the digital world.

In a rapidly digitalizing world, the concept of “product” is being redefined. And perhaps the most beautiful part is this: the essence of design hasn’t disappeared—it has evolved. Physical and digital now ask the same question:

“How do I create a better experience for the user?”