The industrial design department commenced in 1992 on one of 6 regional sites of the university and at a second location in 1994 of the university in the metropolitan region of Sydney, Australia. At that time the university was a 3 partner university derived from Colleges of Advanced Education which was not uncommon in the preceding 20 years in Australia.

In 1999 under one federated model the university advanced and in 2002 the Departments of Industrial design merged with the School of Engineering at one campus 45kms west from Sydney. The industrial design department has grown from 100 students to around 400 within a School of Engineering of 55 academics and 1800 students. The university has 37,000 students on 6 sites making it the 5th largest in student numbers in Australia and the most diverse multiple campus organisation.