In 1973 Wim Gilles was appointed as the founding Director of the School of Industrial Design at Carleton University. That September, the school opened its doors to a new class of student designers and visionaries. The Bachelor of Industrial Design at Carleton offered a four-year comprehensive industrial design curriculum that has since graduated over 700 designers, many of who now hold prestigious design positions in both Canada and around the world.

Prior to coming to Canada, Professor Gilles was an industrial design pioneer in the Netherlands, famously known for his 1954 DRU Company kettle design. In 1956, he was one of the founders of the Dutch Association of Industrial Designers, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Bureau of European Design Associations, in which professional design organizations still co-operate. During the 1960s, Professor Gilles taught at the Eindhoven Academy of Industrial Design, where, in 1970, he became Director.

In September 2008, the school established a Master of Design program, advancing the knowledge of design by building on the school’s experience and strengths. The two-year program examines multifaceted design principles and practices that contribute to the strategic value of design.