ACADEMIC-INDUSTRY SYNERGY, HYBRID AND CO-CREATION METHODOLOGY

Within the framework of the "Product Family Design" course in the third year of design studies, a company associated with the university-industry linkage program (Education Partner) Ronal Group Mexico, presented the challenge of designing a new wheel rim design specifically for the Mexican market. The company's goal was to create rims with a unique identity, ensuring that these designs were both manufacturable and competitive with European products. To address this challenge, a methodology integrating theory and practice was structured, merging academic content with client needs for contemporary markets within a higher education institution. This approach allowed students to work closely with the industry in an applied and collaborative learning environment. The design process culminated in the creation of manufacturable 2D and 3D proposals using advanced AI and traditional design tools, from which two designs were selected for production in the Mexican market. This outcome highlighted the students' ability, under proper management and support, to meet both industry requirements and course objectives. The combination of design methodologies, interpersonal skills (soft skills), and the interdisciplinary approach between academia and industry were key factors in the project's success, fostering educational innovation. The project demonstrated that effective university-industry linkage (UIL) management is possible within an academic setting, ensuring adequate interdisciplinary synergy between teaching experience, industry needs, and student motivation (. This establishes a successful pathway for educational innovation, process analysis to propose sustainable alternatives, and the development of competitive products. As a result, a flexible and applicable methodology is presented, aiming for outcomes that transform academic experience.