Product Design Workshop
Stage
Concentration
Module
Product/Services Design
Credit Hours
3.0
Explores the entire product development experience from framing through ideation to final concepts.
This course is an opportunity for students to exercise their design muscles throughout an entire product development experience from framing through ideation to final concepts. The design process is rarely the clean linear path it is often depicted as. Navigating the nonlinearity, as well as the ambiguity that often accompanies it, is something every experienced designer must be able to do.
Learning Objectives
The goal of this course is to link specific topics of design theory to practice including:
- Framing user needs and desires
- Identifying insights
- Transforming insights into design principles
- Brainstorming ideas and developing prototypes
- Prioritizing solutions and recommendations
- Developing and communicating the value
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to manage tasks across the various phases of the design process. They will be able to incorporate various methods and tools during a design project and demonstrate their usefulness in a tangible product concept. The product concept will have an internal and consistent logic that reflects a deep understanding of the problem and solution areas explored.
Format & Grading
External sponsors may be used during this course to further represent real-world problems and provide a variety of perspectives often involved in design projects. The topic focus of this workshop is defined at the beginning of each semester.
Students with a range of experience will be part of this class. Evaluations will be based on your contribution to class discussions and reviews, and the quantity and quality of your work. Quality work is substantive, conceptually strong, and visually clear.
Enrollment Restrictions
IDX 504 Prototyping Methods is recommended prior to this course. This course is open to all Institute of Design students. Students may take this course multiple times, non-concurrently, for a maximum of 12 credits towards their degree.