product design bachelor thesis

How to write the perfect design dissertation

Tutors and students from top design colleges share their advice.

Studying design is about crafting a great design portfolio that will wow potential employers, right? Well, yes. But don't discount the importance of astute creative thinking, and expressing yourself eloquently through the written word. In short, your design dissertation matters.

"I don't believe that design students should be focused entirely on portfolio work," argues Myrna MacLeod , programme leader for Graphic Design at Edinburgh Napier University. "They should also be able to demonstrate an interest in the contexts that underpin their work, and the histories and connections that have informed our practice."

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"Think of a dissertation as an opportunity, not a burden," urges Craig Burston , Graphic and Media Design course leader at London College of Communication (LCC). "It gives us visually-minded people an opportunity to demonstrate that we too can construct arguments and distil complex notions." 

As Burston points out, this is not just an academic exercise: the power of persuasion is often key to success as a commercial designer. "Clients seek clarity, and project concepts or proposals need to be put into context," he says.

Read on to discover some top tips from leading tutors and their students for nailing your design dissertation…

01. Treat it like a design brief

"A great dissertation should be a designed artefact, and portfolio-worthy in its own right," says Burston. And like a design brief, it should be about solving a problem: "Make sure it has clearly stated aims, strong focus, and doesn't lack opinion or rhetoric," he adds.

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"The value of a designed dissertation as a portfolio piece is that it's a holistic view of the individual," agrees Sarah James , senior lecturer in Visual Communication at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB). 

"It shows, type, editorial, research and aesthetic skill, as well as the personal interests and convictions of the individual."

James identifies AUB student Maarit Koobas , who investigated responsive type in both her dissertation and final project, as a particularly strong example of this. "Her design version was one of the most authentic, restrained and elegantly expressive I have ever received," she enthuses.

Koobas conducted a huge amount of initial research into both the contexts in which responsive type can be seen – such as advertising, product design, science and material cultures – and the theories behind its analysis, including semiotics, philosophy and politics. "Creating and analysing ideas, before they end up in your portfolio, is what design is all about," argues Koobas.

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02. Write about your passion

"To develop essay questions, AUB students are asked to consider what they love, hate or are puzzled by in their practice – essentially, what moves them," says James. 

"A poor dissertation is inauthentically chosen for ease as opposed to interest," she adds. "It rambles and blusters, using complex language to mask insufficient research." 

"You can tell a mile off when the writer isn't interested," agrees Burston. "How can you expect the reader to care about it if you don't? Write about something that reflects your interests, focus and direction. I've read fascinating dissertations on topics as diverse as patterns in nature, and Brutalist car parks. Make me interested in what interests you."

For Edinburgh Napier graduate Fiona Winchester , this topic turned out to be typography in graphic novels. "I love reading them, but I think people still don't take them seriously as an art form, which is a shame," she says. For her dissertation, she conducted qualitative interviews using modified pages with and without imagery (shown above). 

Her advice is simple: "Narrow down your idea to be as precise as possible. The smaller your question, the easier it is to research and try to answer it."

If you're struggling to get the ball rolling on the actual writing process, Winchester advocates starting with whichever bit you have ideas for. "If you're stuck, it's so much easier to write in whatever order it comes to you, and then edit it into a dissertation, than to try write straight through from beginning to end," she insists.

03. Don't be afraid to talk to people

"I always think my students get the most out of the new streams of knowledge they find from talking to people," says McLeod. "It breaks down barriers and allows them to find answers to problems. Hopefully they will adopt that approach when designing for people also."

In some cases, this can involve interviewing your design heroes. "Students are very surprised when they send a question to Stefan Sagmeister , Milton Glaser or Michael Wolff and they reply with the most precious nugget of knowledge," smiles McLeod. 

But remember: it's your dissertation, so don't get lazy and expect your interview subject to do all the heavy lifting.

In other cases, it could be as simple as asking friends or family to help proofread. "It is quite daunting writing such a large body of text," admits Kaori Toh , a recent graduate from Central Saint Martins, whose dissertation explored the politics of design and technology.

"I often felt I'd get lost in all that text and research," she confesses. "Therefore, I would often send my drafts to a couple of friends to have them look through, and keep my writing cohesive."

04. Reflect on your design practice 

Most of all, dissertations are an opportunity to reflect on, and develop, your creative process as a designer. "Ultimately, it's your job to make your work relevant and credible, and the dissertation helps you learn how to do this," adds Burston. 

Of course, writing doesn't always come easily to visually minded people – and Burston highlights the fact that dyslexia is not uncommon amongst designers. 

"You're not on your own – in our profession, quite the opposite in fact – so do seek academic support, and just enjoy thinking and writing about 'stuff' that informs your practice," is his advice.

One of Burston's stand-out students from this year, Tom Baber , welcomed support from the university to help with his dyslexia. Baber's dissertation focused on type design, and particularly the extent to which the longwinded design process is worth the effort, compared to using an existing typeface.

"I saw it as an opportunity to approach other type designers and see what they thought. Turns out I'm not the first to ask the question," he smiles. "Writing my dissertation helped me change from a 'maker' mentality to a 'designer' mentality, and be more critical of my ideas."

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'New product development'

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Turnbull, Kenneth James. "Multifunctional new product development." Thesis, Durham University, 2005. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2772/.

Bukhari, S. (Syed). "Performance management for product portfolio management, new product development & rapid product development." Master's thesis, University of Oulu, 2018. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-201802071150.

Luo, Lan. "Essays on new product development." College Park, Md. : University of Maryland, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/2602.

Griffin, Abbie. "Functionally integrating new product development." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/14285.

Bin, Sheng. "Web-based product platform development for mass customization /." View the Table of Contents & Abstract, 2006. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B36161469.

Siddique, Zahed. "Common platform development : designing for product variety." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/17698.

Byeon, Namseog. "New product development : a case study of product platform." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/10537.

Yan, Bingwen. "Managing new product development processes: an innovative approach for SMEs." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1286.

Kalaignanam, Kartik. "Essays on new product development alliances." [College Station, Tex. : Texas A&M University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-1582.

Egbert, Derek W. "Testing Guidelines for New Product Development." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2010. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2529.

Higgins, Paul Anthony. "Reducing uncertainty in new product development." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2008. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/20273/1/Paul_Higgins_Thesis.pdf.

Higgins, Paul Anthony. "Reducing uncertainty in new product development." Queensland University of Technology, 2008. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/20273/.

Tositti, Giulia <1991&gt. "New product development: the OSRAM case." Master's Degree Thesis, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10579/9034.

Jang, Namkyung. "Apparel product development : influencial factors of apparel product success and failure /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 2001. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p3036833.

Daley, John. "Autonomic product development process automation /." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2007. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd1958.pdf.

Hirunyawipada, Tanawat. "How componential factors and constraint enhance creativity in the development of new product ideas." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2007. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3964/.

Şen, Alper Özcan A. Can. "Application Of Grounded Theory For Concept Analysis In New Product Development Processes/." [s.l.]: [s.n.], 2006. http://library.iyte.edu.tr/tezler/master/endustriurunleritasarimi/T000377.pdf.

Siyam, Ghadir Ibrahim. "Value in lean product development." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2014. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.708273.

Bishop, Gregory Loren. "A Comprehensive Model for Technology Push Product Development." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2004. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd394.pdf.

Ozkan, Gulru F. "Essays on knowledge management strategies in new product development." Diss., Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/28282.

O'Mara, Charles Edward. "Evaluating new product development performance in small to medium sized manufacturing firms." View thesis, 2009. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/38926.

Maladzhi, Wilson Rendani. "Managing new product development within the SMEs." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1256.

Cho, Uichung. "Novel empirical similarity method for rapid product testing and development /." Digital version accessible at:, 1999. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/utexas/main.

Sharif, Syed Ahsan Mechanical &amp Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering UNSW. "Development of an enterprise knowledge base (EKB) framework for new product development (NPD) in customer order driven engineering (CODE) environment." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, 2006. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/24260.

Akram, Afzal Muhammad. "Risks in new product development (NPD) projects." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2017. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/12722.

Nguyen, Dat Anh. "Customer involvement in new product development process." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för marknadsföring (MF), 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-34964.

Feurstein, Markus, Martin Natter, Andreas Mild, and Alfred Taudes. "Incentives to cooperate in new product development." SFB Adaptive Information Systems and Modelling in Economics and Management Science, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, 2000. http://epub.wu.ac.at/1596/1/document.pdf.

Mild, Andreas, Martin Natter, Michael Trcka, Markus Feurstein, Christian Merz, Alfred Taudes, and Georg Dorffner. "New product development in the artificial factory." SFB Adaptive Information Systems and Modelling in Economics and Management Science, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, 1999. http://epub.wu.ac.at/176/1/document.pdf.

Balasubramaniam, Anitha. "Financial modeling of new product development economics." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90707.

Anderson, Richard B. 1952. "New product development in the service industry." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/14845.

Salleh, Aliah Hanim Mohd. "New product development for consumer service businesses." Thesis, University of Manchester, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.631238.

Aleixo, Gonçalo Granja. "Risk management of new product development process." Master's thesis, FCT - UNL, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/2577.

O'Mara, Charles Edward. "Evaluating new product development performance in small to medium sized manufacturing firms." Thesis, View thesis, 2009. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/38926.

Stokmans, Maria Johanna Wilhelmina. "The relative importance of product attributes : consumer decision theories in new-product development /." Delft : Delft University Press, 1991. http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&doc_number=003577796&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA.

Dann, Zoe. "Product complexity : its impact on new product development and practical application." Thesis, Liverpool John Moores University, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.438786.

Nguyen, Anh Thi, and Alena Rukavishnikova. "Communication in Cross-Functional New Product Development Teams : A Case Study of a New Product Development Project in Sandvik." Thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för ekonomi, samhälle och teknik, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-18188.

Newey, Lance R. "Knowledge exploitation capabilities and value creation in interorganizational new product development /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2005. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe18928.pdf.

Felekoğlu, Burcu. "Top management involvement in new product development projects." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.610097.

Smith, Alfred, and Jari Oikarinen. "Design study of a new product." Thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH, Maskinteknik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-40877.

Oraiopoulos, Nektarios. "Three essays on the role of information structures on new product development strategies." Diss., Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/29670.

Van, Zyl Wiehann. "The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/925.

Shu, Shih-Tung. "Examining relationships between external linkages, absorptive capacity and gains in new product knowledge and impacts on new product innovativeness." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2003. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/6916.

HADDAD, FILIP, and LEON TRANG. "The NPPD process at Sandvik Materials Technology : A case study of new product development project governance." Thesis, KTH, Industriell Management, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-191218.

Hirunyawipada, Tanawat Paswan Audhesh K. "How componential factors and constraint enhance creativity in the development of new product ideas." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2007. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-3964.

Miller, Philip N. "Assessing creftsmanship at early design in product development /." View online ; access limited to URI, 2004. http://0-wwwlib.umi.com.helin.uri.edu/dissertations/dlnow/3135911.

Rundquist, Jonas. "Outsourcing of New Product Development - A decision framework." Licentiate thesis, Luleå : Luleå University of Technology, 2007. http://epubl.ltu.se/1402-1757/2007/50/.

Peyrovian, Banafsheh. "Relationship between new product development activities, product advantage, product newness and new product performance in independent new firms." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1355229.

Wang, Yi-chien, and 王毅堅. "Value-Oriented New Product Development." Thesis, 2009. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/82125643993314590067.

Lu, Chia-Ying, and 呂佳穎. "Product Design Strategy in the New Product Development." Thesis, 2006. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/6r3rk8.

Roos, S. D. "A model for complex product development using integrated product and support development criteria." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1936.

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Product Design (B.Des.)

The Product Design discipline at NID deals with issues related to the design of a wide range of products, services and experiences by providing tangible solutions to the needs of users. As part of the curriculum, students learn to apply basic principles of design, knowledge of ergonomics, materials and manufacturing techniques as well as their own aesthetic sensibilities. These sensibilities are developed and honed through design projects where students are encouraged to design pleasing and user-friendly products which respond to the user’s needs and aspirations.

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The identity of this book edited by the late I.S. Mathur is established by its leitmotif—training the teachers of design or educating the design educators. This book is divided into three major sections—‘Retrospection’, ‘Introspection’, and ‘Perception’. A mélange of thoughts, experiences, and anecdotes expressed by alumni, faculty both former and present, and artists—this book touches upon poignant issues which can influence the spread of design education across design schools/institutions in India.

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Best Product Design Schools: The Top Colleges and Universities for Product Design Programs

If you want to become a product designer then you need to know what the best schools for product design are. This in-depth article includes a list of the best schools for product design and the specific degrees each school offers. Find out the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees available in product design.

In this article, we discuss how you can finance your education and the essential criteria to look at when choosing the best product design college for you. Continue reading to learn about jobs you can get with a product design degree from one of the best product design universities. 

Find your bootcamp match

Best product design college and university rankings: top 10 product design schools at a glance, product design school rankings: best product design colleges and universities.

A product design degree can give you all the necessary skills needed to start a career in product design. Below we discuss the best product design universities and colleges and their degrees offered, from associate degrees all the way to master’s degrees.

This private research university was founded in 1900 and is known for its high-quality college of engineering and school of computer science and artificial intelligence programs. Students can learn product design at its fine arts school through the design department. There are over 14,500 students enrolled in Carnegie Mellon University’s seven schools and colleges. 

Carnegie Mellon University Overview

• School Type: Private
• Acceptance Rate: 17%
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s
• US News Ranking: #25
• Times Higher Education Ranking: 21

Best Carnegie Mellon University Product Design Programs

• Online Certificate in Product Design Innovation. This two-course online certificate teaches students about the design process and how to make effective prototypes and test them. Students gain insight into industrial and product design.
• Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design. The bachelor’s product specialization focuses on product design. It is a four-year, 360-unit degree where students select their specialization during their second year of studies. 
• Master of Design. The Master of Design at Carnegie Mellon University is a two-year program with 195 credit hours. Students learn about design research methods, product design, systems, and services for interactions, and must complete a thesis. 
• Online Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services . This degree takes nine months to complete and requires students to finish 102 credit hours. Students gain skills in product design and UX/UI design. Students attend courses in design and product innovation.

Carnegie Mellon University Product Design Key Takeaway

While studying product design at Carnegie Mellon University gives students the necessary design skills to create effective designs, it also explores new design strategies and methods of designing responsible products.

Ferris State University is a public university that provides high-quality engineering programs. It was founded in 1884 and offers 30 online programs and over 180 in-person degrees and certificates. Ferris State University boasts small class sizes that enable students to work closely with faculty and provide better quality instruction.

Ferris State University Overview

• School Type: Public
• Acceptance Rate: 82%
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• US News Ranking: #299-391
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #501-600

Best Ferris State University Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design. This degree takes four years to complete and teaches students about functional art and the product design process. Students must complete 120 credit hours and can choose between three concentrations.
• Bachelor of Science in Product Design Engineering Technology. In this four-year degree, students learn how to use computer modeling software in the product design process. They also learn to create mechanical designs, analyze a design, and optimize it. This degree is in person and requires 120 credit hours. 
• Certificate Program in Product Design. The Certificate Program in Product Design is a short program of eight credit hours for people interested in learning more about product design. Students learn about advanced solid modeling, statistics, and ergonomics.

Ferris State University Product Design Key Takeaway

While studying product design at Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design, students build a career-focused, high-quality portfolio through internships, projects, and productive feedback.

Founded in 1885, Georgia Institute of Technology researches topics like brain music, interactive product design, and the future of transportation. It currently has 43,844 students and offers degrees like computer science and mechanical engineering programs. In 2021, Georgia Tech awarded 9,222 degrees to graduates.

Georgia Institute of Technology Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 21%
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
• US News Ranking: #38
• Times Higher Education Ranking: 69

Best Georgia Institute of Technology Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design . Georgia Tech’s undergraduate industrial design program takes four years to complete and requires 130 credits for graduation. Students learn about industrial design fundamentals, gain an introduction to linear algebra, and must complete a capstone design project during this in-person degree. 
• Master of Industrial Design . This master’s degree consists of 48 credits comprising both courses like human-centered design and introduction to graduate studies in industrial design over two years, and a thesis they must defend.

Georgia Institute of Technology Product Design Key Takeaway

Georgia Tech is ranked the tenth best public university in the US by US News & World Report. Studying industrial design at Georgia Tech guarantees a high-quality education, primarily because it is so highly rated.

Iowa State University is a land-grant university dating back to 1858. There are 30,708 students enrolled in its 100 graduate and undergraduate degrees, some of which include visual arts, accounting, and industrial design. The school prides itself on its College of Engineering, design school, and extension and outreach programs, as well as student organizations and Greek life.

Iowa State University Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 88%
• US News Ranking: #122
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #219

Best Iowa State University Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Industrial Design. This human-centered discipline teaches students the history of industrial design, drawing, and digital tools for industrial design. This degree prepares students to be product designers, graphic designers, and design researchers.
• Master of Industrial Design. This industrial design master’s degree teaches students design communication and design theory methodology. It is an in-person program where students must submit a thesis and complete 60 credits over two years.

Iowa State University Product Design Key Takeaway

Industrial design students at Iowa State University learn a wide variety of technical skills through hands-on practical experience. The program facilitates many opportunities for real-world experiences and includes internships and a study abroad option in the curriculum.

This research university was founded in 1887 and specializes in big data, biomedical engineering, material science, and food safety research. North Carolina State University students have over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree options to choose from. North Carolina State University has a student body of over 37,000 students.

North Carolina State University Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 46%
• US News Ranking: #79
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #117

Best North Carolina State University Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Industrial Design . This program teaches undergraduate students about digital techniques, experience design for industrial design, and human-centered design. This on-campus degree can be completed in four years and consists of 120 credits. 
• Master of Industrial Design . This degree has two tracks, including one for students with a design bachelor’s degree and one for those with a relevant bachelor’s degree. It takes two to three years in 48 to 78 credits, depending on the track you pursue. Courses include product visualizations, materials, and processes of industrial design. 
• Certificate in Consumer Textile Product Design and Development . This in-person certificate consists of 15 credits and can be completed in one semester. Students learn about graduate apparel product design, market research in textiles, and digital design and technology. 

North Carolina State University Product Design Key Takeaway

The industrial design degree programs include projects with real-world clients. Students get to create solutions for problems and gain experience working in the industrial and product design industry.

Purdue University is a public research university with 49,639 students enrolled and more than 200 undergraduate degrees and over 160 graduate degrees available. Purdue University ranks as the second-best school for industrial and manufacturing degrees in the US according to the US News & World Report.

Purdue University Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 67%
• US News Ranking: #49
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #48

Best Purdue University Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design . This in-person degree takes four years to finish whereby students earn 126 credits through industrial design, furniture design, and new product development courses. 
• Master of Fine Arts in Industrial Design . This master’s degree is in-person and consists of 60 credit hours in two years. Students learn about product design, take graduate courses related to industrial design, and complete an internship

Purdue University Product Design Key Takeaway

Purdue University is a well-known university where students learn from expert faculty members, with two Nobel Prize winners among the faculty. It is also known for its discovery and innovation through high-quality research.

This well-known art school was founded in 1877 and has 2,576 students enrolled in its 22 graduate and undergraduate majors. It has fine arts, graphic design, furniture design, and industrial design degrees. Industrial design students who study at Rhode Island School of Design gain hands-on experience and design skill through studio-based learning. 

Rhode Island School of Design Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 27%
• Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
• US News Ranking: N/A
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #135

Best Rhode Island School of Design Product Design Programs

• Certificate in Product Development and Manufacturing. This online certificate is for people wanting to continue their product design education. It takes two-and-a-half to three years to complete. Courses include design research methods and digital design techniques. 
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial design. This in-person industrial design program takes four years to complete in 126 credits. Industrial design students learn design principles and manufacturing techniques. 
• Master of Industrial Design. Students in this master’s degree complete the in-person program in approximately two years, depending on if they’re a bachelor’s degree-holder. This program consists of 66 credit hours, including thesis research.

Rhode Island School of Design Product Design Key Takeaway

Industrial design students at Rhode Island School of Design learn how to design products for all possible fields. Upon completion of these programs, students are able to create household products, medical devices, and new materials.

Rochester Institute of Technology was established in 1829 and provides approximately 211 degree programs to its 19,718 students. There are over 300 student organizations and clubs available at Rochester Institute of Technology and it has ample research facilities studying cyber security, sustainability, and imaging science.

Rochester Institute of Technology Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 74%
• US News Ranking: #117
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #154

Best Rochester Institute of Technology Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Industrial Design . This is an in-person bachelor’s degree that takes four years to complete. Students must complete 120 credit hours to be eligible for graduation. Students complete courses in 3D design, digital drawing in industrial design, and the history of industrial design. 
• Master of Fine Arts Degree in Industrial Design . During this two-year master’s degree, students need to complete 60 credit hours and a thesis. Students learn about the function of form, integrated design visualizations, and design research methods in the classroom.

Rochester Institute of Technology Product Design Key Takeaway

While studying at Rochester Institute of Technology, you are part of a highly diverse and inclusive community. There are almost 2,000 international students, 900 deaf and hard of hearing students, and more than 2,700 students from underrepresented groups.

University of Minnesota was founded in 1851 and has over 50,000 students enrolled. This highly reputable university has more than 200 graduate and professional programs and has study abroad opportunities. Students can study accounting, acting, and product design, with plenty of research and internship opportunities available.

University of Minnesota Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 70%
• US News Ranking: #68
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #114

Best University of Minnesota Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Product Design. This in-person product design program consists of 120 credits and takes four years to complete. Students learn to create products or services through hands-on experience in classrooms and studios. Students also learn creative design and will complete two internships.
• Master of Science in Product Design. This two-year program consisting of 34 to 36 credits teaches students about using product design tools to create functional products and services whilst gaining valuable theoretical knowledge. Students may complete a thesis if desired.

University of Minnesota Product Design Key Takeaway

While pursuing a product design degree at University of Minnesota, students have access to product design events to network, participate in workshops, and connect with possible employers.

University of Oregon is a public university founded in 1859. There are 22,298 students currently enrolled with around 331 degrees and certificates. University of Oregon has one Nobel Prize winner in its faculty and has highly reputed administration, psychology, and advertising majors.

University of Oregon Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 84%
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• US News Ranking: #99
• Times Higher Education Ranking: #241

Best University of Oregon Product Design Programs

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design. University of Oregon’s product design program is a four-year degree consisting of 120 credit hours. Students learn about the design process, design tools, and digital arts during this in-person degree. 
• Master of Science in Sports Product Design . This on-campus Master of Science in Sports Product Design takes about two years to complete in 73 credit hours. During this in-person degree, students learn about research, sports production design, and strategic communications.

University of Oregon Product Design Key Takeaway

Pursuing a product design degree at University of Oregon gives students access to excellent design facilities including computer and digital imaging labs, a digital computer-controlled mill, and a large-format printing facility.

The Best Schools for Product Design: Types of College Degrees and University Programs Offered

The kind of degree you pursue depends on your career and education goals. Read the in-depth descriptions of all the different product design programs listed below, from a community college certificate to a doctoral degree. 

A community college product design certificate is shorter than a typical degree. It teaches students valuable product design skills needed to start their careers and takes between one to two semesters to complete. The curriculum includes courses in 3D printing, product design applications, and 3D modeling and sculpting.

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A product design associate degree prepares product design students for entry-level jobs or transfers to a four-year Bachelor's Degree in Product Design. An associate degree is usually two years in length and consists of between 33 and 66 credit hours.

Students take core courses during an Associate Degree in Product Design to earn the required credits. Courses include an introduction to design thinking, product design and viability, and industrial and product design foundations. Students interested in a product design associate degree can pursue an Associate of Science or an Associate of Art in Product Design.

A product design bachelor’s degree is a four-year undergraduate program with between 120 and 360 required credits for graduation. Many jobs require a bachelor’s degree as the minimum requirement to be considered for employment.

You can pursue a design, fine arts, or science bachelor’s degree for product design. The kind of degree you pursue depends on your career and education goals. Students completing a product design bachelor’s degree will learn about the design process, digital drawing in industrial design, product innovations, and product visualizations.

A product design master’s degree is a graduate degree for students who want to advance their careers and land senior jobs in the product design industry. A master’s degree takes two to three years depending on the program, and may take longer if you need more time to research and write your thesis.

This program consists of 34 to 66 credit hours, depending on where you pursue your master’s degree. Students can complete a Master of Fine Arts, Master of Science, or a Master of Design in Product Design. Courses included in the program are design research methods, designing products, and design communications.

A product design graduate certificate is a short program for graduate students with a bachelor’s degree. It takes between one and two semesters where students need to earn 15 to 21 credits, depending on the program. They learn about digital product design strategies, user-centered research methods, and apparel product design.

A product design doctorate is a research-intensive graduate degree and requires a lot of independent research and writing. Students complete approximately 240 credits and earn their doctorate in four to six years. It may take longer depending on the degree, your dissertation needs, and the school.

Students learn about design research methodology and user-centered design. A Doctoral Degree in Product Design opens up senior-level jobs such as managerial jobs or postsecondary teaching. Product design PhD or doctorate degrees are not common in the United States.

Comparing Popular Degree Options

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Best Product Design Schools: Other Product Design University Rankings

Choosing which product design school to attend can be confusing. Below we break down the best product design schools and the product design university rankings of the best schools. We also look at the best dual and accelerated degree programs.

Best Online Product Design Schools

• Academy of Art University. This university offers product design bachelor’s degrees and Master’s Degrees in Industrial Design. Academy of Art University is ranked as one of the top ten art schools in the US. You can earn your industrial design degree online. 
• Carnegie Mellon University. Carnegie Mellon University has two online product design programs. Pursuing an online degree at this university ensures high-quality education, especially as it has 20 Nobel Prize winning faculty members. 
• Rhode Island School of Design. This university offers an excellent online product design certificate to help you gain valuable skills in product design while learning online. US News & World Report ranks Rhode Island School of Design as the fifth-best fine arts school in the US.

Best Community Colleges for Product Design

• CUNY LaGuardia Community College. This community college is ranked as the seventh-best community college in New York . It offers many associate degrees such as accounting, industrial design, and engineering degrees. 
• Gateway Community College. Students at Gateway Community College can pursue many different associate degrees including landscape design, industrial design technology, and engineering. It ranks as the best community college in Arizona . 
• NHTI – Concord’s Community College. This community college offers an industrial design associate degree and is ranked the third-best community college in the Manchester area . 

Best Undergraduate Schools for Product Design

• ArtCenter College of Design. At ArtCenter College of Design, students can pursue many different design degrees and learn from a faculty of practicing professionals in the product design industry. 
• Georgia Institute of Technology. This school has plenty of internship opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in product design. Students also have access to career services to help them find a job soon after graduation.  
• Pratt Institute. Pratt Institute has a high-quality product design program that helps students learn essential skills for the product and industrial design industry. This institution has over 20 study abroad programs available to students.

Best Graduate Schools for Product Design

• North Carolina State University. This university has many degree options, such as agriculture, design, and engineering. Students get a high-quality education at this university and can work closely with professors because of its 15 to one student to faculty ratio. 
• Northwestern University. Students at Northwestern University can earn a Master’s Degree in Product Design and Development. Students learn through hands-on activities and projects that facilitate real-world experience in product design. 
• Pratt Institute. Students at Pratt Institute pursuing an industrial design master’s degree learn from award-winning faculty members working actively in the industry.

Best Product Design Schools With Dual Degree Programs

• Boston University | MBA+MS in Product Design & Manufacture. This dual degree takes six years to complete and combines a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Product Design and Manufacture. Students learn about product quality and advanced product design.
• Oregon State University | Dual Major in Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering—Product Development Option. Students simultaneously earn a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering in Product Development. 
• University of Pennsylvania | MBA and Master of Integrated Product Design. This dual degree takes between two to three years and requires students to complete 23 to 24 credit units. Students learn and improve business and product design skills simultaneously.  

Best Schools With Accelerated Product Design Programs

• The Savannah College of Art and Design | Accelerated Dual Bachelor of Fine arts in industrial design and Master of fine arts. This accelerated degree consists of 270 credit hours. 180 credits go towards the bachelor’s degree, while 90 credits go towards the master’s degree. Students can complete both degrees in four to five years.
• Arizona State University | Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Design in Industrial Design. Students learn about industrial design and product design principles while earning 120 credits. This accelerated bachelor’s degree takes two-and-a-half to three years to complete. 
• Rochester Institute of Technology | 4+2 BFA/M.Arch. Pathway. Students earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design and a Master of Architecture in six years. Students learn design drawing, architectural design, and the history of industrial design.

Easy Colleges to Get Into

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Is Graduate School for Product Design Worth It?

Yes, it is worth going to graduate school for product design. Although there aren’t many PhDs available in the US for product design, you can pursue a Master’s Degree in Product and Industrial Design. 

Completing a Master’s Degree in Product or Industrial Design at the best product design schools will help you advance your product design skills and open up many new career opportunities.

After graduating with a master’s degree, students become qualified for senior positions and earn a higher salary. According to an analysis done in 2020 by Statista, the average salary of a master’s degree graduate is $92,272 , which is significantly higher than the $73,499 average for a bachelor’s degree graduate. 

What Jobs Can You Do With a Product Design Degree?

The jobs you can get with a product design degree are product designer, industrial designer, product manager, and product design professor. Product design jobs are high-paying and require design and communication skills. The higher your degree level, the higher your salary and the more senior-level positions you can get.

Pursuing a product or industrial design degree teaches you vital skills and knowledge with hands-on learning and internships. You will also get a chance to develop advanced artistic techniques. Some product design degree programs include real-world projects for real clients.

How Much Can I Earn With a Degree in Product Design?

You can earn an average salary of $86,477 as a product designer, according to PayScale. Your average salary depends on factors like degree level, location, and job duties. The average annual salary for a Bachelor of Science in Product Design is $67,000 , while the salary for a Master of Science in Product Design is $89,000 . A degree in product design prepares you to enter a high-paying product design career. 

Highest-Paying Product Design Careers

Best jobs with a product design degree.

The best jobs with a product design degree focus on the process of designing a functional product. These jobs aim to improve people’s lives by creating human-centered products that address and solve problems. They design products, services, and systems.

Earning a product design degree can get you a high-paying job with a salary between $48,907 and $103,150 per year. Learning product design from the best product design colleges helps you become a product designer, CAD technician, graphic designer, or product design professor. Below we discuss the best product design degree jobs according to degree level. 

The best product design associate degree jobs include computer-aided design technicians and quality control inspectors. Getting a product design job with an associate degree provides a good yearly salary. 

These jobs require drawing, technical, and product design and development skills taught during an associate degree program. You can learn these essential skills faster in an associate program and graduate in only two years.  

Top Product Design Careers With an Associate Degree

• CAD Drafters: $60,290
• CAD Technician: $48,907
• Quality Control Inspectors: $38,580

The best Bachelor’s Degree in Product Design jobs can get you a yearly salary of up to $103,150 per year if you become a product manager. Other high-paying jobs include product designer and materials engineer.

You need to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Product Design to get one of these jobs, as it teaches  critical design skills required to create functional products for people’s everyday needs. You also need to learn teamwork skills because product designers work in a team to complete a project.

Top Product Design Careers With a Bachelor’s Degree

• Product Manager: $103,150
• Product Designer: $86,477
• Industrial Designer: $77,030

The best product design master’s degree jobs require essential management and design skills. A master’s degree teaches you all the necessary leadership skills and helps you specialize and improve your design and product skills.

Although not all of these jobs require a master’s degree, it will increase your chances of getting hired for a senior-level job or a management position.

Top Product Design Careers With a Master’s Degree

• Senior Product Designer: $122,822
• Senior Industrial Designer: $83,118
• Mechanical Design Engineer: $72,754

With one of the best product design doctorate jobs, you can earn a highly favorable salary. You can become a professor in product design, senior product designer, or industrial production manager.

Although you do not need a PhD for a job as a senior product designer or an industrial production manager, earning a PhD or Doctorate in Product Design will put you in the 90th percentile as a top earner because of your degree level. 

Top Product Design Careers With a PhD

• Industrial Production Manager: $170,470
• Senior Product Designer: $159,000
• Product Design Professor: $79,640

The best internships for product design help students gain valuable skills in a real working environment. Opportunities like the Forbes and Shopify internships in product design are an excellent way of gaining experience. Graduates who have experience from an internship are well prepared for their product design careers.

All internships have different application deadlines, so it is crucial to start doing research early. Many internships are held during the summer, so make sure you start your search before your summer holiday begins.

Top Product Design Internships 

• Forbes Product Design Intern: $36,000 to $39,000
• Tulip Interfaces Product Design Intern: $43,794
• Shopify Product Design Intern: $33,000 to $83,000

How Can I Pay for Product Design School?

You can pay for product design school by applying for financial aid at your university. There are many financing options available to undergraduate and graduate students. Financial aid is awarded on a need base and a merit base.

You can apply for federal student aid, loans, fellowships, grants, and work-study programs. If you need financial assistance for your degree, contact your school to learn about its financing options. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 86 percent of undergraduates received financial aid during the 2018 to 2019 academic year.

• Grants. According to Statista, $58 billion in institutional grants were awarded to students in 2021. Grants are typically awarded to students who show financial need. It doesn’t need to be repaid and is awarded by the state or your institution.   
• Fellowships and scholarships. These financial aid options are essentially monetary gifts that go towards specific expenses such as tuition. Some scholarships cover all costs, while others cover a portion. Scholarships don’t need to be paid back, and fellowships are only awarded to graduate students. 
• Loans. Most universities and colleges have federal loans available, which students can apply for by completing a FAFSA form. Private loans are also usually available through private lenders.  
• Assistantships. Assistantships offer financial assistance in the form of a tuition waiver. Students who complete assistantships usually work as teaching or research assistants in a particular department. Assistantships are only available to graduate students. 
• Student employment. While studying at a university, some students want to earn money to help pay for their degrees. Many universities have work-study programs where students can get a job on campus and make extra money to pay off their degree.   

How to Pay for Your Chosen School Education Path

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Choosing the Best Product Design School for You

To choose the best product design school for you, consider the mode of delivery, tuition costs, and degree levels offered. Continue reading below for a breakdown of critical factors for choosing the best product design universities and why you need to consider them. 

Flexibility and Format

The delivery method and flexibility of the program impact your education. Attending a traditional, on-campus product design program provides access to student organizations, Greek life, and in-person classes.

If you want to study while you work or travel, an online product design degree may suit your educational needs. You can start your product design journey and study online at your own pace , to integrate your school schedule into your already busy schedule.

Cost and Financial Aid

The cost of a product design degree is a deciding factor because everyone has different budgets and financial abilities. Look for a product design degree in your price range or apply to a school with good financial aid options available. 

Students attending a community college pay less tuition than private university students. According to Statista, the average tuition for a two-year degree at a public school is $13,130 , while the tuition of a degree at a four-year private institution is $51,690.

Accreditation

When searching for the best product design universities, you should look for accredited institutions. There are many reasons why accreditation is important , with the most important being that accreditation assures an institution meets high education standards and delivers good quality training.

Degree Levels Available

While searching for the best product design school for you, you need to know what degree level you want to pursue. This will help you narrow your search. For example, if you’re going to pursue a product design bachelor’s degree, you will look for the best product design bachelor’s degree schools.

Career Services

Finding a job after completing your degree may be a daunting and challenging endeavor, but attending a college with career services will make it much more manageable. Look for one of the best product design colleges with career services to help you prepare for your next job interview , write a resume, and write a cover letter . Some career services also include one on one career coaching sessions.

How to Get Into the Right School for Your Profession

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Does It Matter What College I Go to for Product Design?

Yes, it does matter what college you go to for product design. What college or university you go to depends on factors like your career goals. For example, your career goals influence which product design school you attend because some schools specialize in specific fields of product design that may or may not align with your interests.

To ensure high-quality education, you should look at the faculty to see who you’ll learn from. Look at the university’s product design program rankings, as well. If you intend to earn an associate degree, you may want to go to a community college. However, if you pursue a bachelor’s degree, you need to attend one of the best product design universities. 

Product Design University Ranking Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Schools for Product Design

We ranked the best product design schools by consulting the university rankings conducted by US News & World Report and Times Higher Education. To further refine our product design university ranking methodology, we gave special consideration to things like reputation, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and breadth and depth of product design degree program offerings. 

Additional Reading About Product Design

[query_class_embed] https://careerkarma.com/blog/product-design/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/product-school-future-of-product-management/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/product-school-why-learn-product-management/

Best Product Design Schools FAQ

Yes, there are many work from home jobs available in the product design field. You can search for remote product design jobs on the Internet and job boards. These remote jobs include a high salary and allow you to work from wherever is convenient for you.

Yes, product design online degrees are respected by employers if a recognized accrediting body accredits it. When you decide on an online product design school, you should check its accreditation and rankings before applying.

Yes, you can get a job in product design without a degree. If you don’t want to spend years studying to earn a degree you could opt for a coding bootcamp . Bootcamps are intensive programs shorter than an associate degree. It teaches vital product design skills to prepare you for your product design career.

The highest-paying state for industrial designers is Virginia. Information regarding product designers specifically is not available on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, but industrial design roles are comparable to product design roles.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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Higher Education Compass

Product design full time, bachelor of arts.

Bachelor Degree

7 semesters

Standard period of study (amount)

München, Düsseldorf, Hamburg

Please enquire

Overview and admission

undergraduate

Admission semester

Winter Semester only

Area of study

Industrial Design, Product Design

Model Development, Design Processes, Design, Design Theory, Ergonomics, Communication Management, Colour & Light, Drawing, 3D Printing, Model Construction

DESIGN TEACHING - SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN - DESIGN PROCESSES - HAPTIC PERCEPTION - DESIGN THEORY - ERGONOMICS - COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT - MODEL CONSTRUCTION - 3D PRINTING - RAPID PROTOTYPING - DIGITAL MANUFACTURE - COLOUR AND LIGHT - DIGITAL DESIGN - DRAWING In the practical product design (BA) degree course, you shape things. What roles do operability, ecology, technology, aesthetics, economy, culture and material play? The benefits are always in focus because design makes products usable. In 30 design projects, you acquire creative and technical skills to develop and design sustainable products. Start designing from the third day of your studies, because practical experience in this field is indispensable. Different approaches to sustainability, the Design Thinking Model as well as other innovation processes provide suggestions during the conception phase - whereby all theoretical contents always refer to the current practical work. In each semester, emphasis is placed on different materials as well as different craft and industrial production processes. The creative industry demands flexible specialists who think sustainably. AMD uses its international network of cooperating companies, agencies and technical colleges and integrates exciting practical projects, interdisciplinary projects with other study programs, excursions, workshops and a practical semester. The one-semester project also prepares in a practice-oriented manner for the scope and depth of the Bachelor thesis. An optional semester abroad at a European or international university provides insights into the international design industry. Experience an intensive exchange with lecturers, professors and corporate partners. Do you already have ideas for starting a business during your studies? Start-up initiatives are keenly promoted at AMD and supported in the first steps towards self-employment.

Admission modus

open admission

Admission requirements (Link)

Admission requirements

- General higher education entrance qualification or entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences - and a positive outcome of the selection procedure

Lecture period

• 01.03.2024 - 31.08.2024
• 01.09.2024 - 28.02.2025

Application deadlines

Winter semester (2022/2023), application deadline for germans and inhabitants.

There are no application and registration deadlines. Procedures for assessing special aptitude or capability which make students suitable for admission to study at a university will be carried out.

Deadlines for International Students from the European Union

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Deadlines for international students from countries that are not members of the European Union

Enrollment deadline for germans and foreign students.

Please enquire with one of our academic advisors.

Tuition fee

750.00 EUR / Month

Fees (Link)

Registration fee EUR 595

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Main language.

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• Product Design (B.A.)
• Product Design (M.A.)
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Produktdesign (Product Design)

The areas of Product Design are as diverse as the world of objects around us. Products can be created by hand or manufactured industrially in serial production. They can be the result of digitalized drafting, planning and production processes, and to an increasing degree, a combination of several methods. The four professors responsible for the Product Design degree programme do not teach the disciplines of product design in the traditional sense. Instead they initiate and supervise projects which focus on a variety of areas, such as industrial or hand-crafted product design, interaction design, design and management, mobility, product and environment, stage design and exhibition design.

This degree programme is taught by the following professors:

• Design and Management: Prof. Gerrit Babtist
• Emerging Technoligies and Design: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Pearce
• Transformative Design: Prof. Martin Kuban
• Industrial Design: Prof. Andreas Mühlenberend

Study product design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Produktdesign studieren an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

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The degree programme Product Design offers the following courses:

The design criteria have an aesthetic, semantic, symbolic, stylish, technical and material-related character. The design pieces are generally developed and created through research, conceptual consideration, free sensual investigation, sketches, experiments, material testing, digital design tools, presentations, models and patterns.

In addition to the product‘s aesthetics, understandability, necessity and attractiveness, product designers are also expected to consider related issues, e.g. sensible production methods, energy efficiency and resource conservation, and offer possible solutions.

Electronic technologies, in particular, which are firmly anchored in product design and manufacturing, require cooperative working methods and individuals who can reach a compromise without diminishing the quality of the final product. Product distribution, media-driven marketing activities, integration of products in material cycles and consumer behaviour are all fundamental components of design. The field of design must also respond to problems that the academic concept of art fails to resolve.

This pragmatic focus requires students to search, reflect, experiment, discuss and collaborate.

Following the prescribed duration of study of eight semesters, students obtain the »Bachelor of Arts« degree, the first-level certificate of professional qualification.

Application for the aptitude test in the undergraduate degree programme Product Design

The application for all degree programmes of the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is exclusively conducted digitally via the online applicant portal . Registrations for the aptitude tests are possible from 1 December of the year up to and including 31 March of the following year (closing date). Please complete your registration by uploading all necessary documents by 31 March.

The aptitude test for the degree programme is divided into three parts:

• Registration/application for participation in the aptitude test. After the registration deadline, we will send you a homework assignment with dates and details of the examination procedure.
• Upload of the homework solution, a signed declaration that the submitted work has been produced by you ( Download Declaration of Originality ), motivation letter explaining the desire to study in the degree programme on around one A4 page, your curriculum vitae with details of your education, previous knowledge if applicable and the most recently obtained school certificate as proof of the general higher education entrance qualification
• practical examination, personal interview and presentation of up to 10 original design work samples which you please bring to the interview.

The aptitude test committee of the degree programme makes a preselection after reviewing the solution of the homework. Those who make it to the shortlist will be invited to the further aptitude test and take part in a personal interview, to which please bring up to 10 original design works. Further details on the aptitude test are regulated by the aptitude test regulations (Accessible document) (only available in German language).

Please register online via the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar online applicant portal by 31 March of the respective year. An assignment to complete at home will be sent to you at the beginning of April.

Language requirements: Please note that passing the aptitude test does not mean automatic admission to the degree programme. Please submit a current proof of language proficiency with your application documents, which shows that you will reach the required language level by the time of your matriculation at the latest. Lessons are taught in German. You must provide proof of German language proficiency with one of the following or equivalent certificates:

• DSH-2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang)  
• Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache - DaF (mininum 4xTDN 4)

Prerequisite for International Students are German language skills at the level C 1 (DSH-2 or TestDAF TDN 4). If you have any questions relating to certification, please contact Frau Johanna Merian at the Office of Student and Academic Affairs:  studium[at]uni-weimar.de  

For further information visit the website of the Language Centre .

Master's degree programme Product Design

The concept of sustainability describes the use of a regenerative system in such a way that its essential characteristics are preserved and it can replenish its resources naturally.

Consequently, in the master's degree programme »Product Design«, the research focuses on expanding the relevant criteria of Product Design to include social, environmental and energetic influences on product culture, and on developing new solutions.

The potential of urgently needed energy-saving measures in our product culture exists at several levels:

• The socio-political circumstances
• The energy expenditures in the material and product cycles
• The customers' and target group's usage behaviour

This approach does not merely entail replacing standards of our product culture with presumably environmentally friendly ones and searching for ways to reduce technical expense, but rather investigating the sense of product systems, their conditions of emergence, their cycles, and optimizing the total performance of these systems.

There are two levels to this evaluation of cost and benefit, both of which complement the other – on one hand, to produce more with less material and energy, and on the other, to sustainably change usage behaviour. The former is an established hallmark for sophisticated design and deserves to be critically and vigilantly developed further.

The latter is a task which design must embrace, because political appeals to moral obligation will only result in an environmentally relevant usage behaviour if, for example, energetically effective product reduction can free itself of the stigma of sacrifice and deprivation. Since qualitative values underlie various parameters in this evaluation, the development of a more energy-efficient design standard must not come at the expense of experimentation and diversity of design.

Design will only have a relevant future if designers continue to detach themselves from function, technology, the market, trends and advertising, and focus instead on confidently pursuing their own provocative positions.

The prescribed period of study, which includes the completion of the master's thesis, is two semesters. Candidates may only enrol in this degree programme in the winter semester.

Application for the aptitude test in the Master's degree programme Product Design

To apply for the aptitude test, please submit the following documents online via our online applicant portal :

• University-entrance diploma (Abitur)
• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of motivation (one page, DIN A4) explaining the desire to study and work and a focus of study
• a portfolio containing samples of design work
• Copy of the certificate from a university degree (Bachelor, Diploma or comparable degree)
• Copy of proof of native-speaker proficiency in German (copy high school diploma (Abitur) or   first professional qualification in a German-speaking country or Proof of language proficiency in the German language at level C 1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) by language certificates DSH-2 or TestDAF (4 x TDN 4) or equivalent
• Copy of your identity card or passport
• signed declaration that the work submitted has been created by you (Download Declaration of Originality) (Accessible document)
• Passport photo (for your student ID card)

You will be invited to take the oral examination part of the aptitude test after the examination committee has evaluated your submitted samples (portfolio) and decided that you may proceed (pre-selection). You will be informed in writing of the result of the aptitude test no later than four weeks after the test has been completed. Further details on the aptitude test are regulated by the aptitude test regulations (only available in German language).

Language requirements: Please note that passing the aptitude test does not mean automatic admission to the degree programme. Please submit a current proof of language proficiency with your application documents, which shows that you will reach the required language level by the time of your matriculation at the latest. Lessons are taught in German. You must provide proof of German language proficiency. Prerequisite for International Students are German language skills at the level C 1 (DSH-2 or TestDAF TDN 4). If you have any questions relating to certification, please contact Frau Johanna Merian at the Office of Student and Academic Affairs: studium[at]uni-weimar.de  

Application deadline: from 1 December to 31 March of the year (received)

The workshops of the Faculty of Art and Design

Die Werkstätten der Fakultät Kunst und Gestaltung

Product design: insights into the 2018 aptitude tests.

Produktdesign: Einblicke in die Eignungsprüfung 2018

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Home > Industrial Design > Industrial Design Masters Theses

Industrial Design Masters Theses

The Master of Industrial Design program explores design as a vehicle for addressing social, cultural, environmental and other concerns, recognizing that design is not simply a professional service, but rather a way of connecting individual interests and values with a social framework. Students with undergraduate degrees in other fields or with limited design experience are invited to enter the program during Wintersession as a means of preparing to begin the two-year master’s program the following fall.

ID covers a broad range of fields, from product and furniture explorations to design for aerospace and medical applications. Graduate students work independently under the guidance of a faculty advisor and thesis committee, and present their final work verbally, visually and in writing. They also participate in the RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition , a large-scale public show held annually.

“Graduate candidates in ID don’t necessarily need an undergraduate degree in the field, but they do need strong visual communication skills. For those without an ID background, learning CAD, drawing and model making can be beneficial, and taking a general product design course can provide insight into the design process. Materials-based courses in a medium such as metal, glass, textiles, ceramics or wood also provide a good basis for work in ID.” - Andy Law, Graduate Program Director

Graduate Program Director: Andy Law

These works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License .

Theses from 2023 2023

Kole , Isaiah Aladejobi

Fungi in Flux | Designing Regenerative Materials and Products with Mycelium , Arvind Bhallamudi

MILITURE , Bingdong Duan

POSTINDUSTRIAL PLAYBOOK++ , Maxwell Fertik

Freedom is a Leaky System: Living Together in the Mess , Calgary Haines-Trautman

Food, Drink, Time, New Year and Cloth , Jian Li

Making That Carries Over , Jae Nam

How to make a hybrid workplace more human? , Ray Sun

Unveiling Pain: Wearables for Objective Pain Measurement , Hanqing Tang

A PRELIMINARY GUIDE TO BUILDING NEW FUTURES IN THE NARRAGANSETT BAY , Maximilian Werner

Knot, Just Craft It , Qingxian Xu

Theses from 2022 2022

Ready made, made ready: everyday objects for everyday emergency , Dara Benno

Memories unboxed: connecting people with stories of our possessions , Megan Tzu-Hsien Chao

To be seen to be heard: embracing social anxiety in the workplace , Jingxuan Chen

Attuning the viewfinder , Ian de Silva

Disoriented: navigating the nuances of communication , Ann Dinh

Sobremesa , Charlie Herbozo-Vidal

Vulva gazing: power and the gendered body , Aaliya Jamal Zaidi

A fleeting landscape: resurrecting the edges of the estuary , Vrinda Mathur

Material Illumination , Lauren Mikaela Glenn

Extended reality interface , Neil Nelson

Breaking | Grounding | Growing: Expanding the Rhode Island gardening reentry programs as a pathway towards stability , Juliana Soltys

We got this... , Julian Wellisz

Sub Sequence : building a participatory infrastructure , Aaron Wright

Theses from 2021 2021

Designing for space; exploring ways of simulating nature and everyday activities in zero-g environment , Sayit Alisan

Psychological well-being through music listening , Majed BouGhanem

Shoes for advanced urban surfaces , Karan Buasakdi

After plastic waste : plastic bottle knitting machine - design for value of recycling plastic , Du Cheng

Katti-Batti : a digital tool for young adolescents to transgress the limitations of gender socialization through empathy & friendship , Chetan Dusane

Beyond conscious: the knowing of self-owned anxiety , WenYu Du

Rebuilt the fading vicinity , Yifan Du

The portal : a tool for uncertain times , Sophie Engel

Inter - : design for fostering action-oriented awareness towards sustainable transition , Elena Danlei Huang

Move in the internet , Jennifer Ziyuan Huang

Living objects , Katie Tzu Hua Huang

The art of microbe maintenance: value and applications in design , Yujin Hwang

Distilling the Narragansett Bay , Parker Ives

Kitsch study and Chinese kitsch market , Jiaqi Ellie Liu

Beacon Public Library: expanding radical civic care for an uncertain future , Katrina Machado

Ars Technica , Bayan Mashrequi

Inside the bubble 2.0 , Sunny Yuqing Ma

Wild things: outdoor toys for nature play , John Mawhorter

Indefinite origin: decentralizing knowledge , Tong-June Moon

No winners: transgender athletes in cycling , Max Pratt

Zoomorphic extended body , Nicholas Tamas

Uncertainty wanted: deconstructing gender gap in parenting mentality , Zimeng Xiang

A family game: tell the stories that shape us , Zhuoyan Xie

Theses from 2020 2020

Sol , John Beck

Repairer's recipe : volume 0 , Joyce Chang

Experience the world: How the ever-present accessibility of hands-on opportunities & play enhance logistical learning , Mary E. Chavez

Ocean state food stories , Charlotte Clement

Beautiful dirt : exploring the American taboo of death through the things we leave behind , Jake Dangstorp

Designed body , Jingwei Deng

Acute , Alex D'Haeseleer

Mimesis : human-centered digital profiling visual identity , Yangyang Ding

Voran Test Lab : An exploration of teaching collaborative problem solving and critical thinking through emergent gameplay , Taber Gifford

inVisible: a guide to understanding & designing for introverts , Ashesh Gohil

Through the labyrinth , Rebeca Gonzalez Morales

+ one : a new companionship , Vivien Mengjiao Han

Lift a life , Vidur Madhav

Night Knights: reminding children that their nighttime fear isn't something they have to face alone , Ji Hyung Moon

Fifty fifty: redefining domesticity , Ziying Qiao

The objects around us. , Rohit Sen

Accessibility to possibilities : discover the unknown unknown worlds , Yutong Shen

Totem: An embodiment of human character and personality in footwear design , Sushant Shivaram

Togather: To gather together , Kyungah Sohn

Surviving in a gregarious world , Shiyang Yao

Ether: a social design , Zihan Zhou

Theses from 2019 2019

Biomatters : future of biology as material source , Tareq Alzawawi

Mindful interactions , Shreyans Bhandari

Unimproved : land observation at the edge of progress , Adam Somers Bowen

Bitter son , Adam Chuong

Pekka : social software to improve in-game dynamics , Yu Mo

Theses from 2018 2018

Autonomous vehicle futures : designing experiences that enable trust and adoption , Jeremy Bass

Foodways for earthlings : recipes and tools for eating in extreme environments , Maggie Coblentz

Curious things , Allison Davis

Idiosyncratic uniform , Erica Efstratoudakis

Really clean no problems at all , Christina Johnston

Letsqube , Biniam Assegid Kebede

For a better normal : fostering the informal sector in post-hurricane Puerto Rico, as a pathway for economic stabilization , Jonathan W. Melendez Davidson

Harmless Studio , David Thomas Pittman

Dispatches from planet nowhere , Aaron Field Simmons

Radically normal : the menstruation issue , Kathryn Smiley

Talking to computers , Jen Spatz

A place for plastics : bioplastics, bacteria and our thoughtless acts , Megan Valanidas

Memory.zip , Yu-Hsing Wu

Theses from 2017 2017

Communicatronics , Adi Azulay

Balance speaker : efficient work and break , Jin Cao

Talistones : a handful of help for homecoming soldiers , Atulya Changanty

Magkasama , Christina Chen

Retooling : experiments in digital apprenticeship , Ryan Ferguson

Body (less) fitness , Dan Gioia

Love view , Wudi Hong

Connections : a new model to customizing everything , Shao-Hsuan Hou

Motivated motivation : a consulting tool to find new platforms for business , Xiaoxio Jin

Embracing traditional Chinese culture through design , Jiaxuan Li

P-Lax : toys for adults, to play & relax , Zhizi Liu

Empowerment of people of all abilities , Kasia Matlak

Jettison all stories : experimenting with our relationship to the physical , Alyssa R. Mayo

Transitions : designing acceptance in a world of change , Hanna McLaughlin

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Recyklovaný design - Houpačka – Kateřina Ilavská

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Kateřina Ilavská

Bachelor's thesis, recyklovaný design - houpačka, recycled design, thesis defence.

• Supervisor: Mgr. art. Ivan Pecháček

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Ilavská, Kateřina. Recyklovaný design - Houpačka. Zlín, 2024. bakalářská práce (BcA.). Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně. Fakulta multimediálních komunikací

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Tomas bata university in zlín.

Bachelor programme / field: Multimédia a design / Product Design

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