This comprehensive course is designed to guide students through the multifaceted discipline of product design, starting from fundamental principles and advancing to expert-level mastery.

Students will explore the entire design process, including user research, ideation, prototyping, and user experience (UX) design.

The curriculum emphasizes practical application, encouraging learners to develop innovative solutions that are both aesthetically pleasing and user-centric.

By the end of the course, students will have a robust portfolio showcasing their design projects and a deep understanding of the product design lifecycle.

Course Objectives:

1. Understand Fundamental Design Principles: Grasp the core concepts of design, including color theory, typography, and layout, to create visually appealing products.
2. Conduct User Research: Learn methodologies to gather and analyze user needs and behaviors to inform design decisions.
3. Develop Ideation Techniques: Master brainstorming and sketching methods to generate innovative design solutions.
4. Create Prototypes: Build both low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes to test and refine design concepts.
5. Apply User Experience (UX) Design: Implement UX principles to ensure products are intuitive, efficient, and satisfying for users.
6. Utilize Design Tools: Gain proficiency in industry-standard design software and tools.
7. Conduct Usability Testing: Learn to plan and execute tests to gather feedback and improve product designs.
8. Understand Manufacturing Processes: Acquire knowledge of materials and manufacturing techniques to design feasible and market-ready products.
9. Develop a Professional Portfolio: Compile a comprehensive portfolio that effectively showcases design skills and projects.

Final Project:

For the final project, students will undertake the design of a new product that addresses a specific user need or problem. This project will encompass the entire design process, from initial research to final presentation:

1. Project Proposal: Identify a user problem or market gap and propose a product solution.
2. User Research: Conduct thorough research to understand the target audience and their needs.
3. Ideation: Generate a range of ideas and select the most promising concept.
4. Prototyping: Develop prototypes to explore the form and function of the product.
5. User Testing: Test prototypes with potential users and gather feedback.
6. Design Refinement: Iterate on the design based on user feedback and feasibility considerations.
7. Final Presentation: Present the final design, including detailed specifications, user journey, and a reflection on the design process.

This capstone project will demonstrate the student's ability to apply learned principles and techniques to create a well-researched, user-centered product design.