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Product Design Major

As a Product Design major, you are naturally curious, inquisitive and see the world differently, questioning not just how things are, but how they could be. You are a dreamer and a maker of things, an inventory, exploring how emerging technology enables interfaces in objects from smartphones to sophisticated medical products.

In one of the most highly rated product design programs in the country, you’ll create products that will inspire and assist people in their everyday lives.

Human-centered engagement and design research will help you understand the needs and desires of the people that use the objects you are designing. Your designs will be functional, beautiful and “feel” right. Design-thinking experiences will be the basis for outstanding results and award-winning design solutions. Throughout the program, you’ll have professional, hands-on experiences with more than 30+ industry partners through company-sponsored projects.

 

Our Curriculum

Utilize new materials and ways of making soft goods and apparel, and re-imagine and re-engineer innovative solutions for countless other objects through diverse creative tools, techniques and strategies. In Product Design, there are no barriers to inventing innovative products and experiences.

View Program of Study    View Courses

Product Design by the numbers.  For more than 25 years, MIAD’s Product Design program has been collaborating with companies with international reach through our sponsored projects programs. 37 International Housewares Association awards. 1st in the nation in awards from Society of Plastics Engineers, Association of Rotational Molders and winSell Design Competition. In 2021, the median annual wage for a Product Designer was $77,030.

Top Employers

Our interns and alumni work at Rivian, GE Healthcare, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Generac, PIVOT Cycles, Fiskars, Trek, Milwaukee Tool, High Sierra, Delta Faucet, Hyundai and more.

Recent News
A concept pair of Under Armour shoes.

Product Design senior lands Under Armour internship

The Wobble planter with a small cactus.

MIAD Product Design senior wins a top international award

Emma Travitz ’24 (Product Design)

Nike selects Product Design student for summer internship

Chris Terpstra stands next to an electric penny farthing bike.

Engineering with personality: MIAD alum on Industrial Design

Ewelina Laczak, Product Design, 2022

Bryce Lee, Product Design, 2022

Miyu Takisawa, Industrial Design, 2019

Megan Piunti, Industrial Design, 2020

Eve Berndt, Industrial Design, 2020

Tre Krueger, Industrial Design, 2019

MacKenna Rose Mau, Industrial Design, 2019

JD Byrne, Product Design, 2021

Jesse Goudreau, Product Design, 2020

Bryce Lee, Product Design, 2021

Thaddeus Zurawski, Industrial Design, 2019

Allison Klosinski, Industrial Design, 2019

What Can I do with my Major?

PRODUCT DESIGN

3D Modeler

D

Display Designer

 

E

Environmental Designer
Exhibit Designer

F

Fashion/Apparel Designer
Furniture Designer

I
Industrial Designer

M
Model Maker

P
Packaging Designer
Product Designer

S
Shoe Designer

T
Technical Illustrator
Toy Designer

U
UI/UX Designer