The Product Design and Development program is the only one of its kind course that will provide you with the unique understanding to develop high-tech, ecological and socially responsible products from concept and design to production. Combining the strengths of Communications, Media, Arts and Design and the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science, the innovative Product Design and Development courses will bring together hands-on learning in product and industrial design and product development with product lifecycle management. Through interdisciplinary, collaborative group projects that will require you to apply all stages of the visual design process, you'll develop creative design problem-solving abilities and strategies. You'll also acquire a wide range of other skills in this advanced diploma program, including idea generation, drawing, model-making, 3D CAD advanced computer modelling, rapid prototyping, product development (CAE analysis, reverse engineering technology, materials selection, quality testing, product costing and optimization), product lifecycle management and cross-platform multimedia communications. To round out training, you'll gain a strong sense of functional and aesthetic principles of design as well as a solid understanding of the technical and business aspects of product development. This Product Design and Development program meets the growing need for graduates with a strategic vision of interdisciplinary product design and an understanding of all stages of the product lifecycle who are ready to work in a variety of exciting careers related to consumer product development, electronics, furniture, transportation and more. Please note: This program requires you to have and use a mobile computing device that meets or exceeds the recommended hardware and software requirements. For more information, please visit Mobile Learning Information.

Program Highlights

• During your time in the program, you'll study and work in classrooms and labs that are equipped with the latest tools and industry-standard software.
• The program will provide a practical, hands-on and entrepreneurial approach that will prepare you for a sustainable career.
• Opportunities will exist to collaborate with students in other programs. This will be a unique way to network, learn and work with industry professionals.
• You'll have the opportunity to work with business incubator, to bring your ideas to market.

Design thinking is a powerful process of problem solving that begins with understanding unmet customer needs. From that insight emerges a process for innovation that encompasses concept development, applied creativity, prototyping, and experimentation. When design thinking approaches are applied to business, the success rate for innovation improves substantially.

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to: Understand the design thinking process Identify and assess opportunities through customer needs analysis Create clear product specifications based on customer needs that are desirable, feasible, and viable Generate and evaluate new product and service concepts through applied creativity Implement a proven 4-step method for planning and executing a prototype Design services for enriched customer experiences Create and establish a robust product architecture Evaluate the economics of product development Design products and services with sustainability in mind Plan and manage innovation projects effectively