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Twin Cities Campus

Product Design B.S.

Product Design
College of Design
  • Program Type: Baccalaureate
  • Requirements for this program are current for Spring 2020
  • Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
  • Required credits within the major: 84 to 87
  • Degree: Bachelor of Science
The product design program is a creative, interdisciplinary major that blends elements of design, engineering, business, and humanities. This program provides methods and tools for inventing our future in the form of innovative objects, systems, and services. In addition to design fundamentals, this program is strengthened by the sciences. Combining these disciplines allows students to design desirable products and services (both physical and digital) that are also functional, marketable, and human-centered. This program enables students to take ideas from concept to reality and succeed in market.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Admission Requirements
Freshman and transfer students are usually admitted to pre-major status before admission to this major.
A GPA above 2.0 is preferred for the following:
  • 2.50 already admitted to the degree-granting college
  • 2.50 transferring from another University of Minnesota college
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the Office of Admissions website.
Required prerequisites
Pre-major coursework
Courses to be completed prior to portfolio review to attain full major status.
DES 2701 - Creative Design Methods (3.0 cr)
PDES 2702 - Concept Sketching (3.0 cr)
PDES 2703 - Concept Visualization and Presentation 1 (3.0 cr)
PDES 2777 - Product Form and Model Making (3.0 cr)
PHYS 1101W - Introductory College Physics I [PHYS, WI] (4.0 cr)
or PHYS 1301W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering I [PHYS, WI] (4.0 cr)
or PHYS 1401V - Honors Physics I [PHYS, WI] (4.0 cr)
MATH 1271 - Calculus I [MATH] (4.0 cr)
or MATH 1371 - CSE Calculus I [MATH] (4.0 cr)
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the liberal education requirements. Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Admission to the full major status program is determined by a competitive holistic review, which includes an interview, GPA, and a portfolio review after completion of pre-major coursework.
Product Design Core
DES 3201 - Career and Internship Preparation for Design (1.0 cr)
MGMT 3015 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship (4.0 cr)
PDES 2704 - Concept Visualization and Presentation 2 (3.0 cr)
PDES 2771 - Product Design Studio 1 (4.0 cr)
PDES 2772 - Product Design Studio 2 (4.0 cr)
PDES 3704 - Computer-Aided Design 1: Solid Modeling and Rendering (3.0 cr)
PDES 3705 - History and Future of Product Design (3.0 cr)
PDES 3706 - Designing for Manufacture (4.0 cr)
PDES 3711 - Product Innovation Lab (4.0 cr)
PDES 3771 - Product Design Studio 3 (4.0 cr)
PDES 4701W - Product Design Studio 4 [WI] (4.0 cr)
PDES 4702W - Capstone Design Studio [WI] (4.0 cr)
PHYS 1102W - Introductory College Physics II [PHYS, WI] (4.0 cr)
or PHYS 1302W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering II [PHYS, WI] (4.0 cr)
or PHYS 1402V - Honors Physics II [PHYS, WI] (4.0 cr)
EE 1301 - Introduction to Computing Systems (4.0 cr)
or CSCI 1103 - Introduction to Computer Programming in Java (4.0 cr)
Internships
Students must perform one internship, 2 credits
PDES 3196 - Product Design Internship (2.0 cr)
Electives
Take 2 - 3 course(s) totaling 6 - 8 credit(s) from the following:
· ANTH 4035 - Ethnographic Research Methods (3.0 cr)
or CSCI 5127W - Embodied Computing: Design & Prototyping [WI] (3.0 cr)
or DES 5185 - Human Factors in Design (3.0 cr)
or DES 1002 - Improvisation for Design (3.0 cr)
or DES 3131 - User Experience in Design (4.0 cr)
or GDES 2342 - Web Design (3.0 cr)
or GDES 3353 - Packaging and Display (3.0 cr)
or ANTH 4121 - Business Anthropology (3.0 cr)
or LAW 5026 - Intellectual Property In Practice (1.0 cr)
or ME 2011 - Introduction to Engineering (4.0 cr)
or MGMT 4080W - Applied Technology Entrepreneurship [WI] (4.0 cr)
or MGMT 4171W - Entrepreneurship in Action I [WI] (4.0 cr)
or MGMT 4172 - Entrepreneurship in Action II (4.0 cr)
or ESPM 3603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (3.0 cr)
or GCC 3005 - Innovation for Changemakers: Design for a Disrupted World [GP] (3.0 cr)
or DES 4322 - Furniture Design, Practice (4.0 cr)
or ARTS 3140 - Figure Drawing (4.0 cr)
or PDES 3714
or PDES 3715 - Design and Food (4.0 cr)
or MKTG 3001 - Principles of Marketing (3.0 cr)
or SCO 3001 - Sustainable Supply Chain and Operations (3.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the Major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
· CSCI 5127W - Embodied Computing: Design & Prototyping [WI] (3.0 cr)
· MGMT 4080W - Applied Technology Entrepreneurship [WI] (4.0 cr)
· MGMT 4171W - Entrepreneurship in Action I [WI] (4.0 cr)
· PDES 4701W - Product Design Studio 4 [WI] (4.0 cr)
· PDES 4702W - Capstone Design Studio [WI] (4.0 cr)
Program Sub-plans
Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans.
Integrated Product Development
Required Courses
ME 2011 - Introduction to Engineering (4.0 cr)
PDES 3714 - Computer-Aided Design Methods 2: Surface Modeling and Rendering (3.0 cr)
User Experience Design
Required Courses
GDES 2342 - Web Design (3.0 cr)
DES 3131 - User Experience in Design (4.0 cr)
 
More program views..
View college catalog(s):
· College of Design

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2023
· Fall 2022
· Fall 2021
· Fall 2020

View sample plan(s):
· Product Design BS Sample Plan
· IPD Sample Plan
· UX Sample Plan

View checkpoint chart:
· Product Design B.S.
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DES 2701 - Creative Design Methods
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This class is an introduction to a variety of tools and methods used in developing new products, services, and experiences. The focus of the class is on the early stages of design which includes user research, market research, idea generation methods, concept evaluation, concept selection, intellectual property, and idea presentation. Students will learn the divergent and convergent design thinking process to frame problems, and generate, refine, and communicate ideas. Students work individually and in groups applying the content taught in lecture to multiple assignments and a semester-long design project.
PDES 2702 - Concept Sketching
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This class is an introduction to manual sketching techniques, specifically for the communication of conceptual product ideas. The focus of this class is on free-hand perspective drawing. Students begin with basic principles, simple shapes, light and shadow, and later learn how to combine forms to create conceptual objects with realistic perspective. In this class, there are weekly drawing assignments and presentations.
PDES 2703 - Concept Visualization and Presentation 1
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
This class builds upon the fundamentals taught in PDES 2702 Concept Sketching. Students learn to draw complex geometries and organic forms and how to add shading, shadow, text and backgrounds to enhance their drawings. Markers and other physical tools are introduced in this class as a means of further refining a sketch. In the second half of the semester, students learn to digitally improve their sketches and are introduced to the fundamentals of digital sketching with a drawing tablet and digital sketching software. As this class is taught in smaller sections, there are many opportunities for students to present and critique work. The basics of design portfolios are covered at the end of this class.
PDES 2777 - Product Form and Model Making
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
This class is a hands-on introduction to prototyping tools, materials, and techniques for product design. Students learn the basics of working with foam-board, foam, and wood to create physical models and will be introduced to different surface treatments and finishes. Assignments are designed to build a sense of craftsmanship and attention to detail. There are multiple individual projects focusing on different materials and techniques. Each project involves practicing oral presentation and group critique.
PHYS 1101W - Introductory College Physics I (PHYS, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Phys 1101W/Phys 1107
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Fundamental principles of physics in the context of everyday world. Use of kinematics/dynamics principles and quantitative/qualitative problem solving techniques to understand natural phenomena. Lecture, recitation, lab. prereq: High school algebra, plane geometry, trigonometry; primarily for students interested in technical areas
PHYS 1301W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering I (PHYS, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Phys 1201W/1301W/1401V/1501V
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Use of fundamental principles to solve quantitative problems. Motion, forces, conservation principles, structure of matter. Applications to mechanical systems. Prereq or Concurrent: MATH 1271/1371/1371H or equivalent
PHYS 1401V - Honors Physics I (PHYS, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Phys 1201W/1301W/1401V/1501V
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Comprehensive, calculus-level general physics. Emphasizes use of fundamental principles to solve quantitative problems. Description of motion, forces, conservation principles. Structure of matter, with applications to mechanical systems. Prereq: Honors program or with permission, Prereq or Concurrent: MATH 1271/1371/1571H or equivalent
MATH 1271 - Calculus I (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Math 1271/Math 1381/Math 1571/
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Differential calculus of functions of a single variable, including polynomial, rational, exponential, and trig functions. Applications, including optimization and related rates problems. Single variable integral calculus, using anti-derivatives and simple substitution. Applications may include area, volume, work problems. prereq: 4 yrs high school math including trig or satisfactory score on placement test or grade of at least C- in [1151 or 1155]
MATH 1371 - CSE Calculus I (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Math 1271/Math 1381/Math 1571/
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Differentiation of single-variable functions, basics of integration of single-variable functions. Applications: max-min, related rates, area, curve-sketching. Use of calculator, cooperative learning. prereq: CSE or pre-bioprod concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in biosys engn (PRE), background in [precalculus, geometry, visualization of functions/graphs], instr consent; familiarity with graphing calculators recommended
DES 3201 - Career and Internship Preparation for Design
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Research career opportunities and organizations related to industry. Set career goals based on skills and interests. Identify job search skills to secure internships, implement transition from college to employment. prereq: Pre-graphic design or graphic design or pre-interior design or interior design or pre-apparel design or apparel design or environmental design or architecture or product design
MGMT 3015 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: IBUS 3010/MGMT 3010/MGMT 3015
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Career paths, including new business start-ups, franchising, acquisitions (including family business succession), corporate venturing, and entre-preneurial services. Legal structures for new business formation. Aspects of business law/ethics.
PDES 2704 - Concept Visualization and Presentation 2
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Building upon the principles taught in PDES 2703 Concept Visualization and Presentation 1, this course covers advanced digital sketching and 2D rendering techniques for product designers. The emphasis of this class is placed on refining sketches for professional presentation. As this class is a co-requisite with PDES 2771 Product Design Studio 1, some assignments will compliment projects assigned in studio.
PDES 2771 - Product Design Studio 1
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This is the first design studio for product design majors. It is an introduction to user-centered design using industry-standard practices. Students will apply skills learned in their prior core classes towards several individual product design challenges. The deliverables focus on user research, market research, concept development, lo-fidelity prototyping, and concept presentation.
PDES 2772 - Product Design Studio 2
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
This is the second studio course for product design majors. This studio explores physical prototype development using industry-standard practices. Students will apply skills learned in their prior core classes towards several individual product design challenges. The deliverables cover human factors & ergonomics, prototype crafsmanship, aesthetics, form giving, functionality, design for manufacture, and presentation skills.
PDES 3704 - Computer-Aided Design 1: Solid Modeling and Rendering
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This class provides an overview of computer-aided design (CAD) methods for product designers. The primary software covered in this course include Solidworks and Keyshot. These programs are used to make three-dimensional computer generated models of product concepts and render the models to appear photo-realistic. This class may also cover additional 2D and interaction design software.
PDES 3705 - History and Future of Product Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
This class covers critical milestones in the history, evolution, and trajectory of modern product design as well as the human relationships to consumer goods, including production and consumption. In some assignments, students have the opportunity to apply the topics discussed towards imagining the future of the product design industry.
PDES 3706 - Designing for Manufacture
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
This class is a hands-on overview of common manufacturing methods, tools, and considerations for product designers. The focus is placed on plastic and metal related processes specifically machining, forming, casting, and molding. Throughout the course students apply the theory of design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) to a series of design projects. This course also covers related topics such as material identification, bill of material, cost estimation, part drawings, tolerances, fasteners, part finishing, and sourcing parts.
PDES 3711 - Product Innovation Lab
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: PDes 3711/PDes 5711
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
A hands-on experience in integrated product design and development processes. Elements of industrial design, engineering, business, and humanities are applied to a semester-long product design project. Cross-functional teams of students in different majors work together to design and develop new consumer product concepts with guidance from a community of industry mentors. prereq: PDes 2772 OR Junior/Senior (any major) or permission from instructor
PDES 3771 - Product Design Studio 3
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This is the third studio course for product design majors in which students will further develop skills specific to their selected track/sub-plan. Students will apply skills learned in their prior core classes towards several individual product design challenges. Students in the user experience section may explore topics in service design, immersive environments, IoT, digital/physical integration, or smart products. Students in the integrated product development section may explore topics in furniture, medical devices, electromechanical products, consumer electronics, digital/physical integration, or smart products. Both sections will further develop presentation skills.
PDES 4701W - Product Design Studio 4 (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Students will explore several design research methods, understand the basis of these methods, and directly apply methods within a design project. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their facility with a wide range of exploratory, generative, and evaluative research methods. This course will cover field study, contextual inquiries, archival research, participatory codesign, research synthesis techniques, insights identification, early-stage prototyping, usability testing, and ways to communicate research in a visually compelling manner.
PDES 4702W - Capstone Design Studio (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Students synthesize and apply design and research techniques to a senior capstone project. Projects can be student-directed or client-sponsored and are intended to demonstrate competency in fundamental design skills, communicating and documenting design processes, and the ability to apply design processes to develop new products and services while addressing real-world constraints.
PHYS 1102W - Introductory College Physics II (PHYS, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: PHYS 1102W / PHYS 1108
Typically offered: Every Spring
Fundamental principles of physics in context of everyday world. Use of conservation principles and quantitative/qualitative problem solving techniques to understand natural phenomena. Lecture, recitation, lab. prereq: 1101W or 1107
PHYS 1302W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering II (PHYS, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Phys 1202W/1302W/1402V/1502V
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Use of fundamental principles to solve quantitative problems. Motion, forces, conservation principles, fields, structure of matter. Applications to electromagnetic phenomena. Prereq: PHYS 1301 or equivalent, Prereq or Concurrent: MATH 1272/1372/1572H or equivalent
PHYS 1402V - Honors Physics II (PHYS, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Phys 1202W/1302W/1402V/1502V
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Fundamental principles to solve quantitative problems. Description of motion, forces, conservation principles, fields. Structure of matter, with applications to electro-magnetic phenomena. Honors program or with permission, PHYS 1401V or equivalent, Prereq or CC: MATH 1272/1372/1572H or equivalent
EE 1301 - Introduction to Computing Systems
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
C/C++ programming constructs, binary arithmetic and bit manipulation, data representation and abstraction, data types/structures, arrays, pointer addressing, control flow, iteration, recursion, file I/O, basics of object-oriented programming. An Internet-of-Things lab is integral to the course.
CSCI 1103 - Introduction to Computer Programming in Java
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Fundamental programming concepts/software development using Java language. Problem solving skills. Algorithm development techniques. Use of abstractions/modularity. Data structures/abstract data types. Substantial programming projects. Weekly lab.
PDES 3196 - Product Design Internship
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: S-N only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Supervised work experience relating activity in business, industry, or government to the student's area of study. Integrative paper or project may be required. prereq: PDes major
ANTH 4035 - Ethnographic Research Methods
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
History of and current issues in ethnographic research. Research projects, including participant observation, interviewing, research design, note taking, life history, and other ethnographic methods. prereq: 1003 or 1005 or grad student
CSCI 5127W - Embodied Computing: Design & Prototyping (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
In this course, you will learn and apply the principles of embodied computing to human-centered challenges. Through a semester-long team project, you will learn and demonstrate mastery of human-centered embodied computing through two phases: (1) investigating human needs and current embodied practices and (2) rapidly prototyping and iterating embodied computing solutions. One of the ways you will demonstrate this mastery is through the collaborative creation of a written document and project capstone video describing your process and prototype. prereq: CSci 4041, upper division or graduate student, or instructor permission; CSci 5115 or equivalent recommended.
DES 5185 - Human Factors in Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Exploration of the theories and methods that influence the assessment of physical, cognitive, social, and psychological human factors, and the analysis of user needs with application to designed products and systems that interact with a human user or the human body. This course is an introductory overview to the theories and concepts of Human Factors and their application through the methods of User-Centered Design. Typically, the class is comprised of students from a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds. Course material is explored through readings, lectures, discussions, case studies, and course projects.
DES 1002 - Improvisation for Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
This course explores how the art of improvisation can build collaboration, communication, and creativity skills. In this class we will focus on how improvisation is applied to fields of design, however these skills may be applicable to other disciplines. Through both readings and an interactive curriculum of improv exercises, students will learn specific tools to facilitate idea generation, collaborative team processes, idea selection, sketching and critique.
DES 3131 - User Experience in Design
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduction to theories/principles of human interaction with designed objects. Focuses on affect/emotional quality of designs. Objects, interfaces, environments. Digitally mediated experiences.
GDES 2342 - Web Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Graphic design elements/principles applied to website design. HTML, CSS. Working with interactive media and file formats.
GDES 3353 - Packaging and Display
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Application of graphic design principles to three-dimensional projects. Principles of three-dimensional design/space applied to labeling, packaging, and display.
ANTH 4121 - Business Anthropology
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Anth 4121/Anth 5121
Typically offered: Every Spring
Anthropological/ethnographic understandings/research techniques.
LAW 5026 - Intellectual Property In Practice
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Course Equivalencies: Law 5026/Law 6926
Grading Basis: S-N only
Typically offered: Every Fall
The field of intellectual property extends across the boundaries of business, technology, innovation, and law. In this course, students will be introduced to a broad range of IP related topics presented by leading practitioners working at the intersection of law and technology. Topics may include trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, patents, IP transactions, IP litigation, emerging technologies, intellectual asset management, IP valuation, and commercialization. Lecturers may include corporate general counsels, firm lawyers, transactional lawyers, litigators, consultants, tech transfer officers, R&D Leaders, and CTO. Open to graduate students, open to undergraduate juniors or seniors in CSE or CBS, open to other undergraduates with instructor permission.
ME 2011 - Introduction to Engineering
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Skills critical for practicing engineers. Mechanical engineering, engineering design. Visual, written, and oral communication forms. Computer-based design tools. Substantial design projects, including prototype construction. prereq: CSE pre-major
MGMT 4080W - Applied Technology Entrepreneurship (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Mgmt 4170/Mgmt 4177/Mgmt 5177
Typically offered: Every Spring
Team projects based on commercializable technologies or innovations. Teams present their ideas to investors and industry professionals. Students are encouraged to submit their business plans to Minnesota Cup.
MGMT 4171W - Entrepreneurship in Action I (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Two-semester course. In fall, students identify a business oportunity, develop concept, determine resources required, and launch the business. In spring, students implement business plan, manage business, and determine exit strategy. prereq: 3010, [4008 or concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in 4008], completed coursework in business core, CSOM upper division, approved application
MGMT 4172 - Entrepreneurship in Action II
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Second of two-semester sequence. In fall, students identify business opportunity, develop concept, determine resources required, and launch business. In spring, students implement busienss plan, manage business, and determine exit strategy. prereq: 4171
ESPM 3603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Concepts/issues relating to inventory, subsequent analysis of production systems. Production system from holistic point of view, using term commonly used in industrial ecology: "metabolic system."
GCC 3005 - Innovation for Changemakers: Design for a Disrupted World (GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: CEGE 5571/GCC 3005/GCC 5005
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Summer
Do you want to make a difference? We live at the intersection of COVID-19, racism, economic recession, and environmental collapse. Now is the time to make an impact. In this project-based course, you will work in interdisciplinary teams. You'll develop entrepreneurial responses to current social and environmental problems. You'll develop tools, mindsets, and skills to address any complex grand challenge. Your project may address food insecurity, unemployment, housing, environmental impacts, equity, or other issues. Proposed designs for how you might have a social impact can take many forms (student group, program intervention with an existing organization, public policy strategy, or for-profit or non-profit venture) but must have ideas for how to be financially sustainable. Community members, locally and globally, will serve as mentors and research consultants to teams. Weekly speakers will share their innovative efforts to serve the common good. A primary focus of the course is up-front work to identify the ?right? problem to solve. You will use a discovery process, design thinking, and input from field research to addressing the challenge you choose. You will build a model around the community?s culture, needs, and wants. By the end of the class, you will have a well-designed plan to turn your project into an actionable solution if that is of interest. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. GCC courses are open to all students and fulfill an honors experience for University Honors Program students.
DES 4322 - Furniture Design, Practice
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
The hardest things about the creative act is learning how to start something before you know what it is. The simplest objects are always more formally complex than the mind can accurately imagine. This course teaches design thinking through furniture constructed using a fast, loose & ad-hoc "children-club-fort-building" method of discovering & visualizing while making. Direct-construction design is tangibly satisfying and will provide powerful context for all other scales of creative, design and planning methods. Your results will not be conventionally good-looking, but you will make real & functioning cultural things. All exercises will be dependent on connecting to ideas beyond commonly recognized boundaries of the furniture. Think "Chair-ness, not Chair." You will be taught basic welding and wood joinery to provide fast & viable structural frames, "surfacing" methods in wood, foam and fabric composites, and an introduction to mold making and material casting. You do not need to be good at making, but you must be game to try. Craft is important so-far as basic structural usability is attained. Ideas will always trump material "correctness."
ARTS 3140 - Figure Drawing
Credits: 4.0 [max 12.0]
Course Equivalencies: ArtS 3140/ArtS 3112
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
This course is designed to develop skills in drawing through observation and interpretation of the human form. Though the practice of observational drawing from a live model, students will develop visual perception skills and understanding of pictorial space including exercises in gesture, contour, outline, and tonal modeling. Some in-class work and assignments will be structured with strict limitations, including choices of media. Students will explore contemporary viewpoints and modern aspects of the figure through slide lectures, class discussions, and outside assignments. Prerequisite: 1101 or 1104
PDES 3715 - Design and Food
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This class is a hands-on introduction to principles of design applied to the food industry. Students develop new food concepts working in a kitchen classroom with regular advising from local chefs and food industry experts. The class is structured into four modules: creative design process, flavor and texture, visual aesthetics, and user experience. In each module students learn different design and food preparation methods and apply them to a design challenge. Several restaurant outings are incorporated into the curriculum.
MKTG 3001 - Principles of Marketing
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Mktg 3001/Mktg 3001H
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Introduction to terms, concepts, and skills for analyzing marketing problems. Factors outside the organization affecting its product, pricing, promotion, and distribution decisions. Cases from actual organizations. prereq: ECON 1101 or ECON 1165
SCO 3001 - Sustainable Supply Chain and Operations
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Sustainable Supply Chain and Operations Management focuses on the design and management of transformation processes to provide products and services to create value for the people, planet, and firm prosperity. On the one hand, supply chain and operations management involves the integration of activities and processes, to facilitate the flows of materials, services, finances, and information to convert inputs into the firms? primary products and services. Operational issues include the design of products and processes, the procurement of raw materials, the control of inventories, the maintenance of quality, the planning of human resources and facilities, and the delivery of products or services, so that customer expectations and needs are met. Operations also have significant interactions with other functional areas of the firm (e.g., finance, marketing, strategy, and accounting). Therefore, understanding the role of the operations function and its impact on the competitiveness of the firm from both tactical and strategic aspects is an important part of any manager's training. This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts, operations practices, and models in both manufacturing- and service-oriented firms. The course will cover both quantitative and qualitative methods.
CSCI 5127W - Embodied Computing: Design & Prototyping (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
In this course, you will learn and apply the principles of embodied computing to human-centered challenges. Through a semester-long team project, you will learn and demonstrate mastery of human-centered embodied computing through two phases: (1) investigating human needs and current embodied practices and (2) rapidly prototyping and iterating embodied computing solutions. One of the ways you will demonstrate this mastery is through the collaborative creation of a written document and project capstone video describing your process and prototype. prereq: CSci 4041, upper division or graduate student, or instructor permission; CSci 5115 or equivalent recommended.
MGMT 4080W - Applied Technology Entrepreneurship (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Mgmt 4170/Mgmt 4177/Mgmt 5177
Typically offered: Every Spring
Team projects based on commercializable technologies or innovations. Teams present their ideas to investors and industry professionals. Students are encouraged to submit their business plans to Minnesota Cup.
MGMT 4171W - Entrepreneurship in Action I (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Two-semester course. In fall, students identify a business oportunity, develop concept, determine resources required, and launch the business. In spring, students implement business plan, manage business, and determine exit strategy. prereq: 3010, [4008 or concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in 4008], completed coursework in business core, CSOM upper division, approved application
PDES 4701W - Product Design Studio 4 (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Students will explore several design research methods, understand the basis of these methods, and directly apply methods within a design project. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their facility with a wide range of exploratory, generative, and evaluative research methods. This course will cover field study, contextual inquiries, archival research, participatory codesign, research synthesis techniques, insights identification, early-stage prototyping, usability testing, and ways to communicate research in a visually compelling manner.
PDES 4702W - Capstone Design Studio (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Students synthesize and apply design and research techniques to a senior capstone project. Projects can be student-directed or client-sponsored and are intended to demonstrate competency in fundamental design skills, communicating and documenting design processes, and the ability to apply design processes to develop new products and services while addressing real-world constraints.
ME 2011 - Introduction to Engineering
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Skills critical for practicing engineers. Mechanical engineering, engineering design. Visual, written, and oral communication forms. Computer-based design tools. Substantial design projects, including prototype construction. prereq: CSE pre-major
PDES 3714 - Computer-Aided Design Methods 2: Surface Modeling and Rendering
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
This class provides an overview of the digital surface modeling of existing products and conceptual objects with complex curves. Students will learn how to use the 3D surfacing software (e.g., Alias or Rhino) and apply material and texture with the rendering software (e.g., KeyShot). They will also gain a basic understanding of the science and logic behind the software. In addition, students will gain hands-on experience with topics closely related to this field including lighting, background, and render post-processing.
GDES 2342 - Web Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Graphic design elements/principles applied to website design. HTML, CSS. Working with interactive media and file formats.
DES 3131 - User Experience in Design
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduction to theories/principles of human interaction with designed objects. Focuses on affect/emotional quality of designs. Objects, interfaces, environments. Digitally mediated experiences.