12 courses with the subject PDES, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
PDES 204Human Factors1.5
45.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course Explore the complex relationship between people and products with the goal of designing objects and experiences that are meaningful, tailored, safe, efficient and comfortable. To do so, students study the many physical and psychological ways in which users differ, and learn to apply principles of ergonomics, psychology, biometrics, universal design, and accessibility to the development of physical and digital tools. Product Design majors priority registration This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course Emerging product designers learn to apply their knowledge of human factors, research methods, and materiality to the design and development of meaningful products that solve pressing problems. Students will exercise design thinking mindsets to identify needs, generate a diverse range of possible solutions, and prototype the strongest ones. Lectures and readings will cover a range of contemporary and historical products and introduce best practices in product development including validated learning, continuous deployment, and minimally viable products. Prerequisites PDES*204 and PDES*211
45.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course Become fluent in a range of rigorous and ethical research methods that help identify and contextualize pressing problems worth solving. A range of design research tactics will be studied and practiced, including methods for interviewing, conducting observational research, evaluating competition, and connecting with experts. An essential component of this course is strengthening one’s ability to analyze, synthesize, and draw conclusions from the research. All research conducted in this course will be clearly communicated through presentation, print, and interactivity. Prerequisites DESN*123 or 12 credits from subjects IMAG, TIME, OBJT, ENVI This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course Through drawing, hands-on making and an introduction to digital modeling, students learn to craft lower- and higher-fidelity prototypes that clearly communicate design solutions and their essential features. Included in this course is an introduction to material properties, basic construction methods, casting and mold making, as well as experimentation with emerging media. Prerequisites DESN*123 or Complete 12 credits from subjects IMAG, TIME, OBJT, ENVI Product Design majors priority registration. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 300 level undergraduate course A hands-on studio where students work with real-world clients to expand their ability to empathize with and help address specific needs in a community. Students continue to develop design thinking and making skills for the purpose of giving voice to the disenfranchised, identifying opportunities for meaningful change, and designing realistic solutions. Students will evolve their prototypes based on observation and feedback from their real-world clients. Prerequisites PDES*325
90.0 hours 300 level undergraduate course This course uses a wide lens to examine the often interconnected relationship between products, services and systems. Through a partnership with a relevant startup, students learn how to integrate these items to create a cohesive experience. In addition, they apply their growing knowledge of product design to help the startup address a need it defines. Students will move fluidly between physical and digital methods of making, and may produce one or more elements of a product service system. Lectures and discussions dissect contemporary and historical models of delivering products and services cohesively as well as their impact on the object economy, both socially and economically. Prerequisites PDES*325
45.0 hours 300 level undergraduate course This course provides students with frameworks and methodologies for designing ethical products, services, and systems that comply with the principles of social, ecological, and economic sustainability. Readings, discussions, and lectures by faculty and experts help students develop a holistic systems view and understanding of ethical and ecological impacts as a factor for design decisions. Students will research and study the work of a number of sustainability experts to help position and inform their own developing design practice. Particular focus is put on design for manufacturing innovation, especially in regards to digital and distributed manufacturing technologies. This course is not repeatable for credit.
45.0 hours 300 level undergraduate course With the goal of creating products that comply with the principles of ecological sustainability, students study a range of contemporary, low-impact materials and the various processes by which they can be formed and manipulated. In addition, students learn strategies for selecting materials that meet the ecological requirements of a particular project. The course includes visits to material libraries and material science centers to broaden awareness of emerging materials. Prerequisites PDES*215
90.0 hours 300 level undergraduate course Prototyping & Fabrication II enhances the product designer’s ability to fabricate, model and render complex ideas with intelligence and efficiency. Students will continue to explore the possibilities of digital fabrication technology and study the manufacturing requirements for one-off production, small batch production, and mass production. Through self-directed projects, students will develop and refine solutions that incorporate elegant physical and digital models into their process. Prerequisites PDES*215 Product Design majors priority registration. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 400 level undergraduate course This studio seeks to enhance written, verbal, and visual design skills, enabling them to make effective presentations to their intended audience and construct a portfolio tailored to their career interests. Students will develop research into a narrative, build a body of work, develop a process through which that work is accomplished, and communicate what is interesting about the work. With an emphasis on various communications media (diagrams, mapping and illustration, typography and graphic design, photography, film/video/animation, and interactive media) the course is intended to provide the student with the ability to provide his/her work with context, appropriate form, and explanation. In addition to developing clear, consistent arguments and artifacts, students will be encouraged to find their own personal methods and approaches for presenting their work and expressing themselves through their design. Prerequisites DESN*401
22.5 hours 400 level undergraduate course Designed to help students contextualize their thesis project, this course examines the performance, structure, behavior, and decision-making of the contemporary object economy. With this in mind, students will explore the question, “how might your thesis become a profitable and impactful business in this economy?” Readings, discussions, and lectures will cover a range of relevant topics including entrepreneurship, crowdfunding, manufacturing at scale, and branded storytelling. A final output of this course is a business plan and roadmap that facilitates taking a thesis project to market. Prerequisites PDES*312 Product Design majors priority registration. This course is not repeatable for credit.
45.0 hours 400 level undergraduate course In this continuation of prototyping and fabrication development, techniques for advanced CAD modeling and rendering are explored. Through a human-centered design process, students experiment with and explore prototypes, models, and renders that enhance the senior thesis project. Prerequisites PDES*312
