Product Design
Essentials
Taught by People Who Work in Product Design
Learn from Parsons School of Design (The New School) faculty alongside working professionals across product design.
Built to Launch Your Career in Product Design, Not Just Your Knowledge
Real Industry Projects
Hands-on, project-based assignments grounded in how the product design industry actually works.
Start Immediately
On-demand video lessons and projects you can begin the day you enroll.
Insider Expertise
Learn from Parsons School of Design faculty and working product design professionals.
A Parsons Credential
Earn a certificate from Parsons, a credential employers recognize.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Scope a design project and define user needs and criteria
- Run competitive analysis and position a product
- Turn research insights into sketches and tested prototypes
- Build digital 3D models using CAD and rendering
- Finalize manufacturing-ready specifications
- Apply design thinking to any kind of product
Skills You'll Gain
Build Your Portfolio
The course is built around hands-on projects, so you leave with real, portfolio-ready work, not just a certificate.
Explore (Project Foundations)
Scope a new project the way pros do, defining the opportunity before you ever sketch.
Sketch (Beginning the Design)
Generate a broad field of ideas through ideation and mock-ups, then narrow to the concept worth building.
Develop (Focus and Test)
Refine your concept into a working 3D model and functional prototype ready for testing.
Delivery (Finalize & Manufacture)
Lock down specs and documentation to hand a manufacturer everything they need.
Post-Production (Results & Review)
Mine each project for insights that sharpen your craft and grow your career.
The Full Product Design Curriculum
Each module is broken into short video lessons with assignments and hands-on projects you complete at your own pace.
Project Foundations
Beginning the Design
Focus and Test the Design
Final Product and Manufacturing
Results and Review
Results, Not Just Lessons
I switched my career from Food and Beverage to the Furniture Industry. I am now a Visual Merchandiser and currently looking to be a furniture designer.
This course is comprehensive and takes you through the design process. Industry professionals teach you industry practices.
I transitioned from being a graphic designer to being a product designer/developer at Signature Products Group, a licensing company.
I'm now more confident with the project process. It's like a guideline I can always refer to when I deal with different projects.
It is a good starting point in product design, brief and comprehensive.
Choose How You Pay
Same full course either way: 5 modules, real industry projects, and your Parsons Certificate of Completion.
One-Time Payment
4 Monthly Payments
12 Monthly Payments
Have a discount code? Add it at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aspiring and working designers at any career stage who want to understand industrial design and break into product development.
5 self-paced modules. Most learners finish in under 40 hours on their own schedule.
Yes. The course is 100% online and on-demand, so you can study on your own schedule from anywhere.
A non-credit Certificate of Completion from Parsons that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
No. The course starts with the fundamentals and is designed for newcomers as well as those already working in the field.
Yes. Request the course catalog and a program advisor can walk you through payment options and any current offers.
Product Design Essentials includes five on-demand courses covering topics such as Project Foundations, Beginning the Design, Focus and Test the Design, Handing Off the Final Product and Manufacturing, and Results and Review. Each course is 2 to 3 hours and is broken into shorter modules and activities that you complete at your own pace.
Courses are taught by Parsons School of Design faculty. You will also receive career insights from industry experts and leaders.
You will come away with a significantly greater understanding of how the product design industry and related careers work. You will also receive a Certificate of Completion from Parsons that helps differentiate you from the rest of the pack.
Students must be at least 13 years old to enroll.
Enrollment includes unlimited access to all course videos and materials for one year from your enrollment date. If you need more time after that, you can pay a monthly subscription fee to extend your access.
Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. If you enroll outside the United States, tuition is charged in your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate.
You can withdraw within 24 hours of enrollment for a full refund. After that, you have up to 7 days to withdraw for a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds are issued after 7 days. Subscription plans can be canceled before your renewal date by emailing [email protected].
Tuition is $999 when paid in full. Two payment plans are also available at checkout: 4 monthly payments of $269 or 12 monthly payments of $99.
