What is Human Centered Design?

Human-Centred Design (HCD) is a design approach that focuses on the needs and experiences of people. It's a way of solving problems by putting people at the centre of the design process.

Why Human Centered Design?

Human-Centered Design is important because it prioritises understanding and actively involving the needs, wants, and perspectives of the end-user throughout the design process.

What are the 4 principles of Human Centered Design?

The four principles of Human-Centered design (HCD) are:Empathise: Understand the needs and perspectives of the usersDefine: Synthesise the information gathered about the users Understand the problem: Understand the problem, the people, and the system Iterate: Continually prototype, test, and refine products and services

M.Des Product Design

Programme Overview

The Master of Design (M.Des) in Product Design is a postgraduate programme envisioned to develop future-ready designers who integrate creativity, technology, and strategic thinking to craft meaningful, tangible product outcomes and experiences. Recognised among the top Product Design courses in Bangalore, the programme nurtures designers capable of responding to contemporary social, cultural, and industrial challenges through empathy-driven, innovative, and research-led design practices.

The curriculum emphasises the critical intersection of form, function, materials, and human experience, supported by rigorous user-centred design methodologies, material experimentation, and systems thinking. As a comprehensive M.Des in Product Design and Master of Product Design qualification, the programme is delivered across four semesters and integrates strong theoretical foundations with studio-based practice, applied research, and sustained industry engagement.

Learners progressively advance from foundational design exploration to specialised applications in product systems, manufacturing processes, CMF (Colour, Material, and Finish), and strategic product innovation. This academic journey culminates in a discipline-specific capstone thesis project that reflects independent inquiry, professional competence, and contextual relevance. Positioned among the best colleges for M.Des Product Design in Bangalore and the top M.Des Product Design colleges in India, the programme prepares graduates to engage meaningfully with complex design ecosystems.

Graduates emerge as ethically grounded, entrepreneurial, and socially responsible designers, equipped to contribute to and redefine professional practice within industry, academia, and research. As one of the best Product Design courses in India, the programme enables learners to critically shape the future of products, systems, and experiences in an increasingly interconnected global context.

Duration of Study:

2 Years (4 semesters)

No. of Credits

80 Credits

Eligibility

A student who has passed a Bachelor’s Degree of a minimum 4 years duration (level 6.0). Obtained at least 50% marks (45% marks in case of candidates belonging to the reserved category) in the qualifying examination.

Course Highlights

Interdisciplinary and Future-Oriented Curriculum The programme integrates core principles of industrial design with emerging domains, including smart products, sustainability, and experience design. It promotes interdisciplinary engagement across design, engineering, and business, enabling students to address complex real-world challenges through a holistic, systems-oriented perspective.
Studio-Based Pedagogy with Research Integration Learning is anchored in immersive studio-based environments that combine hands-on experimentation, material exploration, and user-centred research. Each studio functions as a structured design laboratory for ideation, prototyping, and evaluation, ensuring the development of strong conceptual capabilities alongside tangible-making skills, supported by rigorous design research methodologies.
Emphasis on Sustainability and Social Responsibility Students are actively encouraged to engage with socially relevant contexts, circular economy frameworks, and responsible design practices. This focus ensures that graduates develop products and systems that are environmentally sustainable, socially responsive, and ethically informed.
Robust Industry and Academic Engagement The programme is strengthened through sustained collaborations with leading design consultancies, manufacturing sectors, and innovation centres. Regular workshops, masterclasses, and live industry projects facilitated by domain experts provide exposure to professional design practices, design management principles, and contemporary innovation methodologies.

Curriculum Structure

Semester 1

Design Foundation
Design History
Digital Tools and Prototyping
Human Factors Design
Studio 1: Design Thinking and Research Methods

Semester 2

Product Representation Techniques
Product Semantics and CMF
Systems and Service Design
Design for Interaction – Smart Products / UI–UX
Studio 2 (Specialisation Options: Toy & Game Design / Accessory Design / Furniture Design)

Semester 3

Internship
Design Research Seminar
Sustainable Prototyping and Manufacturing
Design Styling and Detailing
Studio 3 (Specialisation Options: Transportation Design / Medical Equipment Design / Home & Kitchen Appliances)

Semester 4

Graduation Project / Thesis
Speculative and Critical Design
Open Elective 1
Open Elective 2

Career Enhancement Programmes

Structured Knowledge Engagement through classroom-based instruction, expert-led masterclasses, industry lectures, and facilitated peer discussion forums that strengthen conceptual understanding and critical discourse.
Practical and Experiential Learning delivered through studio- and laboratory-based projects, immersive industry and community engagements, and self-directed design initiatives supported by continuous expert mentoring.
Real-Time Design Projects and Academic Juries, including semester-wise external critiques and collaborative, multi-stakeholder projects that simulate professional design practice and evaluative rigour.
Advanced Electives and Certification Pathways enable learners to specialise in focused domains such as transportation design, universal design, culture-driven design practices, and toy and game design, aligned with individual career trajectories.
Internships and Apprenticeships encompass short-term professional immersions, project-based industry internships, corporate engagement programmes, advanced domain specialisation opportunities, and sustained industry linkages.
Entrepreneurship Immersion through Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP), specialised masterclasses, start-up founder shadowing, and enterprise studio-led projects culminating in the development and launch of a micro-brand or minimum viable product (MVP).

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the M.Des in Product Design are well-prepared for diverse and evolving professional pathways, including:

Core Product Design and Systems Practice
Graduates shape physical and hybrid products by translating human needs, cultural contexts, and technological possibilities into responsible design solutions. In roles such as Product Designer, Industrial Designer, Systems Designer, or Design Engineer (Concept & Development), they integrate form, function, materials, ergonomics, and manufacturability to create products and systems that are usable, scalable, and contextually relevant across consumer, industrial, and public-sector domains.
Research-Led and Human-Centred Design Pathways
Graduates advance design outcomes through rigorous inquiry, user research, and evidence-based decision-making. Working as Design Researchers, Human-Centred Design Specialists, UX Researchers, or Ergonomics Consultants, they analyse behavioural patterns, conduct usability and ergonomic studies, and synthesise qualitative and quantitative insights to inform inclusive, ethical, and socially responsive design interventions.
Industry, Manufacturing, and Applied Innovation
Graduates drive applied innovation by collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and business stakeholders to realise feasible and market-ready products. In professional capacities such as Product Development Specialists, Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Consultants, Innovation Engineers, or Industry Design Leads, they engage with materials, processes, prototyping, and supply-chain realities, ensuring that design intent is translated into production-conscious and commercially viable outcomes.
Strategic, Digital, and Emerging Design Domains
Graduates operate at the intersection of design, technology, and strategy, contributing to smart products, interactive systems, and digitally augmented experiences. As Strategic Designers, Digital Product Designers, Design Strategists, or Interaction and Systems Designers, they apply advanced digital tools, visualisation methods, and systems thinking to design connected products, platforms, and service ecosystems responsive to emerging technologies and evolving user expectations.
Entrepreneurial, Leadership, and Independent Practice
Graduates initiate and lead design-driven ventures by identifying opportunities, articulating value propositions, and translating ideas into viable products, services, or micro-brands. As Design Entrepreneurs, Independent Product Consultants, Studio Founders, or Design Managers, they apply entrepreneurial thinking, design leadership, and ethical decision-making to build startups, consultancy practices, or innovation-led enterprises across sectors.
Collectively, these pathways enable graduates of the M.Des in Product Design to remain adaptable, reflective, and professionally relevant over time, contributing meaningfully to industry, society, and the evolving discourse of design in a rapidly changing global context.

FAQ's

What is M.Des in Product Design?

The Master of Design (M.Des) in Product Design is a postgraduate programme focused on the design and development of physical and digital products. It integrates design theory, user-centred research, materials and manufacturing knowledge, systems thinking, and industry-oriented studio practice to prepare professionals for advanced roles in product innovation and development.

Is UI/UX the same as Product Design?

No. UI/UX design primarily focuses on digital interfaces and user interactions within software and digital platforms, whereas Product Design addresses the end-to-end creation of products, including physical, digital, and hybrid systems. Product Design encompasses form, function, materials, manufacturing processes, usability, and lifecycle considerations, of which UI/UX may be one component.

Which is better: Product Designer or UX Designer?

Neither is inherently better; the choice depends on career interests. Product Designers work across physical and digital products, engaging with materials, engineering, and production systems. UX Designers specialise in user research, interaction design, and usability within digital environments. Both roles are valuable and demand distinct skill sets.

Are Product Designers in high demand?

Yes. Product Designers are in high demand across industries such as manufacturing, consumer electronics, mobility, healthcare, sustainable design, and technology-driven enterprises. The growing emphasis on user-centred innovation, sustainability, and design-led strategy has significantly increased the demand for professionally trained Product Designers.