Our Mission:
The Product Design minor offers students the opportunity to develop basic skills utilized
in a variety of consumer product related industries through studio courses in Visual
Communication, Digital Design, prototype and model making techniques related to industry
applications. Communication of these creative concepts through thoughtful execution
of projects displays student abilities in an organized body of work.
Participating Departments:
Animation
Animation: Motion Design
Fashion
Fine Arts: Painting
Fine Arts: Photography
Fine Arts: Sculpture/New Genres
Game and Entertainment Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Toy Design
Program Learning Outcomes:
- Disciplinary knowledge and skills • Audience-focused research, historical context,
and field-specific discourse
Proficient knowledge and skills in product design including research, historical influences, aesthetics, materials, ergonomics, user experience design, marketing and manufacturing processes. - Proficiency in industry-standard skills, technologies, and processes
Proficiency in industry-standard software, tools, and processes including CAD software, 3D printing, and prototyping, to develop functional, market-ready, and appropriate products that meet user needs and also industry standards. - Cross-disciplinary awareness and practice
Developed practice grounded in two or more disciplines. - Capacity to identify and solve creative problems
Ability to navigate complex design challenges with innovation and creativity, delivering well-researched, user-centered solutions that move from initial ideation to final, manufacturable products.
- Innovation • Experimentation and play • Challenge to the status quo • Bravery in their work and their interactions with others. Capacity to combine aspects of product design with work in one's major and/or push the boundaries between each field.
- Capacity to communicate (orally, written, and/or visually) about their practice
Ability to clearly articulate the relationship between their work in product design and their major and how these studies will help them achieve personal and professional goals. - Analysis of both ethical and aesthetic impacts of art and design
Analysis of the ethical and aesthetic impacts their work has on their fields of study as well as society, culture, and the environment.
- Awareness of positionality – in the world, their field, their communities. • Integration of skills and concepts: Successful integration of skills, information and concepts between their majors and Product Design minor, while understanding and articulating their positionality in their chosen fields.
- Ability to define aspirations, future goals and their role within the creative economy.
Defined aspirations, future goals and their role as an interdisciplinary creative within the creative economy. - Awareness of audience and ability to cultivate relationships with others in their
chosen fields. • Compelling presentation and exhibition skills, through Annual Exhibition,
Capstone, and portfolios.
Successful completion and presentation of original product designs that are technically and economically feasible and strategically positioned for real-world impact, enhancing user experience and market viability.
Course Requirements
15 credits in Product Design and related courses are required to complete this minor.This can be 5 studio courses or 4 studio courses + 1 LAS course.
Students select courses based on guidance from the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, Minor Area Heads and Academic Advisors and must follow prerequisites when applicable. For the full list of courses that will count for this minor, along with recommended courses to take first, see the Minors Course Lists on the Registration page of the Dashboard (my.otis.edu). Students are advised to take minor classes in place of studio electives (or in place of one LAS elective), or for majors without electives by taking one extra class in each of 5 semesters spread out between sophomore and senior year.
Electives