The Foundations of Product Innovation Certificate

The Certificate in The Foundation of Product Innovation provides students with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of consumer product design and development. Students will gain knowledge in critical areas including: the mindsets, personalities and social, cultural and political factors that led to the world’s greatest breakthroughs; the process of bringing a product from concept to market, including theory and applied techniques for both physical and virtual products; advanced visualization concepts, techniques and tools used to communicate ideas, solve problems and enhance collaboration for product design and development; and explorations of digital design tools, including industry standard software. 

Students will then apply what they have learned through product design studios and labs utilizing the Academy’s state of the art maker facilities. In addition to the methods and practices of traditional product design, the course sequence explores new paradigms for physical, virtual, and hybrid products, ranging from objects and built environments, to digital, immersive and interactive experiences.

Information on how to apply to the certificate can be found at:

iovine-young.usc.edu