Brand Development & Product Design

Design What People Want: Every product you love began as an idea someone shaped, tested, and brought to life. In this course, you’ll follow that journey from insight to launch, learning how designers and brand strategists understand users, define a problem, prototype solutions, and craft an identity that connects with people. You’ll practice design thinking, sketch and prototype a product, and build the brand around it, including name, visual identity, story, and positioning. Along the way, you’ll explore how ethics, sustainability, and inclusive design shape what great products and brands look like. The course culminates in a pitch of your own product and brand to a real audience.

Why Take This Course? If you’re curious about entrepreneurship, design, or marketing, this course gives you a hands-on introduction to how ideas become products and products become brands. You’ll leave with a portfolio-ready project and a designer’s way of seeing the objects and brands around you.

Students in GOA courses will need reliable access to a computer with webcam/microphone connections, an email address (preferably school-based), a Web-conferencing app (GOA courses use Zoom), and a Word processing app (GOA courses use Google’s G Suite). When necessary, alternative arrangements may be made. Some courses require additional materials which can be found in the Course Outline. 

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