Product Design

http://pd.uoregon.edu

Trygve Faste, Department Head
541-346-6891
251E Lawrence Hall
5282 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-5232

The Department of Product Design rigorously explores the invention, production, and use of products. It integrates the theories and applied practices in the design, art, and architecture disciplines, creating collaborative opportunities across campus with the business school and the anthropology and chemistry departments. The critical research and design work produced by students and faculty members has an impact on both the local and international design communities.

The program exposes and expands on the significance of materials in products, helping students develop an understanding of how aspects of sustainability and ergonomics, tactile and visual aesthetics, and structural integrity can influence their choices in materials.

Overview

The department offers a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree in product design. The BFA is a four-year program combining liberal arts and intensive product design studies designed to prepare students for a professional career in product design. Students enrolled in the program share a foundation in design, graphics, drawing, and art history with majors in both architecture and art.

Eugene

Students undertake the first three years of the BFA in product design at the university’s main campus in Eugene. This location is well-equipped with computer and digital-imaging labs, a new digital computer-controlled mill, laser cutter, wood shop, digital loom, metals and ceramics shops, large-format printing facility, and other specialized art and design studios in Lawrence Hall, Downtown Eugene and the Northsite studio complex. The Eugene campus has strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in architecture, art, ceramics, digital arts, fibers, interior architecture, metalsmithing and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. In addition, students have access to other university resources, such as the architecture and allied arts and main libraries, Student Recreation Center, Erb Memorial Union, and Craft Center.

Portland

Students pursuing the BFA degree complete their fourth year of study at the university’s new facility in Portland’s Old Town Historic District. The White Stag Block houses studio facilities, a digital fusion laboratory, classrooms, a library, exhibit and research spaces, the Sports Product Design Master’s Program, and work areas for students and faculty members. An integrated shop and an output center for two- and three-dimensional computer numerical controlled production are available. Product design students benefit by interacting with students of other professional disciplines, such as digital arts and architecture. An internship component of the BFA program gives students access to design professionals and direct experience at leading Northwest design companies.

Preparation

High school and college students interested in product design should prepare themselves by taking courses in the following subjects:

• Fine arts and design (e.g., drawing, painting, sculpture, two- and three-dimensional design, fiber arts, metal arts, ceramics, drafting, art history, architecture, furniture or interior design)
• Social sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology, cultural anthropology)
• Sciences and mathematics (e.g., physics, algebra, geometry)
• Humanities (e.g., literature, writing)

To better understand the professional field, prospective students may plan to visit and discuss opportunities with local designers and firms practicing product design.

Product design students are required to own a laptop computer. If students purchase recommended equipment, they are eligible for technical support from our computing staff. Recommended systems are listed on the program’s website. Purchase of a digital camera to record studio work and use for classroom assignments is strongly advised.

Faculty

John Arndt, associate professor (product design). BFA, 1997, Alfred; MDes, 2006, Design Academy Eindhoven. (2008)

Wonhee Jeong Arndt, associate professor. BFA, 2002, Kookmin; MDes, 2006, Design Academy Eindhoven. (2014)

Elizabeth Esponnette, associate professor (product design). BS, 2010, Cornell; MFA, 2015, Stanford. (2015)

Trygve Faste, associate professor (product design). BA, 1997, Whitman College; MFA, 2004, Cranbrook Academy of Art. (2010)

Kiersten Muenchinger, Tim and Mary Boyle Chair in Material and Product Studies; associate professor (product design). BA, 1993, Dartmouth College; MS, 1998, Stanford. (2008)

Erdem Selek, associate professor (product design). BID, 2004, Middle East Technical; MA, 2007, Ecole Supérieure d'Art et de Design; MS, 2008, Istanbul Technical. (2015)

Hale Selek, associate professor (product design). BID, 2004, Middle East Technical; MA, 2007, Ecole Supérieure d'Art et de Design; MS, 2008, Istanbul Technical. (2015)

Susan Sokolowski, associate professor (sports product design). BFA, 1990, Fashion Institute of Technology; MA, 1997, Cornell; PhD, 1999, Minnesota, Twin Cities. (2015)

The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.

• Bachelor of Arts in Product Design
• Bachelor of Science in Product Design
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design

Undergraduate Studies

Application for Product Design Major

The major in product design is an intensive, limited-enrollment program. Acceptance is competitive and based on documented evidence of potential to excel in the field. Admission screening takes place once a year and requires review of a portfolio of visual materials submitted by each applicant. These portfolios should display promise and creativity, but need not demonstrate extensive experience in design or product-related projects. Applications that don’t include visual materials are not reviewed.

Students apply directly to the department for admission as majors. The postmark deadline for applications is January 15 for fall term admission. Visit the program website for the application form and instructions.

BFA Application

Admission to the bachelor of fine arts program requires an application that includes a portfolio review of the student’s work, usually in the last term of the fourth year of study. Students who have completed a comparable four-year degree in material and product studies at another institution may be admitted to the fifth-year BFA program. Such BFA candidates must satisfy the university’s 45-credit residence requirement. Students accepted to the BFA program from schools other than the University of Oregon should speak with an advisor to determine how their credits will transfer. Prerequisites may require the student to spend more than one year in the program.

Bachelor of Arts in Product Design Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 180 credits, which include general-university requirements for a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree.

Bachelor of Science in Product Design Requirements

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 180 credits, including requirements for the bachelor or arts or bachelor of science in product design or its equivalent.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

• BA or BS in Product Design

Bachelor of Arts in Product Design

Bachelor of Science in Product Design

Graduate Studies

The Department of Product Design offers a master of science degree in sports product design, a two-year program based in Portland, Oregon. (Change opening page as well)

The master of science in sports product design prepares designers to be key members and leaders of multidisciplinary development teams within the more than 700 sports product companies located in Oregon and beyond. The program focuses on innovation methods, design tailored for the athlete, product sustainability, and sports product marketing and branding through the study of sports-specific design techniques, human physiology, biomechanics, and sports psychology.

Students who graduate from this program will be capable of making strong contributions to the sports design culture of Oregon and the world at large.

Master of Science in Sports Product Design

The MS in sports product design is a two-year program intended for students already equipped with conceptual problem-solving abilities, knowledge of materials and production, strategies for emotional product resonance and relevance, and entrepreneurial skills (typically, but not always, acquired in an undergraduate program in product design or its equivalent).

Degree Requirements

The curriculum is divided into three categories:

1. core content (42 credits)
2. core-related content (10 credits)
3. elective content (6 or more credits)

The core content comprises a series of applied studio courses and one content-based course, structured to increase knowledge and skills through immersion in the design process in conjunction with sports product professionals.

The core-related content comprises three courses in related disciplines intended to build the necessary understanding of human performance and business practices related to the sports product industry.

Students are also required to take at least six credits of elective content from the options below.

Professional Connections

Industry partners for sports product design provide special opportunities for students, fulfilling a number of critical roles as part of the learning environment of this program: instructors, advisors, guest reviewers, lecturers, mentors. Some examples of recent partners include Intel, Leatherman, Logitech, Nike, and Under Armour.

Admission

Incoming students must have completed an undergraduate degree and demonstrate a combination of education and relevant experience to begin work immediately designing products manually and digitally. This is typically demonstrated through formal transcripts, but applicants are also required to submit the following:

• A 300-word personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in sports product design and how they see design influencing their life and the world around them

• A portfolio of creative work (a maximum of 20 pages and 5 megabytes) showcasing problem-solving in the design process, drawing and prototyping skills, and storytelling, serving as a demonstration of the candidate’s design abilities

• Three letters of recommendation from faculty members outside of the UO Department of Product Design

Applications are reviewed beginning on January 15 of each year and undergo rolling review for admission until the cohort is complete. Incoming students begin the fall term immediately after acceptance.