Product Design Major (APDJ)

The Product Design program is designed for qualified students who intend to become professional product designers or pursue graduate study in product design or related fields. The program is a four-year course of study with an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration among Design, Art, Engineering and Business programs. Application requires a letter of intent, submission of an unofficial transcript, and completion of application forms. Application details may be obtained from the Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation website, wmich.edu/designinstitute. The Product Design program requires a two-step admission process, both WMU and the Richmond Institute. Courses in the Product Design program are sequential beginning in the fall semester of each year and will take a minimum of four years to complete after admission. The Product Design program is accredited by the NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design).

The requirements of a B.F.A. curriculum of the Richmond Institute for Design Innovation and the College of Fine Arts must be satisfied. No minor required. Eighty-three hours in art, design, and related technologies, and 15 hours in Entrepreneurial Studies satisfy the major requirements of this curriculum and are distributed as follows:

Basic Studies Requirement (12 hours)

RIDI 1040 - Drawing for Design II Credits: 3 hours
RIDI 1050 - Conceptual Sketching Credits: 3 hours
RIDI 1070 - Form and Space I Credits: 3 hours
RIDI 1080 - Form and Space II Credits: 3 hours

Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement (3 hours)

ART 3250 - Writing About Art Credits: 3 hours

Cognate: Art History Requirement (12 hours)

3000-4000 level Art History Topic Course Credits: 3 hours
3000-4000 level Art History Topic Course Credits: 3 hours

ART 2200 - Caves to Cathedrals Credits: 3 hours
OR
ART 2210 - Modern and Postmodern Credits: 3 hours
ART 2220 - Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Credits: 3 hours
OR
ART 2230 - Introduction to Asian Art History Credits: 3 hours

Product Design Sequence (37 hours)

RIDI 1600 - Design Seminar Credits: 1 hour
(repeatable for credit, minimum of 4 hours required)
PDDN 1610 - Drawing for Design Credits: 3 hours
PDDN 1650 - Product Design I Credits: 3 hours
PDDN 2650 - Product Design II Credits: 3 hours
PDDN 2660 - Materials and Processes Credits: 3 hours
PDDN 3620 - Product Design III Credits: 3 hours
RIDI 3680 - Special Topics in Design Credits: 3 hours
RIDI 4640 - Design Internship Credits: 3 hours
RIDI 4650 - Product Design IV Credits: 3 hours
PDDN 4670 - Thesis Project Credits: 3 hours
PDDN 4980 - Product Design V Credits: 3 hours
IEE 3420 - Ergonomics and Design Credits: 3 hours

Art Studio Electives (12 hours)

Art Elective course in sculpture, metals/jewelry, or ceramics Credits: 3 hours
Art Elective course in sculpture, metals/jewelry, or ceramics Credits: 3 hours
Art Elective course in any art discipline Credits: 3 hours
Art Elective course in any art discipline Credits: 3 hours

Supporting Engineering Requirement (7 hours)

EDMM 1420 - Engineering Graphics Credits: 3 hours
EDMM 1500 - Introduction to Manufacturing Credits: 3 hours
EDMM 1501 - Processes and Materials in Manufacturing Laboratory Credits: 1 hour

Cognate: Entrepreneurial Studies Requirement (15 hours)

Entrepreneurial Elective Credits: 3 hours
Entrepreneurial Elective Credits: 3 hours

MGMT 2140 - Exploring Entrepreneurship Credits: 3 hours
FIN 2420 - Entrepreneurial Finance Credits: 3 hours
IEE 3010 - Entrepreneurial Engineering II: Product and Service Design Credits: 3 hours

Grading Requirement

Majors and minors receiving a grade below a “C” in a required course must repeat the course.