Product Design
You’ll develop the cultural awareness and critical thinking skills you need to analyze and produce a broad range of discourse in a full spectrum of careers — and to make a difference in whatever you do.
- 2 Years / Onsite
- Intakes: Jan, Apr, Jun, Oct
Overview
Product Design at Auckland Royal Academy develops innovators who combine aesthetic intelligence, engineering understanding, and human-centred thinking to create products that improve people's lives. The programme covers industrial design, materials science, manufacturing processes, ergonomics, sustainable design, and design for manufacture, preparing graduates to work across consumer electronics, medical devices, furniture, sports equipment, and the growing New Zealand advanced manufacturing sector.
Design projects progress from rapid prototyping and user testing in the first year to full product development projects — including CAD modelling, structural analysis, materials selection, and manufacturing specification — in the later stages of the programme. Collaboration with New Zealand manufacturers and access to the department's prototyping workshops, 3D printers, and CNC machining equipment ensure that learning is grounded in the physical realities of product creation.
Career Opportunities
Product Design graduates from Auckland Royal Academy work as industrial designers, product engineers, design consultants, product managers, and innovation specialists in manufacturing, consumer goods, medical technology, and transportation industries. New Zealand's diverse manufacturing sector, combined with the growing importance of design for the country's export economy, creates strong career opportunities for skilled product designers domestically and internationally.
Program Learning Outcomes
Apply human-centred design research methods — including user observation, needs analysis, and usability testing — to develop product design solutions that genuinely improve the experience of the people who use them.
Produce professional product design documentation including CAD models, engineering drawings, material specifications, and manufacturing process plans that meet the technical standards required for commercial product development.
Evaluate product designs against sustainability criteria — including lifecycle analysis, recyclability, and material efficiency — applying circular design principles to create products that minimise environmental impact across their full lifecycle.
Programme
| Semester 1 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Product Design | 4 | PDES 101 |
| Foundations & Theory | 4 | PDES 110 |
| Research Methods | 3 | PDES 120 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Product Design I | 4 | PDES 201 |
| Professional Practice | 3 | PDES 210 |
| Industry Context NZ | 4 | PDES 220 |
| Semester 3 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Product Design II | 4 | PDES 301 |
| Critical Perspectives | 3 | PDES 310 |
| Ethics & Standards | 3 | PDES 320 |
| Semester 4 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Product Design | 4 | PDES 401 |
| Specialisation Elective | 3 | PDES 410 |
| Product Design Capstone Project | 4 | PDES 490 |
| Total for the entire period of study | 11 |
Contact us
3/60 Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
How to Apply?
- You Apply
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll help with the rest. Our convenient online application tool only takes 10 minutes to complete.
- We Connect
After you submit your application, an admissions representative will contact you and will help you to complete the process.
- You Get Ready
Once you’ve completed your application and connected with an admissions representative, you’re ready to create your schedule.