At the KPU Wilson School of Design, our Product Design program is grounded in how the things we use everyday actually get made. You'll learn alongside faculty who bring hands-on industry experience into every studio, in an environment that supports you while still challenging you. It's a demanding program, shaped to move with an industry that's always changing — so what you learn stays connected to where product design is going, and where you can go with it.
Industry Collaboration
Product design touches almost every industry that makes physical things, and our connections reflect that range. You'll get exposure to working professionals through guest speakers, studio visits, and mentorship from an Advisory Committee built from people actively practicing in the field. Faculty bring their own industry backgrounds into every studio, so what you're taught stays grounded in how products actually get made, tested, and brought to market.
Career Options
As a graduate of our Product Design program, you'll be ready for a wide range of careers, including:
- Product designer - creating recreational wear, gear, and equipment like gloves, hats, backpacks, or sportswear.
- Product developer - overseeing a product's design, technical specs, and path to manufacturing.
- Product buyer - identifying and purchasing retail products for a company or wholesaler.
- Retailer - bringing your own product ideas to market as an entrepreneur.
- Environmental designer - designing tents and shelters, exhibitions, or work for film and entertainment.
- Packaging designer - creating packaging that protects products while matching a brand's look and feel.
- Furniture designer - designing bespoke pieces or working with a furniture company on products and components.
- Race wear designer - using materials and design to give athletes a performance edge.
- Swim and cold weather accessories designer - creating gear built to perform under extreme conditions.
- Survival and safety wear designer - designing products that protect lives and prevent injury.
Our graduates go on to build their own businesses, lead design teams at studios, retailers, and manufacturers, or work independently as freelance consultants.
British Columbia is the fourth-largest design market in North America, home to hundreds of design companies. Many of our graduates take their careers further, into national and international opportunities. Check out what our alumni are working on.
“Maintaining thermoregulation in elite athletes and in particular athletes with spinal cord injuries is essential to their health and athletic performance. Having the partnership with Jaymes and Laura with the support of Wilson School of Design at KPU was very helpful for us as a team. They are the experts in design and were able to come up with a product that fit properly, looked great and most importantly helped cool our athletes while they were in competition at the Rio Paralympics.”
- Melissa Lacroix, Sport Physiologist, Canadian Sport Institute
Advisory Committee
Our Advisory Committee brings working professionals directly into how the Product Design program is shaped, helping keep what you learn connected to where the industry is headed.
