Northwestern University Master of Product Design and Development Management
Executive Certificate Program in Managing Product Design and Development
Evanston, USA
Certificate
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The Executive Certificate Program in Managing Product Design and Development focuses on equipping leaders with the skills to drive effective product design and development processes.
This program combines hands-on experience with theoretical insights to enhance your understanding of product management.
Participants engage in various learning formats, including case studies and project-based exercises, to apply knowledge in real-world contexts.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can expect opportunities in roles such as Product Manager, Design Director, or Development Coordinator.
This program prepares you to excel in industries where innovation and product strategy are crucial.
You can leverage your skills to lead teams and influence product direction within organizations.
Gain the skills to manage the design and development of products for strategic competitive advantage. This intensive three-day certificate program provides the skills related to managing creativity and design, customer-focused innovation, gap analysis in the design process, strategy in design, industrial design essentials, human factors, research, marketing and intellectual property. Participants will also gain skills in managing the product development phase-gate process, teams, and product performance metrics.
Key Benefits
You will learn:
- To identify opportunities in the product development process
- A structured process for product development including phases and criteria for successful product introductions
- Human factors and usability in the design process
- Management strategies and supporting metrics to ensure optimal team performance
- To enhance creativity and manage intellectual capital
- The underlying principles of successful project management
- How to conduct end-user focused innovation research and the designer's role in achieving product success
- Customer-focused innovation and insightful market research
Real Case Studies taught by Industry Experts
Leading industry professionals and faculty from the following schools help conduct the Executive Education program:
- Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
- Kellogg School of Management
- Medill School of Journalism
We also bring in industry experts to use real-world case studies and group workshops to illustrate the concepts discussed in the program. These professionals talk about how to apply these principles in the workplace and talk about current design innovation trends.
