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Sketch to Prototype: An Introduction to Designing and Developing Products

Become a Summer Trojan and earn college credit.

Have you ever looked at your phone, your shoes or maybe even your blender and thought, “Who came up with this, and why does it look like that?” In this hands-on course, students will step into the world of product design and development, learning how to transform a spark of an idea into a real, functional prototype. You’ll dive deep into the design thinking process, explore how designers tackle real-world challenges and discover the power of creativity in shaping the things we use every day.

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Program Overview

This course blends art, engineering and entrepreneurship through the lens of product development.

Expect to sketch, build, break and rebuild, all while discovering the magic of turning ideas into reality. Students will learn the fundamentals of design thinking through interactive challenges.

From there, you’ll sharpen your visual communication skills with sketching techniques, 3D modeling and prototyping.

Finally, you will test, refine and brand your product, learning how to gather user feedback and exploring the business side of product design.

A group of students sits on stools in a modern classroom watching a coding lesson on a large screen.

Key Information

Topics of Study

Product design
Prototyping
Design thinking
3D modeling
AI visualization
Product branding
Form, function and perspective

Learning Highlights

Describe the stages of the design thinking process and how each stage contributes to developing products effectively
Identify examples of good and bad design in existing products and articulate the reasons behind their success or failure
Analyze user research findings to define design criteria and develop insights for product improvement
Identify key materials and prototyping methods, including cardboard, clay, and 3D printing, and determine when to use each
Understand how considerations such as sustainability, ergonomics and manufacturability inform product development
Evaluate the effectiveness of iterative design through user testing and feedback
Design a functional, user-centered product prototype that integrates research, sketching, modeling and branding strategies

Requirements

Students must bring their own laptops
Students must wear long pants and closed-toed shoes every day, as this is the required dress code to access the creator studio

Week	Focus	Key Topics	Assignments and Activities
1	Introduction to Product Design and Design Thinking	Product design; design thinking; brainstorming and idea generation techniques	Wallet redesign challenge. Use the first half of the design thinking process to brainstorm techniques for your individual project.
2	Fundamentals of Rapid Visualization	Fundamentals of sketching and shading in different perspectives; visualizing ideas through 3D modeling software and AI tools	Sketch ideas for your product. Develop digital renders of your product through modeling software and or AI tools. Present your work in critique form.
3	Prototyping Techniques and Materials Selection	Prototyping techniques and material selection; sustainability considerations in prototyping and manufacturing; ergonomic design and accessibility; iterating prototypes based on feedback	Develop working prototypes of ideas. Gain feedback and iterate on your prototype.
4	The Business and Storytelling Behind Crafting a Product Pitch	Telling the story of your product in a pitch; branding and marketing; packaging considerations	Compile a short pitch presentation on your product.

USC Summer Programs oﬀers a super welcoming environment and great course options that show you a lot of information that you won't receive in your typical AP classes in high school.

— USC Summer Programs student participant