About the IPD Program

This new program involves collaborations between the Schools of Engineering, Design and Business.

As the market grows, it is becoming apparent how influential the design of the product is on its use, manufacture, and appeal to the consumer. A consumer might buy a certain type of cell phone simply because of its look, feel, and weight - ultimately, its design. As priorities have shifted toward product design, it is also becoming increasingly important to develop professionals who understand the nuances of the business, artistic and engineering aspects of design and be able to communicate with experts in those fields. The integrated product designer must be knowledgeable in manufacturing, technical design, human interfaces, ergonomics, marketing, finance, as well as the aesthetic aspects of design, form and function.

The laboratory facilities include the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory, the Prototyping and Design Lab, the Microfabrication Laboratory, the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation, the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM), the Institute for Medicine and Engineering (IME) and the Weiss Tech House.