About Registration:

Is there a waiting list for the class?

No, unfortunately, there is no waiting list for the class. 

The only way to see if there are empty spaces to register is to use My Purdue and check for availability. 

What to do if the class is full?

  1. The class is offered every semester, so you can try earlier next semester (the class fills up in a few hours).
  2. Wait to see if someone drops the course in the first weeks. 

If the class is full, can I request an override? 

No, the class’s personalized structure and the group assignment do not make it possible, so adding more students to the class is impossible. 

Is there a method or permission from the instructor to register for the class? 

No, there is no permission required to register for the class.

Can Undergrads take the course? 

Yes, undergrads can take the class, but it is not recommended unless you have some internship or previous work experience. 

Do I need any experience to register for the class?

An entrepreneurial spirit is the most recommended as required experience. The class does not teach specific engineering or technical principles as an objective, so its development does not depend on previous technical knowledge. 

About the Class:

What is the class about?

This class focuses on the principles and frameworks used to make good products and services. It guides students from detecting product opportunities in the market to a feasible and viable solution that could be marketable.           

The main focus of ME553 is to produce innovators and product design engineers using design thinking frameworks for emerging and evolving markets. 

Note: Although this is a design course with a final project that culminates in a low-fidelity prototype, there is no engineering/technical content related to the products. If you are not confident with the technical side of the physical or software products, you will be placed on a team with someone who is.

What is the class structure?

1) The class is divided into micro modules and tuned for online consumption on the go. The content is a mix of short talks, readings, and targeted assignments. It is a graduate-level course, so it is not the standard problem-solution type class you may be familiar with. The content provided should be used as a tool to complete the assignments. 

2) Each week’s module has a short quiz about readings and videos provided as background for each week’s content. 

3) At the end of each week, students will submit a discussion assignment and/or homework about the lecture topic of each week.

4) Only 2 classes and 5 project review sessions require Zoom attendance. These online meetings are usually allocated during the weekends to avoid class and work schedules problems. Each class is offered two times so that students can accommodate their preferred day. 

What is the project Structure?

The class will be divided into groups of 4 students each. The teams will be asked to:

  1. Define multiple product/service opportunities (individually).
  2. Analyze the opportunities and select the best options following a framework (individually). 
  3. Share the top opportunities and choose the best across team members. 
  4. Understand the opportunity selected
  5. Market analysis.
  6. Product ideation and design.
  7. Business model development.
  8. Low fidelity prototype.
  9. Marketing video development.

Note: During the project development, we will have 4 meetings with each team to coordinate the project process, help ideate and understand the opportunities. In the end, every team will make a project pitch presentation.  

What is expected as a prototype in the class? 

For the class, we require low-fidelity prototypes. The idea is to have the first step of materializing the product opportunity to use it as a demonstration during the video and the final presentation. Any DIY or 3D printing methods can be used. Below are some links as examples of prototypes that can be presented.

1)      https://www.m3design.com/mockups-speed-up-development/

2)      https://starfishmedical.com/blog/prototyping-medical-devices-on-a-budget/

3)      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6xG-5YtesU

4)      https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/18141149210

5)      https://aaronbrako.com/prototyping

What kind of products are not accepted?

Unless you have a particularly novel angle, to ensure you have space for creativity and innovation we ask that you refrain from designing cups, bottles, bags, backpacks, grocery shopping carriers, masks, mask sanitizers, exercise machines, or exercise apps, nutrition apps, and educational tool kits.

Does the class have exams?

–          No, the class does not have exams—only a series of short quizzes to unlock the content for each week. 

 Do I need a proctor for the quizzes? 

–          – No, you don’t