Professional Graduate Certificate in Business Product Design.

Ignite Your Product Development Career

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Professional Graduate Certificate in Business Product Design

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Fees: $10,750
Length: 12 months of study over 3 terms
Next Session: January 15, 2024 to
December 6, 2024
  • Location:
  • Virtual Classroom
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  • Professional Graduate Certificate in Business Product Design

Break Into the Business Product Design Industry

A well-designed product that is managed efficiently can help a business stand out from its competitors and increase its chances of success in today’s highly competitive marketplace. A career in this field means playing a critical role in the development of products that consumers use every day.

Learn valuable skills such as market research, design thinking, agile methodologies, and data visualization. Don’t just break into this industry—thrive in it. Complete modules online and in the heart of Toronto; this program is open to participants worldwide, with convenient evening classes.

Over 12 months, this online program will equip participants with the know-how to start and accelerate a product design and management career. Learn to use market research and human-centred principles for designs, collaborate with teams and like-minded peers, test and present a product from scratch, and develop a strategic plan that considers cost optimization.

With guidance from industry experts, walk through managing a project from beginning to end, and easily manage both the product and client-product relationship.

Program Overview

  • MODULE 01

    Intro to Product Design and Management

    This will establish the differences between product design and management, and the different types of jobs and roles in the field.

    Jan 15-Feb 23 6-9pm
    on Wednesdays
    MODULE 02

    Sustainable Product Design and Development

    This course will explore the choices made in product and service development (with examples) in terms of sustainability, and their impact on cost and performance.

    Jan 15-Feb 24 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Thursdays
    MODULE 03

    Design for Humans

    This course is an introduction to what design is and what it is made for. Study will include social sciences and ethnography, history of design and technology, innovation and accessibility.

    Jan 15-Feb 25 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Fridays
    MODULE 04

    Strategic Planning

    Participants will examine how to develop a strategic plan, penetrate a market with a new product, and establish a competitive advantage.

    Feb 26 - April 5 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Wednesdays
    MODULE 05

    Creative Design Process

    Go over creative collaboration, brainstorming, problem exploration, design culture and language, and critical thinking.

    Feb 26 - April 5 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Thursdays
    MODULE 06

    Market Research

    This course will focus on skills in marketing research to assess market appetite, identify potential design features and learn general market research principles to inform their product design. Students will learn about ways to empower collaboration with marketers and sales professionals, as well as how to identify and articulate a value proposition.

    Feb 26 - April 5 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Fridays
  • MODULE 01

    Product Design Process I

    This course will address the essentials of the product design process. Participants will learn to design a product from scratch. This includes notions such as conceptual and detailed design processes, product roadmap, and Minimum Viable Product.

    April 8-May 17 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Mondays
    MODULE 02

    Agile Project Management

    Participants will discover and apply core agile principles, and the mechanics and limits of the approach, Scrum methodologies.

    April 8-May 17 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Wednesdays
    MODULE 03

    Design Thinking I

    Dive into human-centred design and the importance of empathy. Address physical and emotional needs; planning approaches to solving challenges; undertake deep customer discovery and design inquiry.

    April 8-May 17 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Thursdays
    MODULE 04

    Product Design Processes II

    Dig deeper into the design process and present and test your design. Participants will notably learn to use tools such as wireframing and rapid prototyping.

    May 20-June 28 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Mondays
    MODULE 05

    Costing and Optimization

    This course will include topics such as cost optimization, impact of cost elements, and measuring quality and controlling budgets.

    May 20-June 28 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Wednesdays
    MODULE 06

    Design Thinking II

    This course is the continuation of the previous term. It addresses the following design thinking steps: prototyping to accelerate validation; qualitative and quantitative measures, and barriers to adoption; stimulating innovation adoption.

    May 20-June 28 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Thursdays
  • MODULE 01

    Client Relationship Management

    This course will teach participants how to introduce products to clients, make a value proposition, and manage the relationship between the client and the product.

    Sept 2-Oct 11 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Wednesdays
    MODULE 02

    Digital Tools - Data Visualization

    This course will teach participants to use data to reveal patterns and trends and illustrate actionable insights. They will learn to apply design principles, visual theory, and data storytelling to build management dashboards that will empower decision-makers

    Sept 2-Oct 11 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Thursdays
    MODULE 03

    Marketing Strategies

    This course will echo some of the market research skills acquired in the second term. It will teach participants to brand their product, market it to the right consumers, and develop a menu of growth tactics and sales dashboards for product management.

    Sept 2-Oct 11 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Fridays
    MODULE 04

    Ethical Aspects of Design

    This course will not only expand on legal issues like reliability, intellectual property, patents, etc. but also allow participants to broaden their perspectives in terms of ethical design and “humanizing” their design.

    Oct 21-Nov 9 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Wednesdays
    MODULE 05

    Design Entrepreneurship

    This last course will take participants through the main steps of building a small business. It will also give them improved product communication skills, negotiation skills, and tools to stay in touch with technological innovation.

    Oct 21-Nov 9 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Thursdays
    MODULE 06

    Finance and Accounting

    This course will tackle topics such as variable costing, cost analysis, cost allocations; valuation, capital structure, corporate governance, risk management, and financial modeling.

    Oct 21-Nov 9 6 pm - 9 pm
    on Fridays
    MODULE 07

    Final Presentations


Career Prospects

103.8 K

The average salary for a Product Manager

Source: Glassdoor

135%

Growth in Job Openings for Product Managers Over the Last 5 Years

Source: Forbes

17,800+

The Job Openings for Product Managers Over the Last 5 Years

Source: Glassdoor

Possible career paths:

Change Management
People Leadership
General Management
Marketing

Get Training in Marketable Skills

Strategic Planning
Creativity & Innovation
Emotional & Cultural Intelligence
Project Management
Sales and Marketing

What You Get

After completing the Professional Graduate Certificate in Business Product Design and Management program, you'll receive an authentic digital badge from the #1 business school in Canada that employers will recognize.

As more and more companies look for candidates with specific skills, this badge on your CV will be a credible assurance of your achievements and expertise, allowing the right roles to find you faster.

Professional Graduate
Certificate

Awarded when a series of more extensive courses are completed and a greater skill set achieved.

Enrolment Requirements

  • A minimum 2 years of work experience or a post-secondary degree is recommended
  • Language proficiency scores of 5.0 or higher (IELTS)
  • Possession of a reliable device to complete tests and assignments is mandatory
  • Both International and Domestic applicants are required to fill out an Applicant Form after enrolling

Applicant Form

Domestic

Program fee: $10750

International

Program fee: $19750

PLEASE NOTE: For international participants, the international program fee will be applied after an applicant has enrolled and filled out the form. After successful form completion, a member of our Program Coordination team will reach out with further instructions on accessing the international program fee.

Faculty

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