Blog 2
What the F%*k is Product Design
Honestly, I didn’t think product design was so confusing until I started trying to explain it to people. Every time someone asks me, “What do you do in college?” I have to mentally prepare myself for yet another attempt at breaking it down. I can’t just say “I study product design” and expect people to understand. The amount of variations I’ve heard in response is crazy—“So, like a graphic designer?” or “Like fashion design?” and, of course, the most common one: “What’s that?”
Each time, my answer changes slightly. Sometimes I say it’s a mix of engineering and design. Other times, I frame it as solving problems through products. What I’ve realized is that what confuses people most is how broad the field really is. Product design isn’t just one thing—it’s everywhere, in everything we use. It can be as simple as refining a kitchen utensil to make it more ergonomic or as complex as designing an app that improves people’s lives. The possibilities are endless, and that’s both the best and most frustrating thing about explaining it.
Why I Design?
From the very first class in Contemporary Design Culture (CDC), we were asked a seemingly simple question: Why are you designing? At first, I thought I had an answer, but the more I sat with it, the more I realized how difficult it was to define.
Originally, I wanted to study architecture. But after a while, I found that designing buildings just didn’t excite me. Houses felt too boring and done. I wanted something that offered more variety, more opportunities to explore different ideas. That’s when I discovered product design. Unlike architecture, it wasn’t limited to one type of structure or function—it was everything and anything we can touch and not touch.
As I moved through my course, my understanding of design deepened. It’s not just about making something look good. Sure, aesthetics matter, but what really interests me is functionality. To me a good design isn’t just beautiful. It makes sense. It feels right. Whether it’s a physical product, an app, or even a system, it should serve a purpose and improve people’s lives in some way. The more I design, the more I realize that my goal isn’t just to create—it’s to improve.
What is Design?
This is the ultimate question. In our class discussions, we constantly explore why we design, how we design, and what makes a good designer. Design is everywhere, shaping the world in ways most people don’t even realize. Every object we interact with daily—our phones, furniture, kitchen appliances—was designed by someone who had to think about both form and function.
Good design isn’t just about trends or aesthetics. Some designers focus on sustainability, ensuring that products are environmentally friendly. Others innovate through technology, pushing boundaries with smart products. And then there are those who focus on user experience, ensuring that everything from websites to packaging feels intuitive and seamless.
I found for me that there’s no single definition of what design has to be. It’s broad, dynamic, and constantly evolving. That’s what excites me about product design—the idea that I can shape the world around me in meaningful ways. It’s not just about what looks good; it’s about what works.
So, the next time someone asks me, “What is product design?” I might just say: It’s everything you don’t notice, but can’t live without.
