This session immerses students in the commercial realities that shape successful product design, bridging creative decision-making with strategic business thinking. Through collaborative discussions and guided activities, students will explore how product strategies are formed, refined, and aligned with market demands, gaining a clear understanding of how commercial drivers influence design outcomes.

Students will actively engage in hands-on exercises including market analysis to identify and define target segments, as well as practical costing exercises that break down a product into its individual components. By analysing materials, manufacturing processes, and development costs, students will learn how pricing, margins, and investment decisions are informed, and how these factors directly impact a product’s competitiveness and feasibility.

The session also focuses on product development costs, recovery timelines, and Product Life Cycle (PLC) strategies, enabling students to assess long-term commercial viability. By examining how costs are recovered over time and how products evolve from launch to maturity, students will develop the commercial insight needed to support sustainable, successful products in real-world design and business environments.

If you have any queries about this workshop, please contact Science and Engineering Faculty Student Enrichment via sefse@mmu.ac.uk for support.

Associated Badges: