Sports Product Design (MS)

The Department of Product Design offers a master’s degree in Sports Product Design, a two-year program based in Portland, Oregon.

The Master of Sports Product Design prepares designers to be key members and leaders of multidisciplinary development teams within the more than 800 sports product companies located in Oregon and beyond. The program focuses on research and innovation methods, design tailored for the athlete, product materials and sustainability, marketing and branding through the study of sports-specific design techniques, along with human physiology and biomechanics.

Students who graduate from this program will be capable of making strong contributions to the sports design culture of Oregon and the world at large.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Create industry-competitive Sports Apparel.
• Create industry-competitive Sports Footwear.
• Create industry-competitive Sports Equipment.
• Create a project appropriate for contemporary introduction to the Sports Product industry as assessed by innovation, fabrication, financial viability and user need.

Master of Science in Sports Product Design

The Master of Sports Product Design is a two-year program intended for students already equipped with conceptual problem-solving abilities, knowledge of materials and production, strategies for emotional product resonance and relevance, and entrepreneurial skills (typically, but not always, acquired in an undergraduate program in product design or its equivalent).

Degree Requirements

The curriculum is divided into three categories, per NASAD requirements for terminal graduate degrees:

1. A minimum of 65% of the total credits for the degree in studio studies.
2. A minimum of 15% of the total credits for the degree should include academic studies concerned with visual media.
3. At least 10% of the total program should be reserved for elective credits.

Studio Studies. A minimum of 65% of the total credits for the degree shall be in studio. As part of this requirement, institutions are responsible for maintaining title/content consistency.

Academic Studies. A minimum of 15% of the total credits for the degree should be in academic studies concerned with visual media. Course assignments should be made with careful consideration of (1) the scope and objectives of the student’s program, and (2) the content of studies completed at the undergraduate level.

Elective Studies. Elective studies are important since they provide opportunities for students to follow specific areas of interest related to their areas of specialization or their prospective careers. It is strongly recommended that at least 10% of the total program be reserved for electives.

Professional Connections

Industry partners for Sports Product Design provide special opportunities for students, fulfilling a number of critical roles as part of the learning environment of this program: instructors, advisors, guest reviewers, lecturers, mentors. Some examples of recent partners include Intel, Leatherman, Logitech, Nike, and Under Armour.