What Is the Difference Between Product Design and Product Design Engineering?

Product design and product design engineering are two distinct disciplines that are often confused or used interchangeably. Both involve the creation of consumer goods, but they have different goals and processes. Product design focuses on the aesthetic and functional appeal of a product, while product design engineering focuses on the practical engineering aspects of a product.

Product Design
Product design is the process of creating a new product or improving an existing one with an eye towards its aesthetic appeal and functionality. It involves research into market trends and consumer preferences, as well as taking into account usability and ergonomics when designing a product. Product designers may also consider manufacturing costs, materials, packaging, branding, sustainability, safety, cost-effectiveness and other factors to create an appealing and practical product for consumers.

Product Design Engineering
Product design engineering is focused on the technical aspects of a product’s design. This discipline typically requires an understanding of physics, chemistry, mathematics and other sciences in order to create products that are safe to use, efficient in operation and reliable over time.

Product design engineers must also consider environmental factors such as temperature changes, humidity levels and other external influences that could affect how a product works over time. Engineers may employ computer-aided drafting (CAD) software to help them create models with precise measurements for their designs.

Conclusion

In summary, there is a distinct difference between product design and product design engineering: while the former focuses on aesthetics and functionality of a product for consumer appeal, the latter concentrates on the technical aspects of producing safe, reliable products that meet all relevant standards. Both disciplines play important roles in creating successful products that meet customer needs while remaining profitable for businesses.