Design engineering and product design are two terms that are used interchangeably in the engineering field. However, they do have distinct differences.
Design engineering is a broad term that encompasses all aspects of engineering design, including product design, manufacturing, and testing. Product design is a specific type of design engineering focused on the development of physical products.
Design engineering is the process of creating plans for a product or system using principles of engineering. This involves problem solving and using mathematical models.
It includes designing for function, performance, cost efficiency, as well as environmental and safety considerations. Design engineers work with engineers from other disciplines to create plans for products or systems.
Product design is a specialized field within design engineering that focuses on the development of physical products. This includes the conceptualization, planning, prototyping, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of products. Product designers must have a deep understanding of user needs and be able to translate them into tangible designs.
Product designers use various computer-aided software such as CAD/CAM to produce 3D models of their designs. They also use rapid prototyping technologies such as 3D printing to quickly create prototypes for testing purposes.
In conclusion, while both design engineering and product design are related fields within the engineering industry, they are distinctly different disciplines that require different sets of skills. Design engineering is focused on developing plans for products or systems while product design specifically focuses on creating physical products that meet user needs.