Class is in session
10 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Master the Product Development Process from Concept to Manufacturable Prototype in this Project-Based Course led by Industry Professionals
Class is in session
10 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Master the Product Development Process from Concept to Manufacturable Prototype in this Project-Based Course led by Industry Professionals
Course overview
This intensive, project-based course teaches the valuable product development skills that you can only learn by building real products.
Through hands-on projects, live workshops, and design reviews with expert mentorship, you'll build a portfolio-ready product while mastering the real-world engineering process.
--- What makes this course different? ---
Learn by Doing - Design and build your own functional product from an initial concept then iterating into a refined, manufacturing-ready prototype.
Industry-Focused Skills - Master DFM for injection molding, sheet metal, and assembly. Snap fit design, enclosure engineering, and cost optimization - the skills that actually land jobs.
Professional Mentorship - Work directly with engineers who've shipped real products. Get personalized feedback through design reviews, not just lectures.
Career Acceleration - Dedicated portfolio development and interview prep. Learn to present your work like a professional.
Key Modules Include:
✅ Reverse engineering and teardown analysis
✅ Requirements definition, project planning, and engineering documentation
✅ Mechanical product design fundamentals: snaps, enclosures, mounting
✅ Design for manufacturing (DFM) and assembly (DFA)
✅ Cost engineering and BOM development
✅ Failure analysis and reliability testing
✅ Project portfolio creation and interview preparation
📹 See 1min course intro video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PLFcmW3ZMx4
⬇️ See Full Syllabus Below ⬇️
01
Early-Mid Career Engineering professionals that want to level up by getting hands-on and building a strong portfolios of projects
02
Students looking to accelerate their career, stand out in a competitive job market, and land an internship or entry level job
03
Entrepreneurs and Freelancers looking to develop engineering, manufacturing, and product design skills to bring advanced products to market
04
Technicians and Operators who run machines daily, but want to design products, not just make parts. Get ready to level up your career!
We will be using professional CAD software such as Solidworks, Fusion, or Onshape during this course. (Free/Cheap Licenses Available)
You have designed and printed functional parts on an FDM printer before. You need easy access to a good 3D printer during this course.
Create a Professional Project Portfolio and Showcase your Product Development Journey
Showcase a collection of work you are proud of which will set you apart in your job search 🎯🔍
Accelerate Your Career in the Product Development Industry
Fill in the gaps of what you didn't learn in school, and advance in your career 🚀
Design, Engineer, and Bring To Market your own Physical Product
Build the practical skills and knowledge to develop products with confidence 💪
Live sessions
Learn directly from your instructors in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime Access
Access course content and recordings whenever you need them.
Certificate of Completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Interview Preparation from Industry Veterans
Learn how to present your technical skills and project portfolio in interviews from professionals who have hired and led engineering teams.
Build a Network of Engineers, Designers, and Entrepreneurs
Design reviews with industry experts, weekly office hours with your instructors, and peer feedback in the Discord community! 👥🗣️
Maven Guarantee
This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.
35 live sessions • 5 lessons • 9 projects
Jul
16
Lecture 1: Live Teardown - Reverse Engineering In Action
Jul
18
Lecture 2 Problem Definition
Jul
19
Jul
16
Optional: Office Hour
Jul
20
Optional: Shivam's Office Hour
Jul
18
Optional: Office Hour
Jul
18
Optional: Office Hour
Jul
23
Lecture 3: Project Planning and Documentation
Jul
25
Lecture 4: Communication through Sketching, Visualization, and Design
Jul
25
Jul
25
Jul
26
Jul
27
Jul
30
Live Feedback Session 1
Aug
1
Live Feedback Session 2
Aug
2
Live Feedback Session 3
Aug
6
Lecture 5: Prototyping - Low Fidelity & High Fidelity
Aug
8
Lecture 6: CAD Best Practices and Material Selection
Aug
13
Lecture 7 Design for Assembly and Serviceability
Aug
15
Lecture 8: Snaps, Enclosures, and Mates
Aug
20
Live Feedback Session 4
Aug
21
Live Feedback Session 5
Aug
23
Live Feedback Session 6
Aug
26
Lecture 9: Design for Manufacturing - Injection Molding & Sheet Metal
Aug
28
Lecture 10: Cost Engineering and Design Economics
Sep
3
Lecture 11: Failure Methods of Consumer Products
Sep
5
Lecture 12: Reliability and Durability Design/Testing
Sep
10
Live Feedback Session 7
Sep
12
Live Feedback Session 8
Sep
13
Live Feedback Session 9
Sep
17
Lecture 13: Testing and Validation Methods
Sep
19
Lecture 14: Portfolio Design & Interview Prep
Sep
24
PPD Portfolio Presentations Day 1
Sep
26
PPD Portfolio Presentations Day 2
Sep
27
PPD Portfolio Presentations Day 3
5-10 Hours Per Week Time Commitment
Live Lectures and Design Reviews (2h/wk Recorded)
Tues/Thurs at 8:30pm ET (5:30pm Pacific)
Join for a live and interactive Q&A section after a 30-45min main lecture
Weekly Project Milestones
3-6hrs/wk (Independent Work)
Put theory into practice immediately with hands-on project work that builds your portfolio while you learn.
You will develop your own product during this course following our structured product development process.
Regular Office Hours (Optional)
Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun
Weekdays from 8:30pm-9:30pm Eastern (5:30pm-6:30pm Pacific)
Weekends on Saturday and Sundays (Exact Times TBD)
Instructors and TA's will help answer any questions you might have.
Join for personalized project feedback and advice.
Networking/Hangout Sessions (Optional)
Wed, Sat, Sun (Exact Times TBD)
Build up a professional network of passionate engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs!
Bonus Guest Lectures
Wed, Sat, Sun (Exact Times TBD)
From several well-known industry professionals, to be announced soon!
Sign up to be the first to know about course updates.
Joshua Hinman
Michael Hennessy
Nimeesh Rahate
Aidan Pulaski
Designed by Josh Hinman, CT3D LLC, https://www.ct3d.tech/physicalfab/3d-automata
Preview Shivam's Lecture on Product Design
Want to level up your product design skills like Josh did?
Get Link to Youtube Video:
Developed by Michael Hennessey and Colin Brown - Hardware Startup Entrepreneurs, Cal Poly Grads
From Initial Concept to Refined Prototype by Nimeesh Rahate
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
Shivam has designed and developed numerous products ranging from energy storage and transmission systems to a hardware product for Google.
With extensive experience across industrial design, mechanical design, and manufacturing, he previously led product development at multiple design firms and startups from concept through production scale-up, giving him deep insight into what employers actually need from new engineers.
"Taking concepts from sketches to production and wearing different hats throughout the process is what keeps me going."
In our previous cohort Shivam's acclaimed lectures, and hands-on mentoring approach during design reviews helped students develop impressive portfolio projects that directly led to internships and job offers.
Students especially appreciate how he teaches them to ask the right questions at every stage of development, transforming their approach from "what can I make?" to "what should I make and why?"
Startup Veteran | UPenn 21' | DCE 19'
Fractional CTO | Product Development Expert
Matt brings 25+ years of experience delivering breakthrough product designs over 16 million products now in homes, hospitals, and vehicles worldwide.
From surgical robots to flying cars, Matt brings unparalleled breadth across medical devices, automotive, aerospace, and consumer products.
Matt is passionate about preparing the next generation of engineers for real-world success. Having led cross-functional teams and managed complex product launches, Matt understands exactly what skills new engineers need to thrive in industry - and what's missing from traditional education.
Previously the Founder and Chief Engineer of Bayard Design, he managed teams of 12+ engineers and $1M+ budgets where he led product development from concept through to FDA approval and manufacturing scale-up across multiple product generations.
In our previous cohort, Matt's deep-dive technical modules and real-world case studies helped students master the practical skills that employers demand.
Students particularly value his ability to demystify complex product development frameworks with real world examples, how to use these frameworks, and how to navigate complex regulatory requirements.
Engineering Leader | UMass Amherst '98
R&D Design Engineer
Multidisciplinary product development engineer with 6+ years of industry experience across R&D and production manufacturing environments.
Previously led manufacturing process development in high-tech environments (CNC, MIM, AM) before pivoting to consumer product development and biotech.
Cris founded Additive Engineering, a product development firm that helps entrepreneurs rapidly develop concepts into market-ready products. Through Additive Engineering, he has mentored approximately a dozen engineers/designers and helped bring several dozen products to market.
Cris is on a mission to democratize engineering education by making high quality courses and professional training/development accessible to anyone who is passionate and committed. In our previous cohort, students launched multiple successful projects to market, including one team that went on to start up a company.
Cris believes great engineers are made through hands-on experience with expert guidance — his teaching focuses on real-world problem-solving that prepares students to excel in their endeavors from day one.
Startup Founder | Mfg Pro | Cal Poly '20
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