Product design is in our hands.

Oliver jung fotografie hfg bildstock 2016 tag237092

Every day. From head­phones to a coffee machine that does what it is supposed to do, from e‑bikes to car-sharing that works like clock­work, or to a local train in which you feel comfor­table. From the safe and comfor­table safety helmet for fire­figh­ters or active people in outdoor sports to the use of swarm intel­li­gence in industry – we, product desi­gners, were at work.

The design of the products is sophisti­cated and diverse. All objects, inclu­ding devices and machines, become more intel­li­gent“, commu­ni­cate with us and with each other. They are inte­grated into systems and will be able to do much more in the future. And we are always one step ahead: what we think up today becomes the reality of tomorrow.

Basics and Focal Points

At our univer­sity you learn the language of form and mate­rial. You learn their meaning, effect and their rela­tion to func­tion. In the basics, the teachers impart theo­re­tical know­ledge of tech­no­logy and espe­ci­ally design prac­tice. Students build up an aware­ness of why some­thing is imme­dia­tely under­stan­dable and lies well in the hand. They are able to inves­ti­gate, ques­tion and test things and build 3D models.

From the first semester on you will develop concepts and build proto­types in groups. Starting in the fourth semester, students choose from the follo­wing areas of specialization:

  1. Product Design

    In this concen­tra­tion area, we look at inno­va­tive products and product systems. The students work out simple solu­tions to concrete problems and develop optimal func­tions for products, devices, tools or machines. optimal func­tions. They attach importance to making use and opera­tion clear and plea­sant. And yes, it may look first-class and feel good!

  2. Process Design

    Whether you’re thin­king about life or trans­por­ta­tion, house­hold or medical equip­ment, produc­tion of goods, storage or trans­port it is not enough to put a good product or device on the market. It is also neces­sary to design the processes from the first step to a defined goal. The logi­stics, the safety, the main­ten­ance and every action in a proce­dure. In other words, the entire service or process.

What we really like about the HfG!

For us, it is about the ques­tion of what we really want, need and what makes sense. Not ever­y­thing that is feasible should be done. At the HfG, Schwä­bisch Gmünd we have little left over for mere dres­sing up“ or for disposable products that pile up to moun­tains of rubbish and end up in the oceans. We also don’t find pure luxury objects parti­cu­larly exci­ting. We prefer to do some­thing helpful and useful. Simply what’s good. And we do what’s good simply! For ever­yone. Right up front and in uncom­pro­mi­sing quality.

Your Bachelor Studies at the HfG! Apply now!

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Oliver jung fotografie hfg 2018 tag 2 9530
Besprechung Produktgestaltung

Here’s where we work!

We HfGers“ enjoy an excel­lent repu­ta­tion. We work in start-ups, design offices, in design and deve­lo­p­ment depart­ments in industry, in think tanks or in rese­arch- employed or as foun­ders and self-employed. We stand for some­thing and are known for it. It is, ther­e­fore, no wonder that our degree program has been ranked among the best such as by iF Univer­sity Ranking for many years.

Our graduates are ever­y­where both regio­nally and inter­na­tio­nally. In the area“ or in one of the many globally renowned compa­nies with which we main­tain close contacts.

After my bache­lor’s degree, I went to China. There I helped develop smart­phones at the deve­lo­p­ment center at ZTE Corpo­ra­tion. Since retur­ning to Germany, I have been working on products for children at Cybex GmbH.“
David Alan Smith
Lead Industrial Designer Cybex GmbH
My workday? I develop concepts, draw manu­ally and with CAD. I also work with virtual reality tools such as Unreal Engine. I super­vise the products until they are ready for series production.“
Isabella Zidek
Automotive / Industrial Designer Designworks BMW Group
As an inde­pen­dent desi­gner, I work inde­pendently and look for suitable manu­fac­tu­rers to produce my ideas.“
Johannes Stein­bauer
Independent product designer for furniture
We work on large and small leather access­ories. These include hand­bags, back­packs and purses. I design at all stages from draf­ting to revi­sing and to vali­da­ting prototypes.“
Florian Fröh­lich
Leathergoods Designer Mansur Gavriel

Ask us!

Any ques­tions? Then contact Hannah Clauss, our academic assistant for product design at the HfG:

 Hannah Ricarda Clauss

Hannah Ricarda Clauss

Akademische Mitarbeiterin
Koordination Studiengang Produktgestaltung