Choosing what to study in university is rarely simple. Most students want the same three things: a career that makes an impact, a path to a secure job after graduation, and a way to express themselves. The challenge is that picking a major often feels like choosing your entire future, all while dealing with peer pressure or the lure of “whatever makes the most money.” I know, because I went through that exact process myself.
But here’s the thing: one major that deserves a serious spot on your list is Design – more specifically, Product Design.
What’s Product Design?
In the words of Sir Jony Ive, “Design is so much more than just the way something looks. It’s the whole thing – the way something actually works on so many different levels. Ultimately, of course, design defines so much about our experience.” He couldn’t be more right.
Product Design is the discipline that sits at the intersection of design, psychology, technology, and business. It’s not just about making interfaces look beautiful – it’s about solving real problems for real people. Product designers study how people think and behave, understand the possibilities of technology – especially today with new tools such as AI – and align solutions with business goals. The result? Products that are not only usable and functional, but also meaningful, engaging, and impactful in daily life.
Think of your favourite app – say, Spotify – and ask yourself the following questions:
- “What’s the best way to interact with it?”
- “What do I want the user to feel while using it?”
- “How should someone get from point A to point B?”
- “Where could the experience be improved?”
- “How would I reimagine it to make it even better?”
The moment you start asking questions like these, you’re already thinking like a Product Designer.
Why is Product Design relevant?
This is a critical question and more relevant than ever. Look around you – technology touches almost everything we do; how we live, work, and connect. From apps that help us get things done – like Amazon, Airbnb, or Photoshop – to platforms that keep us informed and connected – like WhatsApp, Instagram, or YouTube – to lifestyle tools like Spotify or your bank’s mobile app, design is at the core of every experience.
What makes this moment especially exciting is the rise of new technologies like AI. Suddenly, we’re not just improving old systems – we’re reimagining how people live, work, and connect, all while simplifying how we build.
As building becomes easier, good design makes an even bigger difference. Without it, many will rush to create things that are ugly or unusable. And while AI can emulate or replicate taste, it can't truly grasp what makes something elegant, intuitive or inherently empathetic. That remains distinctly human work.
At the center of that work are Product Designers. We’re the ones asking: How should the user feel? How can we make this simpler, more delightful, more meaningful?
That’s why Product Design matters now more than ever. It’s not just about creating apps and interfaces – it’s about shaping the way society interacts with technology and ensuring technology isn’t just functional, but intuitive, engaging, and human. Put simply: product design is the difference between a product people tolerate and a product people love.
Every company needs Product Designers.
The Skillset You’ll Build
One of the most exciting parts of studying Product Design is the wide range of skills you’ll develop. And the truth is, you never stop learning – as designers, we are constantly evolving our methods, sharpening our thinking, and finding new ways to bring ideas to life.
Here are some of the core skills you’ll build along the way:
- Design Thinking & Problem Solving – You’ll learn to put users at the center of your process: identifying their pain points, needs, and aspirations, then turning those into solutions that genuinely work.
- Empathy & User Understanding – Great design starts with understanding people. You’ll train yourself to see the world through your users’ eyes – how they think and behave; what they enjoy and loathe – and use that insight to make better decisions.
- Prototyping & Testing Ideas – Tools like Figma let you bring your ideas to life quickly so you can test them with real people. This cycle of building, testing, and refining is where design truly shines.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration – Product designers don’t work in isolation. You’ll learn to collaborate with engineers – for example, how your friends studying software engineering will give life to your designs – product managers, and marketers, understanding how each role contributes to turning an idea into a finished product.
- Portfolio Development – Unlike many majors, Product Design gives you something tangible when you graduate: a portfolio of real work that shows employers your thinking, your process, and your impact.
Together, these skills make you not only a designer, but a problem solver, a communicator, and an innovator – someone who can take an idea from “what if?” to “here it is”.
