Rolling Admissions
June 1: Deadline for both domestic and international scholarship applications
July 1: Application deadline for international applicants
August 1: Deadline for domestic applicants
Master of Science in Product Design & Development Management
The Master of Product Design & Development Management (mpd²) program is designed for professionals who want to master the concepts and tools of product design and development. You will learn about creativity, innovation, lean design, design strategy, product innovation, end-user research, marketing, and project and product management, as well as business and financial issues. The highly-focused curriculum, taught by senior faculty from academic and business, is designed to assure our graduates a pathway to senior management. You'll quickly understand why Business Week has endorsed this program as one of the top programs of its kind in the world.
Quick Facts
The basics at-a-glance
Degree earned: Master of Science in Product Design and Development Management
Timing
MPD2 follows Northwestern's 10-week quarter system. New student begin classes in September of the fall quarter, with breaks in December, March, and the summer months, meeting on Fridays and Saturdays. Friday classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m. Saturday classes begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:00 p.m. Each day consists of two classes, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon.
Location
Northwestern University’s Evanston campus
Easy access to Chicago’s leading tech and business community
Amber Hall (mpd² ‘20)
Senior Product Manager, PerfectFill
I bring everything from my time in the program to my day job. From frameworks for innovation management to building good business cases, all of it sits with me to this day.
Kelli Palm (mpd² ‘19)
Associate Director of Product Development, Zimmer Biomet
The mpd² courses and cohort teamwork taught me how to manage and work with multiple types of people and levels within an organization.
Joshua Childes (mpd² ‘20)
Director of Product Management, Validity Inc.
I can see clearly how the program, combined with my prior experience, made me ready to both see and seize that opportunity in a way I wouldn't have before
Anna Mollenkopf (mpd² ‘17)
Senior Product Operations Lead, Shopify
The mpd² program granted me a shift in mindset. I learned new ways to understand the world and the complicated, interconnected nature of how humans interact with each other and their environments.
Justin Zupnick (mpd² ‘18)
UX Manager, Accolade
I was a bit of the stereotypical millennial job-hopper, jumping from startup to startup, stuck in this elevator that would only go up or down. I needed a Wonkavator, something that could allow me to go sideways, slantways, longways, backways, squareways, roundways and any other ways you can think of. I felt MPD2 offered that.
Why Northwestern
Unique Program Features
Learn alongside fellow industry professionals
The mpd² program includes students who are mid- and senior-level professionals with at least two years of experience in product design and development. As a student, you’ll engage in a collaborative and hands-on curriculum that enhances your knowledge and managerial skills through practical application.
Study on your schedule
We offer full- and part-time master's degree options, in a addition to a three-day certificate program. As a full-time student, you can earn the mpd² degree in just nine months by attending Friday and Saturday classes on Northwestern’s Evanston campus. Part-time students commit to just one day of class each week and complete their studies in as little as two years.
Enhance your management skills
Our graduates are invaluable to employers. Not only will you master critical skills in design, product development, end-user research, and innovation, you’ll also become a better business leader, gaining skills in marketing, finance, creativity, and project management.The mpd² Community
Our faculty, alumni, and current students come from some of the most innovative companies in the world. Learn more about the mpd² community and how we master big picture business and leadership skills through our hands-on, team-based learning approach.
Housed within the
Segal Design Institute
Our mission is to educate the next generation of synthetic thinkers and leaders — people who are able to move across domains and industries, identify convergences, and create impact through the lens of human-centered design. These thinkers are not generalists, but specialists of a different sort. They take a unified approach to solving problems, drawing on skills from engineering, social sciences, design, and management theory.
Learn more about the Segal Design Institute