Session One
15-26 June 2026
Weekday live classes; morning or afternoon Pacific meeting windows.
Online Program
Product Design Online Course
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Explore product design through company case studies, competitive strategy and customer needs, then develop a collaborative product design project.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
Get the full picture before you decide
See Succeed's assessment of the programme, who it may suit, the estimated total cost, what applying involves and what is still to confirm.
or let us know if .
What Succeed checks
We review public online program details such as eligibility, age range, cost, duration, learning format, scheduling, mentor model, outputs and application timing.
What Last verified means
Last verified is the latest date Succeed checked the public details shown on this page. Program dates, prices and availability can still change.
How official sources are used
Succeed uses official provider information where available, then rewrites it into a student-facing summary for comparison and planning.
Why some dates are reference dates
If the current cycle is not available, Succeed may show the latest verified cycle dates so you can understand typical timing.
Succeed is independent from this provider unless a partnership is clearly stated.
Product Design Online Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Grades 8-11 when applying
Age range / Year group
Ages 13-17
Location / Region
Online
Cost
$3,200
Duration
2 weeks
Format
Online
Business & EconomicsComputer ScienceDesignEngineering
Sessions / cadence: 10 × 2-hour weekday classes; 1–2-hour daily homework
Assessment style: Case studies; final group project
Main deliverable / output: Group product design project
Time-zone / scheduling model: Pacific Time; one assigned section
Latest verified cycle: 2026
Support model: Online office hours
Technology: Computer, broadband, webcam and microphone
Product Design Online Course summary
Product Design combines commercial thinking with product development: students explore industries, competitors and customer needs before designing a product together.
Company case studies provide the material for discussion, and a final group project gives students a way to apply what they learn.
It suits students who want to connect design ideas with business strategy and enjoy collaborative problem-solving.
What is Product Design Online Course?
Product Design is a Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes course exploring how products are developed and positioned in a market. It connects Business, Computer Science, Design and Engineering through industry analysis, competitive strategy and customer needs.
Students read and discuss company case studies, examining why businesses succeed or fail. They then work in groups to design a product in a sector of their choice, applying those lessons to a final project.
Why Succeed highlights Product Design Online Course
The course connects product ideas to customer needs and competitive strategy, encouraging students to explain why a product should exist.
Company successes and failures give students concrete examples to analyze rather than relying only on abstract concepts.
A final group project turns course ideas into a collaborative design exercise.
Choosing a product sector lets students connect the project to their own interests.
Who is Product Design Online Course for?
Best for
Students interested in how design, customer needs and business strategy connect, especially those who enjoy discussing cases and working in groups.
Not ideal if
You need a self-paced course or prefer individual work, because this course involves daily live participation and a collaborative final project.
Is Product Design Online Course worth it?
This course is worth considering if you want to test whether product development interests you beyond the initial idea stage. Its combination of case studies, market strategy and group design gives you several ways to explore that interest.
The daily classes and homework require sustained attention, so it needs a clear place in your schedule. Participation does not guarantee admission to Stanford University; the stronger reason to take it is the learning and project experience you can reflect on afterward.
Sean
Founder, Succeed
Talk it through with Sean
Want to talk it through?
“I can help you compare the programmes you're considering, think through the practicalities and work out what makes sense for you.”
20 minutes · No obligation to enrol
A practical overview of cost, time commitment, provider details, student outcomes and online support to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$3,200; includes Daily live online classes., Online office hours., Company case-study assignments., Final group product design project..
Dates and time commitment
2 weeks; 10 × 2-hour weekday classes; 1–2-hour daily homework.
Provider details
Review the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
What the student gains
Potential output: The main output is a final group product design project in a sector of the group's choice.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.
Online support and safeguarding
Check how online sessions are supervised, how mentor communication works, and what support route exists if the student needs help.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Product Design Online Course need?
Effort level
High daily commitment.
Best started
Allow several weeks for application responses, transcripts and a work sample, then test your technology during the week before your session.
Main challenge
Balancing group project work with the daily class and homework schedule.
Typical preparation
Choose a product or company you are curious about and consider its customers and competitors.
Gather recent grade reports or transcripts and read the course-specific work-sample instructions.
Write application responses independently and review everything before submitting.
Test your computer, webcam, microphone and broadband connection before the first class.
Useful if
You want to explore the commercial reasoning behind product design.
What do students do on Product Design Online Course?
You examine how companies compete and how customer needs shape product decisions. Working with classmates, you apply those ideas to a product design project in a sector your group chooses.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Analyze an industry and identify product market strategies.
- 2
Explore Porter's five forces, competitive strategy and customer needs.
- 3
Read and discuss company case studies to identify successes and failures.
- 4
Work in a group to design a product in a chosen sector.
- 5
Apply lessons from the course to the final group product design project.
Product Design Online Course dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Session Two
6-17 July 2026
Weekday live classes within the afternoon Pacific meeting window.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Session One | 15-26 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session Two | 6-17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Be in Grades 8-11 at the time of application.
Domestic and international applicants are considered.
Complete application responses independently.
Admitted students may attend only one Summer Institutes course.
Standardized test scores are optional.
How much does Product Design Online Course cost?
Financial aid
Aid can be awarded to domestic and international participants.
What's included
Daily live online classes., Online office hours., Company case-study assignments., Final group product design project.
How to apply to Product Design Online Course
- 1
Create or use an account in the official Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies application portal with the student's legal name and birthdate.
- 2
Choose Summer Institutes and indicate Product Design among your courses of interest.
- 3
Complete application responses yourself and upload recent grade reports or transcripts.
- 4
Upload a work sample meeting the course-specific application instructions; standardized test scores are optional.
- 5
Have a parent or legal guardian review and sign the completed application, complete the application-fee payment, and submit all materials online.
- 6
Review everything before submitting because the application cannot be changed afterward.
Next step with Succeed
Interested in this programme?
or let us know if .
Succeed replies first, usually within a working day
Learning format
Students attend two-hour live online classes Monday through Friday, with one to two hours of daily asynchronous homework and online office hours in the third hour of the meeting window. The published windows are 8–11 a.m. PDT for Session One and 4–7 p.m. PDT for both sessions; students attend one assigned section, with exact class and office-hour schedules set nearer the start.
Platform access and technology-orientation details are sent before the session begins.
Mentorship and feedback
Online office hours use the third hour of the meeting window.
The exact office-hour schedule is set nearer the program start.
The program team provides a contact route for technical support.
Time-zone considerations
- All published meeting windows use Pacific Daylight Time.
- Session One has an 8–11 a.m. PDT meeting window.
- Both sessions have a 4–7 p.m. PDT meeting window.
- Students attend one assigned section and time.
- Exact class and office-hour times are set nearer the start.
Tech requirements
Use a computer capable of running current browsers and software.
Have reliable broadband for video conferencing; wired Ethernet is recommended.
Use a built-in or external webcam for daily participation.
Have a microphone; headphones or a headset are recommended.
Choose a quiet, distraction-free space suitable for on-camera classes.
Assessment style
Course assignments involve company case studies and a final group product design project.
- Read and discuss company case studies.
- Identify the successes and failures of the companies studied.
- Apply course concepts to the final group project.
Portfolio / outputs
Main deliverable / output
The main output is a final group product design project in a sector of the group's choice.
Company case-study assignments.
Industry analysis and product market strategy work.
Product Design Online Course FAQs
Students explore product design and development through industry analysis, product market strategies, Porter's five forces, competitive strategy and customer needs. Company case studies connect these ideas to business successes and failures.
Students work in groups to design a product in a sector of their choice. Their final group product design project applies lessons from the course and company case studies.
Classes meet live for two hours Monday through Friday, with an additional one to two hours of homework each day. The third hour of the published meeting window is used for online office hours.
No. Admitted Summer Institutes students may attend only one course, and Product Design students attend one assigned course section and meeting time.
No. Standardized test scores are optional for both domestic and international applicants, and there is no published test-score or GPA cutoff.
Applicants must write their application responses themselves. Parents or legal guardians may review the completed application and sign it.
Yes. Financial aid can be awarded to both domestic and international participants.
No. Stanford undergraduate admissions is separate from Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, and participation does not guarantee admission. The educational value comes from students' learning, growth and development.
Alternatives to Product Design Online Course
Compare these related courses if you want to explore design through branding, art or engineering.
Alternatives to Product Design Online Course
Branding and design study in San Luis Obispo
Design
Deadline: Not announced
From $2998
14-18
San Luis Obispo
In-person
Best for
Students interested in branding and design
Art summer study with art and design coverage
Art
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
13-18
St Andrews
In-person
Best for
Students exploring art alongside design
Engineering study covering design, mathematics and science
Engineering
Deadline: Not announced
From £5495
13-15
Cambridge
In-person
Best for
Students connecting design with engineering
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Sean Stevens
Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)
Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Online Experience and Platforms | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
- Welcome
- Questions: Application - SI | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
- Product Design | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Official course page checked
Grade eligibility reviewed
Session dates verified
Daily workload reviewed
Application requirements checked
Financial aid eligibility reviewed
Technology requirements checked
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Product Design Online Course
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Upcoming
Get the full picture before you decide
Succeed's assessment, estimated total cost and what applying involves.
No account needed for the Guide or Compare.
Not ready to decide yet? Keep it for later.
Get a next-cycle reminder
Compare similar programs
Save it for later
Keep recommendations organised