Kendall College of Art and Design
(800) 676-2787
17 Fountain St. NW,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Make a living AND make a difference.
The Product Design program evolves three KCAD programs—each with a strong track record of leading graduates to professional success—into a forward-thinking learning experience driven by where design is now and where it’s headed next. Thanks to a unique blend of classic industry training and an interdisciplinary approach to design, you’ll emerge from the program prepared to adapt to and thrive within a wide variety of professional settings.
Whether you’re looking to make your mark in an organization or make your own way as an entrepreneur, you’ll become a leader who can grow in step with a rapidly-changing world and use your creativity to bring lasting value to individuals, companies, and culture-at-large.
Possible Careers
Furniture Design Concentration
- Furniture Designer (independent or contract)
- In-House Designer (for large manufacturing companies)
- Furniture Design Educator
- Furniture Curator
- Furniture Appraiser
- Hardware Designer
- Exhibit Designer
- Design Consultant
- Lighting and Accessories Designer
- Private Buyer
Industrial Design Concentration
- Industrial Designer (Independent Consultant)
- Industrial Designer (Corporate Design Studio or Research & Development)
- Industrial Designer (Start-Up Business)
- Footwear Designer
- Color Designer
- Product Designer
- Product Developer
- Prototype or Model Maker
- Research and Development
- Design Research
- Exhibit Designer
- Packaging Designer
Metals and Jewelry Design Concentration
- Fine and Costume Jewelry Designer
- Custom Goldsmith
- Independent Production Design/Entrepreneur
- Jewelry Educator
- Jewelry Manufacturer
- CAD Surfacer for Product or Jewelry Design
- Technical Designer (3D Printing and Manufacturing Consultant)
Alumni - Professional Success
Where KCAD Furniture Design alumni work
- Baker (High Point, NC) – Designer
- Drexel Heritage (High Point, NC) – Designer
- Stanley Furniture (High Point, NC) – Designer
- Vladimir Kagan Design Group (New York, NY) – Director of Design and Production
- Bernhardt (High Point, NC) – Designer
- Century (Hickory, NC) - Designer
- Hooker (Martinsville, VA) - Designer
- Bassett (Bassett, VA) - Designer
- La-Z-Boy (Monroe, MI) – Designer
- Universal Furniture (High Point, NC) – Designer
- Caracole (High Point, NC) – Designer
- H. Thomas Keller and Associates (High Point, NC) - Designer
- Warren and Associates (Grand Rapids, MI) – Designer
- Otto & Moore (High Point, NC) – Designer
- Sauder (Archibald, OH) – Designer
Where KCAD Industrial Design alumni work
- Bissell (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Whirlpool (Benton Harbor, MI)
- Herman Miller (Zeeland, MI)
- Steelcase (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Haworth (Holland, MI)
- Chervon (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Stryker (Kalamazoo, MI)
- Rubbermaid (Atlanta, GA)
- Amway (Ada, MI)
- Wolverine Worldwide (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Radio Flyer (Chicago, IL)
- Mercy Health (Grand Rapids, MI)
Where KCAD Metals and Jewelry Design alumni work
- Gemological Institute of America (Carlsbad, CA) – Goldsmithing Instructor
- David Yurman (New York, NY) – Senior CAD Designer
- Intersecting Hearts Jewelry (Kalamazoo, MI) – Owner/Designer
- Story of Two Jewelry (Grand Rapids, MI) – Owner/Designer
- Talsma Jewelry (Grandville, MI) – Bench Jeweler
- Bauble Patch Jewelers (Grand Rapids, MI) – Jeweler/Designer
- Richard Engels Jewelers (Grandville, MI) – Designer
Alumni - Continuing Their Education
Where KCAD Furniture Design alumni have attended graduate school
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI) – Master of Fine Arts
- Cranbrook Academy of Art (Detroit, MI) – Master of Fine Arts
- California State University – Master of Fine Arts
- University of Phoenix (Tempe, AZ) – Master of Education, Adult Education and Training
Where KCAD Industrial Design alumni have attended graduate school
- Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI) - Master of Business Administration
- Domos Academy (Milan, Italy) – Master in Product Design
- Southern California Institute of Architecture (Los Angeles, CA) – Master of Architecture
- IIT Institute of Design (Chicago, IL) – Master of Design
- Umeå Institute of Design (Umeå, Sweden) - Master of Fine Arts, Interaction Design
- Cranbrook Academy of Art (Bloomfield Hills, MI) - Master of Fine Arts, 3D Design
Where KCAD Metals and Jewelry Design alumni have attended graduate school
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL) – Master of Fine Arts, Metals
- Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH) – Master of Fine Arts, Jewelry and Metals
Resources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook – Industrial Designers
- CollegeGrad – Industrial Designer Career Information
- Coroflot – Online Design Job Portal
- CreativeMany – Job Opportunities
- Industrial Designers Society of America – Job Board
- ONet OnLine – Commercial and Industrial Designer Career Information
- Product Development and Management Association – Career Center
- The Art Career Project – Industrial Design Careers
- American Society of Furniture Designers – Job Board
- American Society of Furniture Designers – Member Portal
- Furniture Today
- High Point Market
- The Art Career Project – Furniture Design Careers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook - Jewelers
- CollegeGrad – Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers Career Information
- Design Jewelry Brands – List of Designer Jewelry Brands
- Gemological Institute of America – Careers at GIA
- Gemological Institute of America – GIA Career Fair
- Jewelers of America – Jewelry Job Board
- Jewelers of America – Professional Certification Information
- Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America – Career Center
- ONet OnLine – Jeweler Career Information
- The Art Career Project – Jewelry Design Career Information
Disclaimer: Information on this page is provided for the convenience of the public, and is subject to change. While KCAD strives to make the information on this website as timely and accurate as possible, the college makes no guarantees about its contents, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions. No warranty of any kind, implied or expressed, is given with respect to the contents of this site or its links to other Internet resources. Names of or links to other businesses or organizations do not constitute endorsement or recommendation.