Generator Integrated Product Development MasterClass
Jerrold C. Manock, Instructor

8 Sessions, Sept. 6th to Nov. 1 (no class on October 4)
Wednesdays  |  6:00pm – 9:00pm
Tuition: $575.  Includes free Instructor Consulting upon course completion.

Course Mission
To give attendees an overview of fundamentals required for introducing a new product to the market place, after 3-D printing a proof-of-concept model.  Many case studies will be presented to illustrate key concepts. It is a MasterClass because it will be rooted in the real world, based on actual experiences.

Course Overview
Students will enroll in an eight-week course meeting three hours each week on successive Wednesday evenings at Generator.  They will be organized into “Company Teams“, each with one student ready to develop a product (the “Team Leader”) and from one to four students (the “Product Design Assistants”) who will be exploring the possibility of following their own future commercialization interest while helping the Team Leader develop their product.

The first two hours of each class will be an “all-staff meeting” where general application subjects are introduced and discussed.  The third hour will be devoted to mentored individual “team meetings” where course topics are applied to a Team Leader’s product.  Each class will include:

  1. A take-away “tool.”
  2. A real-world case study illustrating application of a rule-of-thumb or a Product Design resource.
  3. A resource contact and / or a guest speaker.

The course concludes with a Final Presentation of developed products to a theoretical “Board of Directors”, who will let teams know via a voting process how they stack up against each other’s “emerging” products.

In addition your tuition will include free Instructor Consulting, by prior appointment, for 60 days after completion of the MasterClass.

Target Audiences: Who Should Attend
Team Leaders
If you have a proof-of-concept product idea that you would like to take to market, or are already in low-volume production and want to “scale-up,” apply for a Team Leader position.  You and your team of assistants will learn how to value your product’s features, lower the risk for potential manufacturers, make decisions about materials, tooling, volume ramp-up, required documentation, etc., all while applying these concepts to your specific idea.

Product Design Assistants
If you are interested in the critical aspects of new product development but don’t as yet have your own product to focus on, this is the opportunity you have been waiting for.  Sign on as an “assistant” to help a fellow Generator maker with their product so that you will be prepared when you are ready with your own idea.  You will learn strategies and development tools that, when you are ready, will help you convince investors that you and your idea are worthy of their consideration… all while you are working on a real product, not an academic exercise.  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) experience will be helpful but not necessary.

Student Enrollment Process and Important Dates
Enrollment in this course is different from other registration processes at Generator, in that students must complete an Application, and be accepted for inclusion in this MasterClass.  Enrollment steps are:

  1. Please read over the detailed Course Outline.
  2. Attend an Informational Session (optional):
    Wednesday, July 26th, 6-7 PM
    Wednesday, August 2, 6-7 PM
  3. Complete and return this Application to: Karen Cornish, [email protected], or in person, at Generator:  40 Sears Lane, Burlington, VT
  4. APPLICATION DUE DATE: Friday, August 11
  5. An application review committee will study all applications and recommend students to the Instructor and Mentor Team. You may be contacted for a personal interview.
    • Criteria for Team Leaders will be the possibility of a positive outcome (a successful product) and need.
    • Criteria for Product Design Assistants will be enthusiasm for the topic and need.
  6. A final decision on enrollment will be made on Wednesday, August 16. All applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by email.
  7. If accepted, a non-refundable $75 deposit will be required upon notification to hold your place in the class. Mail to Generator:  40 Sears Lane, Burlington, VT
  8. The balance of 50% of the tuition ($250) is due at the beginning of the first class meeting. The remainder of the tuition ($250) is due at the beginning of the fifth class meeting.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available on a limited basis.  To apply, please contact Karen Cornish (below) for an application.  Once completed, return at same time as your Course Application (by Friday, August 11).  All applicants will be notified of their scholarship approval along with their acceptance status (by email.)

Questions?  Please feel free to contact Karen Cornish, Education Director:
Email: [email protected], or Telephone:  802-540-0761, between 9 AM and 5 PM, weekdays.

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Instructor:  Jerry Manock, MSME Product Design
Jerry has been doing Product Design Engineering since graduation from Stanford University in 1968.  He has worked and consulted for both large and small companies in the US and Europe and was Corporate Manager of Product Design at Apple Computer from 1979 to 1984 where he supervised the product design of The Apple II, Apple III, and the original Macintosh.  Please see his Wikipedia Page… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Manock

Jerry has taught a similar course, called Integrated Product Development, at UVM for 26 years.  He has operated his consulting company, Manock Comprehensive Design, L.L.C., in Burlington, Vermont since 1985.

Former IPD MasterClass students give their endorsements:
“If Vermont had a degree program in Product Design, Jerry’s IPD class would be the capstone. It has everything you need to design and build a product-based business: a guided tour of the design process from user needs to first prototype, and just enough marketing & financial information to build the business case for your product. All taught by a graduate of Stanford’s legendary “D school,” and ending with an opportunity to pitch your idea to community members and potential investors. Whether you’re an inventor looking to start a business or a professional looking to build a career in product development, this class has everything you need to get started.”
Julia Aiken
Industrial Designer & Design Professor
WWU College of Engineering and Design
Specializing in action sports equipment, product graphics & softgoods

“IPD is a perfect marriage of the many facets of product development. The curriculum covers the entire development process from concept ideation to product creation and project execution. It allows students to interact in a simulated business environment — alternating between leader and teammate, while getting their hands dirty in the details of project execution. I would highly recommend the course to anyone interested in industrial design, product development, and project management, among others!”
Sara Jacobson
MS Business, Product Management, Dartmouth, 2017

“While at UVM I had a unique opportunity to participate in the Integrated Product Development class hosted by the business school. It was one of the most engaging classes I experienced while at UVM. During class we were matched with companies in the community to help build and develop products. We received direct exposure to executive leadership in the companies, external mentorship, and an opportunity to create a real product. The hands on experience helped me and my classmates develop skill in project management, communications, and creative ideation. This class is a must take for entrepreneurs and people that want to build new products that impact the world.”
Scott Bailey
Executive Director
MassChallenge, North America
Boston, MA