Here's how you can maximize your career with a dual degree in Product Design and a related field.

As I experienced, being an APM or PO alongside being a product designer, gives you a great perspective of what happens in a product. It definitely helps you to fully understand the process throughly

Product Design with a Product Manager gives you an ultimate boost in your career. As we know the 1st phase of any product/project is the design. therefore from an early stage of any product, you are engaged in meetings and invest a lot of time in understanding the product if you understand the product well you can manage it well.

Use your diverse expertise to tackle complex projects that require a multidisciplinary approach, making you a valuable asset to employers. Network across both fields to open up more opportunities and stay adaptable to various industry trends. Highlight how your dual background allows you to approach problems from multiple perspectives and innovate in ways that others might not

Dual degree, gives you experience that sometimes, can make career changes or promotions so much easier. It really cleans your road into new experiences

Create a concise and compelling pitch that highlights your dual expertise and how it adds value. Focus on your unique skills, the problems you solve, and the benefits you bring to potential collaborators or employers. Highlight projects and experiences where you applied both design and business skills. Use these examples to demonstrate how your unique combination of knowledge sets you apart. Highlight your dual degree and relevant skills on your LinkedIn profile. Share content related to both design and business to demonstrate your expertise and attract connections with similar interests.

Ensure that user needs and experiences are central to your design process. Conduct user research, create personas, and gather feedback to inform your decisions. Align your design solutions with business goals. Understand how your design impacts revenue, market positioning, and brand identity. Conduct thorough research to gather insights into user needs, market trends, and competitive landscape. This foundational knowledge informs all subsequent design decisions. Assess the impact of your design from multiple angles, including user satisfaction, business outcomes, and technical performance. This comprehensive evaluation ensures that all aspects of the design are addressed.

Cultivate a genuine interest in new trends, technologies, and methodologies. Approach learning as an opportunity to explore and innovate rather than a requirement. Actively seek feedback from peers, mentors, and users to identify areas for improvement and learning. Use this feedback to guide your learning goals. Participate in industry conferences, webinars, and meetups to stay informed about the latest trends and network with professionals. These events often provide valuable insights and learning opportunities.

Cultivate a mindset that welcomes change and sees it as an opportunity for growth. Be willing to explore new ideas and approaches, even if they challenge your current methods. Keep track of technological innovations and industry advancements. Adapt your skills to leverage these innovations in your design work. Use insights from user testing and feedback to iterate on your designs. Be flexible in making adjustments to enhance the overall user experience. Adapt your approach when facing resource constraints, such as limited time or budget. Prioritize tasks and make strategic decisions to achieve the best possible outcomes within the constraints.

A dual degree at undergraduate level definitely has its value. But it’s a lot of work for an undergraduate given the work load of a BFA degree. A more valuable route might be to pursue a graduate degree that would add a specialism or depth of study. The benefit of this route is that it allows students to choose a specialism based on a solid understanding of what they like, what they are good at and what area they want to practice in.