Summer Springboard
Product Design, Packaging & Innovation
ON THE CAMPUS OF CAL POLY SLO
EXPLORE THE JOURNEY FROM PRODUCT DESIGN TO PACKAGING AND DELIVERY THROUGH HANDS-ON INNOVATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES.
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Product Design, Packaging & Innovation @ Cal Poly SLO
- Identify user needs, generate ideas, sketch concepts, build prototypes, test designs.
- Create packaging systems and select suitable materials.
- Evaluate how well packages protect products.
- Map a simple supply chain and present an integrated product and packaging solution.
Summer Springboard
Product Design, Packaging & Innovation
About This Course
Discover how everyday products are designed, made, packaged, and delivered. This hands-on course introduces students to a BS in Industrial Packaging & technology through an integrated exploration of Product Development, Packaging, and Supply Chain. Working in teams, students will use design briefs to develop small everyday products. Students will also explore how robotics and connected manufacturing systems support production and delivery. Interactive supply chain games will demonstrate how inventory decisions, information sharing, and coordination affect performance.
The final team project will bring together a product prototype, a tested packaging solution, and a simple supply chain plan. Teams will present their work and explain the trade-offs they made in usability, performance, and sustainability.
Cal Poly’s Industrial Technology and Packaging graduates enter technology, manufacturing and supply chain sectors; hired by compaines like Google, FedEx, PepsiCo and Tesla.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
The final team project will bring together a product prototype, a tested packaging solution, and a simple supply chain plan. Teams will present their work and explain the trade-offs they made in usability, performance, and sustainability.
Career Exploration
Students will visit local packaging and maufacturing operations and connect observations into final projects.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Coming Soon!
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“Summer Springboard was such a great time and I believe I have met some lifelong friends here. I really got to know the career path I want to pursue.”
– Sophia W. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Product Design, Packaging & Innovation
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Javier de la Fuente is an associate professor and chair of the Industrial Technology, Packaging, and Entrepreneurship Area in Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business. He teaches design thinking, product and packaging design, and healthcare packaging. His work focuses on design-driven innovation, usability, and inclusive design. He has mentored Cal Poly students who have earned national and international recognition in packaging design competitions.
The faculty team brings expertise across the course’s core subject areas:
Silvio Aebischer: Product design
Irene Carbonell: Packaging engineering
Dr. Ajay Kathuria: Packaging polymers
Dr. Rafael Guerra: Industrial automation and robotics
Dr. Ahmed Deif: Supply chain and operations management
Dr. Eric Olsen: Process improvement and lean thinking
JAVIER DE LA FUENTE, PH.D
& FACULTY TEAM
“The Summer Springboard program is a great chance to learn more about different fields of education and the college experience, while also meeting new people.”
– E. Watanabe | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Product Design, Packaging & Innovation
Dates & Tuition
| 2027 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 20 – July 2, 2027 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,398* |
| Commuter Tuition: $2,998* |
*Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: San Luis Obispo |
| State: California |
| Campus: Cal Poly SLO |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, UW Foster and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.