Walter Herbst

Professor Herbst teaches in the Master of Product Design and Development program, where he brings his expertise for product design development into the class room with a course he designed dealing with the Management of Product Development. He also teaches undergraduate courses as well as devotes many hours to “independent study” programs. For the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, he created the Master of Product Design and Development Management Program. The program is the only program in the country that deals with the totality of most of the issues related to product development.

Herbst is a fellow in the Institute of Design Engineering and Applications (IDEA) program and a NCEER Scholar (Northwestern Center for Education Research). He serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Material Sciences at Arizona State University as well as serving on the Advisory Board for the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, for the School of Art and Design.

Walter Herbst created the MPD2 program as the only program in the country that deals with the totality of most of the issues related to product development. In addition to teaching courses in the MPD2 program, where he brings his expertise for product design development into the classroom, Herbst also teaches undergraduate courses and devotes many hours to independent study programs.

Professor Herbst holds over 125 patents in hardware, houseware, and medical products. He is listed in “Who’s Who of American Inventors”, as well as other “Who’s Who” publications, and is a frequent contributor of articles in various trade journals. An expert in his field, he is frequently invited to speak at national and international industry trade shows and events. In addition, he was a recipient of the “Design of the Decade” award from the Industrial Design Society of America for his work with Gillette in the spring of 2001.

Walter Herbst founded Herbst LaZar Bell Inc. in 1962. The firm grew to one of the three largest independently owned product design and development firms in the country. His specific research and expertise culminated in HLB being recognized as “Experts in the Process of Product Development”. Following his transferring ownership of the company to the employees under an ESOP plan he became a founder and partner in Herbst Produkt. The firm specializes in innovation and “edgy” design work.