“Design & Marketing of Luxury Products” Master Class

Course Description

This class addresses the unique properties, opportunities, and challenges of the luxury industry by studying issues relevant to the field in the various aspects of the business, from design, production and management to distribution and promotion. The course structure includes presentations (by faculty and by industry presidents, CEOs, and senior executives), discussions, and the team projects.

In this semester-long course, MBA students from Columbia Business School work in teams with undergraduate students from Parsons School of Design to solve actual case studies submitted by participating companies. In the Fall 2011 semester, students worked on projects submitted by Cartier, Dior Parfums, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu. 

Each team will work closely with faculty from both Columbia Business School and Parsons the New School for Design, and their company’s senior executive(s). Teams will present progress report(s) throughout the semester to the class, the faculty and the client, and a final presentation in front of the class and all participating companies.

Past Case Studies

The goal of this semester long course is for the class to become an incubator for new ideas and thinking, to create not just another product, but to build a new business and develop insights on innovative ways of addressing the customer and selling a product.

Fall 2011 Case Studies
Cartier

Dior Parfums

Gucci

Louis Vuitton

Miu Miu  

Fall 2010 Case Studies
Bulgari
Haviland
Hermes
Loro Piana
Maclaren

Fall 2009 Case Studies
Assouline
Chanel
Fresh
Graff
Louis Vuitton

Spring 2009 Case Studies
Cartier
Christian Dior
Hermès
Lalique
Louis Vuitton
Luxottica

Fall 2007 Case Studies
Bulgari
Chanel
Faber-Castell
Lladró
LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics
Saks Fifth Avenue

Fall 2006 Case Studies
Ferragamo
Graff
Hermès
Lalique
Louis Vuitton
Saks Fifth Avenue

Fall 2005 Case Studies
Baccarat
Bulgari
Chanel
Christofle
Hermès
Louis Vuitton
Monaco Tourism Office

 Spring 2005 Case Studies

Bernardaud
Chanel
Christian Dior
Graff
Hermès
Lalique
Saks Fifth Avenue

“Students’ Final Presentations” Event

The Final Presentations mark the culmination of this semester-long course, where the students work together to create design solutions and marketing models tailored especially for today’s luxury consumer. At this unique gathering of students, alumni, and luxury executives, the student teams will unveil their own innovative solutions to projects submitted by participating companies.

Columbia Business School hosted this year’s Final Presentations event and reception in Uris Hall, located at 3022 Broadway (at 116th Street) on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011. 

Past Final Presentations: