Walter Herbst

Walter Herbst is a Clinical Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He is also affiliated with the Master of Science in Product Design and Development Management Program. With a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois (1959), an MS in Management from the Kellogg School of Management (1990), and a PhD from Coventry University, Herbst specializes in product design and development, marketing strategies, and innovative teaching methodologies in design education.

His research focuses on the totality of product development processes, integrating academic rigor with industry practices. He holds over 125 patents in hardware, houseware, and medical products, and his work has earned accolades such as the Edison Award (2013–2016), Red Dot Awards, and the Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor Award (2015). Herbst co-founded Herbst LaZar Bell Inc., a leading product design firm, and later established Herbst Produkt, focusing on innovative design solutions.

In academia, Herbst pioneered the Master of Product Design and Development Management Program at McCormick, emphasizing part-time, modular coursework for working professionals. He teaches courses on product development management and has been recognized as Faculty of the Year (2009) and a Kellogg School Distinguished Alumnus (2012). His publications and patents reflect a career bridging academic research and industrial innovation.

• Awards: Edison Awards (2013–2016), Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor (2015), Design of the Decade by IDSA (2001)
• Grants & Labs: Advisory roles at Arizona State University’s Material Sciences Department, founding roles in Herbst LaZar Bell and Herbst Produkt