"Art to Part to Mart"
Product Design & Development is a unique program that marries design, engineering, and advanced manufacturing into one comprehensive curriculum. Students take an idea from conceptualization to realization; from an idea in a sketchbook to a beautifully handcrafted, manufactured product. Throughout the process students gain the fundamental skills of problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, teamwork, and innovation. This strong skill set, coupled with learning the trade of woodworking, gives students an abundance of career opportunities. Whether they pursue a career in woodworking, engineering, advanced manufacturing, or psychology, students will be well-prepared for success.
The Product Design & Development program, in partnership with Danville Community College, creates a unique 2+2+2 educational pathway beginning with 11th and 12th grade high school dual enrollment courses (WoodLINKS) that leads to a 2-year community college applied associate’s degree (AAS) and eventually articulates to a bachelor’s degree (BS).
Students have experienced great initial success with class projects The Chair (2009), "Une Joue," a demilune table (2010), the Martinsville Speedway Trophy Clock Project (2010), and in Dead Ben Drums (2011).
The Chair
 First year Halifax County High School dual enrollment WoodLINKS students' class project won first place at the American Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) Fresh Wood Student Competition (2009). The students' work won the blue ribbon honors in the High School Class Project Category at the national competition. The project, affectionately called The Chair, is a beautiful work of art with a cherry-like finish. It is contemporary twist on the traditional Queen Anne Side Chair. That twist is what exemplifies the Product Design & Development program and its students.
"Une Joue"  After Halifax County High School WoodLINKS students won the national AWFS Fresh Wood Student Competition in 2009 with “The Chair,” the following year's students competed in the International Woodworking Fair's (IWF) Ready to Assemble Competition with a demilune table they named “Une Joue,” (the name being french for "cheek or jowl"). While the table is in the traditional half-moon shape, students Doug Stillwell, Patrick Prophet, and Kenton Beard’s upgraded their design to a contemporary work of art. This sleek table is made of natural Oak and features curved, tapered legs with a customizable veneer top. Because of the Ready to Assemble nature of the competition, the table had to travel in pieces and be ready to assemble with limited time and instructions. To give themselves an edge, students used a unique system of magnets that allowed the table to snap together quickly without the use of extra tools, hardware, or fasteners.
Students placed 4th in the nation with their unique "Une Joue" design.
Martinsville Speedway Trophy Clock Project
The winner of the Martinsville Speedway's Annual March NASCAR race receives a special trophy: a grandfather clock. For years, the clock was produced by Ridgeway Clocks in Martinsville, VA. When Ridgeway Clocks was bought out by Herman Miller the trophy for this all-American sport was shipped overseas. Seeing an opportunity for a unique partnership, the SVHEC's Product Design & Development team approached the Speedway and asked if their students could design and engineer the trophy clock. The Product Design & Development team received permission to design, engineer, and manufacture the March 2010 trophy clock. The project perfectly illustrates the power and potential of the PD&D curriculum. Students work on a real world design challenge and take the clock through each phase of production.
In the process they collaborated with a number of individuals in Virginia and elsewhere on specific parts of the clock. Students received a one-of-a-kind learning experience and have the distinct honor of saying their work is in the hands of one of the nation's finest racecar drivers--Mr. Denny Hamlin. "Dead Ben Drums"
 Recent Wood Science-Product Design & Development graduate Ben Scarborough took home first place honors in the national Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) 2011 Fresh Wood Student Competition. Scarborough’s entry, three CNC-milled snare drums (known as Dead Ben Drums) withstood stiff competition from students at Brigham Young University and Art Center College of Design to win the production/contract category’s blue ribbon. Ben's win was the second time in as many entries that a Product Design & Development student placed first at the AWFS Fresh Wood competition.
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