The work aims to explore the model of product meaning transmission and propose the corresponding product design concept. The product symbols were classified with Charles Peirce's triadic classification and the roles of different types of symbols were elucidated. "Iconic symbols" conveyed information about the product category. "Indexical symbols" showed the current state of the product to the receiver and provided possibilities of interaction. "Symbolic symbols" carried the cultural connotation and symbolic meaning of the product. Following this, the "funnel" was taken as the shape pattern, four typical models of product symbol transmission were proposed, which was formed by the size of the product's "sum of meanings" and the strength of the design "degree of encoding". The size of the sum of meanings corresponded to the width of the funnel and the strength of the degree of encoding corresponded to the depth of the funnel. Finally, combined with the characteristics of three symbols, the application ideas of four symbol transmission models in product design were discussed respectively. The efficacy of the funnel-shaped symbol transmission model was demonstrated through the design practice of the "Jing" cultural and creative teacup. The "sum of meanings" and the "degree of encoding" play significant roles in the construction and transmission of product meanings. Reasonably employing iconic, indexical, and symbolic symbols in varying degrees of encoding can facilitate the desired effect of meaning transmission depending on the sum of meanings a product holds.