Product Design BSc(Hons)

Course structure

Our course is structured around three main areas.

Design Studio: this is the heart of the course and where you specialise in your chosen area of interest.

Design Studies: this is the theory element in which you will explore the history, theory and culture of product design in relation to contemporary issues. You will develop skills in critical thinking and reflection that will feed into all your studies.

Product Design Technologies: this is where you’ll learn the underlying principles of design, engineering, and material systems, and apply these to your own projects.

Year 1

In your first year you take five core modules.

Modules

• Making, Materials and Processes

  This module introduces the workshop facilities our product design students use. You'll work through making-based exercises developing methods, approaches and knowledge that you'll draw from, and build on, in future projects. You'll gain an understanding of prototyping and design for manufacture, as well as exploring materials and processes. This module will also introduce some of the 2D, 3D and digital skills needed to develop and communicate ideas.

• Design Methods, Approaches and Skills

  This module introduces design methods, approaches and ways of thinking that will enable you to better understand how designers research, develop and communicate ideas. Project work will encourage you to use a range of methods and approaches to tackle design exercises and challenges. You'll gain an understanding of the design process, how to develop ideas and the role that creative methods play in generating and developing ideas.

• Designing Things People Need

  This module challenges you to create ingenious solutions to everyday problems for a real person. You'll use research methods, creative techniques, prototyping and testing methods, and communication and storytelling techniques to research, develop, test and propose viable human-centred design solutions. You'll enhance your 2D, 3D and digital skills. Work will be carried out in design teams (groups) and you will learn methods and approaches to enable effective group working.

• Introduction to Design History, Theory and Critical Thinking

  This module introduces you to the designers, design styles and movements that have helped to shape the world we live in and the way we design today. You'll also start to explore analytical skills such as critical thinking, close reading of texts and the examination of objects and images – helping you to understand design more fully and become a better designer.

• Digital Fabrication Methods

  This module introduces digital fabrication principles, methods and tools which are explored and applied in a practical way through a series of mini design exercises, followed by an integrated project. The activities relate to CAD/CAM, 3D printing and scanning, electronics design and production, and wired and wireless communications enabling you to make a wide variety of prototypes. You will focus on learning how to use the tools, understanding the theory of how they work along with a critical evaluation of their applications.

George McPherson with his final-year project, his chair Oritatami, from the Japanese word for ‘to fold’.

Year 2

In your second year, you choose a specialist studio in which to work (the Design Studio module), learning alongside third years in a mutually beneficial vertical studios system.

Each studio relates to a different area of design (for example, human factors, UX design, sustainable design, and emotion and society).

Modules

• Design Studio 1
• Design Studio 2
• Contextualising Theory and Practice
• Product Design Technologies
• Design + Interactions, Services and Systems

Peter Barr, 2018 graduate, with his VASO portable device which helps to locate patients’ veins for cannulation. Designed for his final project, Peter was interviewed by BBC Breakfast about his product.

Placement 

The third year is an optional placement year spent working in industry – our placements team will support you to find your placement.

You might choose to spend this year in local or international industry, gaining professional experience. Students undertake placements with larger organisations such as Airbus, Body Shop, Coty, Disney, Lego, McDonalds, Rolls Royce and Thales, as well as smaller local SMEs such as BMI, Crown Hockey, HM Trailers, Synergy Medical Technology and Welland Medical.

You can work for a number of companies rather than just one or begin working as a self-employed designer.

Read an interview with student George Gilliat who did his placement at Lego in Denmark.

Final year

In your final year of the BSc Product Design you choose a specialist studio in which to work on your final major project (Design Studio module). You will increasingly focus on independent study and specialisms, developing a portfolio that works for your professional ambitions.

Modules

• Professional Design Pathways
• Design Studio 3
• Design Studio 4
• Dissertation
• Product Design Technologies

As you begin your final year there is an option to choose to graduate with a BA(Hons) degree rather than a BSc.

Jack Moore's final-year project at the 2019 graduate show, a piece of public space furniture which encourages positive social interaction between users.

Facilities 

As a Product Design student you will have access to excellent specialist design facilities and generous studio space equipped with a presentation area including screens and whiteboards.

Technicians are on hand to offer expert guidance on the use of all facilities. They offer support and training with machinery and software as well as providing professional knowledge and advice for making and manufacturing your prototypes.

Workshops and equipment include:

• computer facilities include specialised software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Solidworks
• 3D print workspace with over 12 different printers and finishing areas
• wood workshop
• metal and welding workshop
• finishing room equipped with spray booths
• wind tunnel
• Computer Numerical Control (CNC) workshop with a five-axis CNC machine.

360 facilities tour
Take a look at our studio and workshop facilities 

Meet the team

Student views 

Ben Palmer, graduate 2020

"I have loved my time studying in Brighton, being on a course that has introduced me to a number of different skills and given me the opportunity to develop projects that tackle problem areas that are personal to me.

The introduction of Other Today Studio in my final year has expanded my outlook on the design industry and opened me up to different paths I could take after University. Being surrounded by creativity and like minded people has meant that Brighton has been an inspiring place to develop as a designer."

Jacob Everett, graduate 2020

"The first day I ever visited Brighton I could immediately see the love and respect the city and its people has for art, design and culture. The openness and freedom to present yourself and your ideas in any way that you want is what makes me so glad I picked The University of Brighton.

Product design as a course has morphed over the years, and this year in particular it has been incredible. The vertical studio system has allowed me to develop myself and my skills within an environment and idea structure that will most certainly benefit me in the future."

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Portfolio advice

We appreciate that a school curriculum may affect what you are able to present and that some applicants may not have a formal portfolio. However, you should look at presenting a range of work that demonstrates an understanding of the skills that you need to undertake design project work. These skills include:

• an eye for insight
• determination
• analytical as well as creative working
• practical as well as theoretical working.

You can draw from your extracurricular activities as well as your schoolwork.

It can be tempting to include a lot in your portfolio, but we advise you to limit it to a few pages of your best work. This is a good way to more concisely demonstrate your abilities.

Find out more about how to create and submit your portfolio.

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,410 for UK students and £2,180 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The costs of the basic materials needed to produce working prototypes are included within the tuition fees, although some students, particularly in the final year, may provide additional resources as they seek to optimise the commercial success of their products on graduation.

An educational licence for Solidworks CAD software is also normally provided.

You may benefit from the university's stand at the New Designers' exhibition of emerging design talent.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

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