Product Design with Professional Experience 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

• Product Desirability

  This module investigates the notion of physical beauty and its role in the design of mass-produced products. You will explore four different attributes of desirability (form, surface, proportion and detail), learning how each can be manipulated, specified and applied to the design of products.

  You will also be introduced to some of the key 2D, 3D and digital skills needed to translate your ideas into products.

• Product Durability

  This module explores ways of increasing the longevity of mass-produced products; both physically and psychologically. You will examine why durability matters as well as how it can be evaluated and optimised.

  You'll design a product through a group product, applying the knowledge gained on this module. You'll be introduced design processes, and continue to develop your 2D, 3D and digital skills.

• Product Usability

  This module explores the issue of functionality in mass-produced products both from a technical and user perspective.

  You'll design a practical product, applying the technical and ergonomic principles and further developing your understanding of design processes. You'll also continue to enhance your 2D, 3D and digital skills.

• Design Studies 1

  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 you to 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
• Design Studies 2
• Product Design Technologies 2

Options*

• Design Thematic Practice
• Design for a Global Context
• Edible Campus
• Critical Spacial Practice in Public
• Re-imagining the House
• Excursions in Immensity
• Collection
• Digital Craftsperson

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

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 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
• Design Studies 3
• Product Design Technologies 3

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

International requirements

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

Interview

Applying for 2019

Read our advice on how to submit a portfolio if you are applying during Clearing

Applying for a place in 2020?
You will be invited to attend an interview at one of our applicant days, held between February and April. Applicant days are an opportunity for you to meet our staff and students, and to find out more about our courses and facilities.

The interview is a chance to ask us questions, present your portfolio and tell us about yourself. In particular, be prepared to tell us about your:

• research skills
• creative strengths
• technical abilities
• understanding of people and behaviour
• business acumen.

We are interested not just in your educational qualifications but in your personality and potential as a professional designer, so you should also be prepared to talk about your aspirations.

Portfolio advice

Applying for a place in 2019?
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

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 £1,230 for home students and £2,060 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 or our inclusion in the EU-funded Erasmus overseas exchange programme.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

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/EU 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.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with us for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly. You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Moulsecoomb campus map