The curriculum is focused on developing professional practice skills and knowledge for a career in industrial product design for manufacture. You will study a broad range of areas, including user research, design methodologies, ergonomics, aesthetics, drawing, visual communication, interface, materials, manufacturing, technical specification, 2D and 3D CAD, sustainability, additive manufacturing, technology integration, team working, and project management. You can determine your own design direction according to your passions and aspirations. We have seen students design a wearable sports tracking device, a foldable electric scooter, an augmented reality cycling helmet, an urban beehive, and sensory furniture—to name just a few innovative projects.
You will develop your design skills through a combination of lectures, lab sessions, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and self-directed study. There is a varied mix of assessment, including portfolios, group presentations, case study analysis, individual exercises, report writing, short-form unseen exercises, and essay writing.
You are taught by design academics, designers in residence, and visiting design consultants with specialist knowledge and skills in product design. All our staff have worked in industry and carry out commercial activity and leading research. Visiting lecturers support week-long projects or run weekly seminars, tutorials, or lecture series. Previous visiting lecturers have come from leading companies, including Mosley&, Empathic, Redline Studios, Seymourpowell, Out of the Bubble Design, and Retail Lab.
Our students have won many major awards in recent years, including the prestigious D&AD Award for Product Design and the RSA Student Design Awards.
Contact hours
In your first year, you will normally attend around 13 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 26 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.