Product Design

At Level 4, this module encourages some collaborative, interdisciplinary practice and shared experience. There are lectures and talks from key research staff, students and external experts. Teaching will be in the form of tutorial groups, weekly meetings and presentations. The set projects will vary from year to year and are designed to be responsive to current creative opportunities. 

This module engages students in rapid response research enquiry that focuses on a defined area of investigation. The module will foster an understanding of how research can make a positive impact on the creative process, cultivating a questioning approach to original ‘innovative’ thinking and problem solving.

This module will engage you in the investigation of fundamental three-dimensional geometry; line, plane, and form. Through a series of tasks these elements will be explored using 2D drawing techniques and 3D making approaches, to arrive at a collection of pieces that explore three-dimensional visual language.

This module introduces the principles of product design. As such it engages students in core practical activities in the communication of ideas, design process, thinking, and making. Projects introduce fundamental design methods used for designing products, providing an opportunity to explore and investigate approaches to design practice, and creatively respond to these discoveries.

The module introduces a range of broad over-arching themes and concepts – historical, cultural, social, political, environmental and economic – to inform your knowledge and understanding of Design as integral to positive or negative change.

The module enables you to further develop the research themes and skills gained in year 1, to identify and investigate specific concepts and challenges that directly inform your evolving area of design research and practice.

This module introduces approaches to design innovation, further extending students depth of knowledge in applying research and people-centred approaches to the creation of design responses. The examination of contemporary issues enables the development of design proposals aligned with personal interests or agendas. Design research methods will explore and further expand your understanding of issues via the investigation of design precedents and the use of other secondary & primary sources. A personal design identity or ‘design vision’ will also be informed by the examination and reinterpretation of existing design contexts and practice.

This module explores collaborative and interdisciplinary art and design practice. You will have the opportunity to engage in a range of external-facing learning opportunities which will encourage collaborative, interdisciplinary practice and shared experience; this may take the form of spending time outside of the University and working within the creative community and the public domain. 

In supporting the development of personal and professional practice, these modules (part 1&2) require students to respond to a professional facing project brief. The choices for this could include applications for competitions, residencies, exhibitions, or research project applications, providing a variety of opportunities to explore across both craft and product-led approaches. Part 1 defines the project opportunity and establish creative parameters.

In supporting the development of personal and professional practice, these modules (part 1&2) require students to respond to a professional facing project brief. The choices for this could include applications for competitions, residencies, exhibitions, or research project applications, providing a variety of opportunities to explore across both craft and product-led approaches. Part 2 develops the proposal/application in readiness for submission.

This module will focus on developing, refining and resolving a major design project. The module enables each student to pursue areas of personal interest aligned to professional practice ambitions. As such, it draws together all the skills, knowledge and understanding that has been built through the first two years of study. This project may engage external partners, collaborators and key industry contacts to support the development of design projects resolved to a professional practice standard.   

On the third year Unit X, there is a student authored final project leading to a showcase of finished work. The module includes a brief generated by the student, which leads to the presentation of a significant body of final work. Collaborative and interdisciplinary work can be incorporated into the project in relation to the professional context and ambition of the student.

This module draws upon key ideas and research methods developed in years 1 and 2 to research and establish a substantive individual position for a personal and or professional design practice. This will establish the theoretical framework to inform and underpin the development of your studio practice and support your future graduate ambitions.