Course content
This course will give you all the technical and industry skills you will need to design and develop products from conception through to development, testing and launch.
We offer Product Design degrees through three distinct pathways: Product Design BA, Product Design BSc, and Product Design Innovation BEng. Which pathway you choose depends upon your interests, the subjects you have previously studied and what you want to do with your degree when you graduate.
The Product Design BSc shares many of the modules that comprise the Product Design BA course, but has a distinct lean towards science and technology. This course has a balanced content of artistic and creative modules with technology, mathematics and science.
Product Design is an applied subject and our course is based around applied workshop learning; seminars with demonstrations; practical and lab work. We don’t do lectures!
Each academic year of the BSc Product Design degree centres on a two-semester long design-practice modules. Design-practice challenges start with a design brief, to which you must apply the Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) cycle.
In your first year of study, you will take part in a team CDIO challenge with other students from the product design cohort. You will also study design in the context of user centred design, sketching and drawing, computer aided design; prototyping; and applied design technology.
The second year CDIO challenge is an interdisciplinary team challenge, where you will tackle your design brief with students from engineering cohorts. The second year of study introduces topics that are more advanced, which include manufacturing techniques & technologies, human interaction with devices, consumer culture and modules on designing with mechanics and electronics.
In the final year, you will work on an individual design project and present your work technically to other designers and to a non-specialist audience. The course contains diverse modules required to provide you with the breadth knowledge and skills needed for a career in product design. The final year of study includes professional studies that’s prepares you for work, competition design, a significant research report on an area of design, which interests you and options to select from a range of design topics which allow you to follow your interests.
Our facilities
The Engineering and Design Department will be based at our new Engineering & Digital Technology Park (due for completion in 2018). It is the UK’s first purpose built facility for delivering engineering and design courses through the problem-based learning, CDIO approach. With cutting edge teaching labs containing brand new equipment and apparatus, you will enjoy world class facilities including:
- A large, double height space for delivering our unique, exciting and rewarding design and build experiences
- Practical project-orientated engineering workshop and teaching facilities
- Dedicated electronics and mechanics laboratories
- Fabrication laboratory
- Specialist 3D printers
- Facilities to teach Computer Aided Design
- 300 square-metre television production studio, with auxiliary 100 square-metre special effects room
- 400 square-metre media operation centre
- Media editing and finishing suites
- Hands-on educations spaces for partnerships with schools and colleges
- Co-working spaces and IT suites
The Engineering & Digital Technology Park is based on our Bognor Regis Campus, located just 600 metres from the beach and next door to the leafy and tranquil Hotham Park.
Where this can take you
Because product design degrees combine creativity with technology and provide a broad knowledge of production methods and materials, they are suitable for many areas of employment including:
- Manufacturing
- Research and development
- In-house design departments
- Design consultancies
- Project management
- Packaging design
- Retail and exhibition design
- Marketing
Our inclusion of specific business and enterprise units will provide you with a rounder set of skills than your Product Design knowledge alone, providing you with the know-how to set up your own practice, if you so wish, and enabling you to stand-out in the competitive jobs market.
Indicative modules
Level 4 overview
In your first year of study, you will take part in a team CDIO challenge with other students from the product design cohort and an individual CDIO challenge. Alongside this, you will study design in the context of user centred design, sketching and drawing, computer aided design, prototyping, and the use of design technology for creative and technological problem solving.
| SEMESTER ONE | SEMESTER TWO |
|
Design Technology |
Design Technology |
|
Visualisation Techniques & Methods |
User Centred Design |
|
Computer Aided Design I |
Assembly & Prototyping |
|
Design CDIO Team |
Design CDIO Individual I |
Design Technology
In this module you will develop an understanding of the skills required required in mechanical design, manufacturing processes and appropriate materials, through the use and application of physical science, mathematics and engineering analysis, it will also provide an introduction to new technologies, materials and manufacturing processes.
Visualisation Techniques & Methods
This module explores creative design thinking and problem solving, you will learn the importance that drawing plays in developing and communicating ideas. As well as exploring the communicative power or drawing, you will use drawing to help you improve your observational skills and as an aid to understanding complex ideas and processes as creative design problem solving tool.
Computer Aided Design I
In this module, you will learn to use software packages to facilitate in the design process. The module will teach you aspects of engineering drawing, 3D modelling and rendering.
User Centred Design
This module will enable the learner to understand the relationship products have with those that use them and the environment in which they are situated and used.
Assembly & Prototyping
In this practical module you will learn and apply prototyping methods and 3D modelling techniques. For example, you will make basic foam 3D models and use 3D printing to develop your own prototypes. You will also learn how to use engineering drawings to make prototypes and how prototypes can serve as an important part of the design process.
Design CDIO Team
In this team project, you will be introduced to the CDIO concept through research-design-build-test experiences in which you will work with other first year Product Design students. The projects will provide a forum for you to apply the knowledge and techniques you have acquired in other modules to challenging open ended design briefs.
Design CDIO Individual I
In this module you will explore the process of creative hands on problem solving in a subject-based holistic CDIO project, this will act as a focus for the year therefore drawing on all of the year’s modules skills and experiences
Level 5 overview
The second year CDIO challenge is an interdisciplinary team challenge, where you will tackle your design brief with students from engineering cohorts, also you will complete an individual CDIO ‘’live’’ industry based project. The second year of study introduces topics that are more advanced, including manufacturing techniques and technologies, entrepreneurial design, environmental design, CAD and presentation techniques along with product design history and culture.
| SEMESTER ONE | SEMESTER TWO |
|
Materials & Manufacturing |
Environmental Design |
| Product Design in Consumer Culture |
Electronics & Electrical Systems for Product Design |
|
Computer Aided Design II |
BSc Design Project |
| Interdisciplinary Design CDIO Team |
Interdisciplinary Design CDIO Team |
|
Design CDIO Individual II |
Design CDIO Individual II |
Materials & Manufacturing
In this module you will develop an understanding of the skills required in manufacturing processes and the application of the appropriate materials for rapid, mass and batch production. It will also provide an introduction to new sustainable technologies and smart materials.
Product Design in Consumer Culture
In this module, you will study the history of design by looking at influential art and design movements, and in particular, important designers in modern times, their influences and contributions to design movements. You will also explore the effects that political environment has on shaping key design movements and the central importance that design plays in society.
Computer Aided Design II
In this module, which builds on the first year module, you will enhance your CAD and CAM skills and apply these practically with different manufacturing techniques and processes. You will also advance your understanding and practice of virtual prototyping and rapid prototyping and learn the importance of CAD throughout the product design lifecycle.
Interdisciplinary Design CDIO Team
In this exciting interdisciplinary team project, you will be part of a team with students from other engineering disciplines. This project provides a forum to apply the knowledge and techniques you have acquired to challenging open-ended research-design-build-test briefs.
Design CDIO Individual II
In this module you will explore the process of creative hands on problem solving an , this will act as a focus for the year therefore drawing on all of the year’s modules skills and experiences
Environmental Design
In this module the learner will develop an awareness of the Product Designers contribution and impact upon people and environments with which they live and work.
Electronics & Electrical Systems for Product Design
In this module, you will study the design issues relating to consumer electronics, you will learn about applied electronics and embedded systems. You will cover digital, analogue electronic circuits and electronic CAD systems and practically implement them to facilitate your understanding of design with electronics
BSc Design Project
In this module you will be involved with the design and development of a new technological product based around a ‘live client or staff initiated project' brief enabling the demonstration of both design and engineering skills and abilities.
Level 6 overview
In the final year, you will work on an individual CDIO design project and present your work technically to other designers and to a non-specialist audience. The course contains diverse modules required to provide you with the breadth, knowledge and skills needed for a career in product design both as an in-house manufacturing designer and a consultant designer. The final year of study includes a design competition, career and professional development, advanced CAD, a significant research dissertation/feasibility report on an area of design which interests you, and options to select from a range of design topics which allow you to follow your interests.
| SEMESTER ONE | SEMESTER TWO |
|
Design Feasibility CDIO Report |
Individual Design Project CDIO |
| Product Design Competition Project |
Individual Design Project CDIO |
| Advanced CAD for Project work |
Professional studies |
Design Feasibility CDIO Report
In this module you will select an area of design/engineering which interests you and undertake a significant piece of research work into your chosen area, this will result in a Feasibility Report which will conclude in a design and make brief which be actioned in the Individual Design CDIO Project
Individual Design CDIO Project
In your final year you will complete an individual self-initiated CDIO project, which will form the centrepiece of your design portfolio and evidence the depth of knowledge and practical skills you have amassed during your course. This challenging project work will provide you with self-starter skills and will utilise and test all of the knowledge, experience and techniques that you have acquired throughout your study.
Product Design Competition Project
In this module you will be asked to design appropriate innovative products that address the aspirations of their consumers as defined by the competition briefs. This module allows you to be free from some of the constraints of you individual CDIO project and provides you with the opportunity to show case yourself on a national design stage.
Advanced CAD for Project work
The learner will developing a thorough understanding of advanced CAD/CAM techniques and presentation methods, plus a working knowledge of digital prototyping methods.
Professional studies
This module allows you to develop the necessary skills you will need to make the transition from university to employment, from job opportunity identification to how to present your portfolio and yourself in a professional manner therefore advancing your chosen career in product design
Optional Modules (select one per semester)
|
Diversified Design |
Design with Advanced Materials |
| Leadership & Developing Teams |
Small Business Enterprise |
Diversified Design
Through this module you will develop an understanding of the issues influencing design for a range of users. You will look at inclusive design for specific groups, in particular, designing for elderly people, disabled people and people living in less economically developed countries (LEDC’s)
Leadership & Developing Teams
The learner will challenge and deepen their understanding of leadership theory and practice in a workplace team scenario. It identifies and draws your attention to some critical differences between concepts of leadership and particular management styles and organisational settings. It will illustrate some of the essential links between leadership and motivation theories, communication and influencing skills.
Design with Advanced Materials
In this module you will be introduced to sustainable technologically advanced and smart materials suitable for products designers such as bio- plastics composites and mycelium/mushroom packaging.
Small Business Enterprises
In this module you will introduce to the environmental factors that are directly relevant to a small business context, and it will allow you to develop a critical understanding of the entrepreneurial and business processes.
Teaching and assessment
The course is delivered through seminar/workshops; tutorials; computer labs; physical labs and project practical time. There is a split of about 50% of time in seminars and tutorials and the remaining 50% in labs, practical and project work. In addition to scheduled learning activities, you are expected to plan your time to allow intensive self-study.
Your degree classification is based on 100% Coursework, Project Work and Laboratory work. Depending on your choice of final year options, there may be some examination base assessment.
This is an exciting time to join a brand new Engineering and Applied Design department. Our intention is to ensure that our newly formed Engineering and Product Design courses are fully accredited with The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and The Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) respectively. We will be working closely with both, and our students, to ensure our courses gain accreditation with the intention that we will back date accreditation for those graduating in 2021.
Additional Costs
Additional Costs
Working with industry
Our Engineering, Creative Science and Product Design degrees offer a practical approach to learning based on a syllabus designed in partnership with local businesses. This ensures that graduates are ready for work and are highly employable in these competitive industries.
The Engineering and Digital Technology Park will offer students the chance to develop practical expertise alongside local businesses. It will include a large multi-purpose engineering laboratory which is also open to local companies, incorporating a workshop, prototype manufacturing facilities and collaborative co-working spaces.