Program Overview

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Sustainable Product Design BA(Hons)

Course Overview

The Sustainable Product Design BA(Hons) course at Falmouth University equips students to make a real difference in the world by developing human-centered design skills to create inclusive and socially responsible products.

Key Details

• Location: Falmouth Campus
• Course duration: 3 years / 4 years (with professional placement)
• Attendance: Full-time / Professional Placement
• UCAS code: W250/PY43

Course Structure

The course is divided into three years, with an optional professional placement in the third year.

Year One

• Creativity & Communication: Develops creative methods for design ideas, including sketching, graphical presentation, Adobe Photoshop, and 3D CAD.
• Sustainable Design Principles: Investigates materials, methods, and tools for reducing environmental impact, with a focus on wood as a material.
• Life Cycle Thinking: Introduces tools to assess environmental impact throughout a product's lifetime, including 3D CAD skills and Adobe InDesign.
• Design Ethics: Examines global issues informing design debates, with human-centered studio projects developing innovative design solutions.

Year Two

• Design & Business: Investigates re-design opportunities for existing products, considering commercial viability, social and environmental impacts.
• Inclusive Design: Introduces principles of inclusive design and human-centered design strategies, including primary research methods and data collection techniques.
• Collaboration: Develops 'soft skills' like communication, problem-solving, and leadership through team projects.
• Circular Economy: Responds to live projects with industry, designing innovative products or services that engage with the circular economy.

Year Three

• Design Drivers: Establishes the direction of the final year studio project, investigating contextual and theoretical drivers.
• Design Visions: Develops critical rationales and professional practice skills, applying research in real-world contexts.
• Design Ambitions: Reflects on skills and ambitions, defining a career pathway.
• Design Futures: Develops resolved design outcomes to a professional standard, including advanced prototypes and communication materials.

Assessment

• 100% coursework
• Continuous assessment with no formal examinations

Facilities

• High-spec workshops and studio space
• Rapid prototyping equipment
• CAD/CAM equipment, including laser cutters, CNC milling, and routing machines
• Digital printing capabilities and industry-standard 2D and 3D software
• Eco-material library and physical samples
• Subject-specific library with online resources
• Student support and academic support services
• IT facilities, including WiFi and open-access IT suites
• Online Learning Space with 24/7 access

Staff

• Drummond Masterton: Head of Architecture and Design
• Dr. Simon Andrews: Course Leader, Sustainable Product Design
• Evy Dutheil: Senior Lecturer, Sustainable Product Design
• Gary Allson: Lecturer, Sustainable Product Design
• Clive Goodwin: Associate Lecturer, Sustainable Product Design

Careers

Graduates can work in various sectors, including:

• Junior/senior designer in product design agencies
• Design researcher
• Product designer (toys, lighting, furniture)
• Sustainable consultants
• Sports products designer
• Healthcare product designer
• Independent designer/maker
• Service/UX designer
• Packaging designer
• Exhibition and shop fitting designer
• Community-focused co-design and social enterprises
• 2D & 3D visualization and rendering services

Fees, Costs, and Funding

• Tuition fees for 2025: £9,535 (UK), £17,950 (EU/international)
• Professional placement year: £1,905 (UK and EU/international)
• Materials and equipment costs: approximately £50-100 per year
• Optional study trips: approximately £600
• One-off costs for the duration of the course: approximately £150-200

Application Advice and Interview Information

• UCAS code: W250/PY43
• Deadlines: 29 January 2025 (UK applications), throughout the year (international fee payers)
• Entry requirements: 104-120 UCAS Tariff points, GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C) or equivalent
• Language requirements: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening

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