Program start date | Application deadline |
2023-09-18 | - |
Program Overview
Why this course?
Our MSc in Product Design will provide a thorough training in design theories and methods including product aesthetics and human-centred design, as well as the utilisation of advanced design techniques in digital modelling and physical rapid prototyping of design solutions.
The course will appeal to graduates of courses in industrial/product design or innovation-related courses who wish to influence future thinking and practice design.
Studying within our Department of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management, you'll have access to some of the leading academics in the whole product development life cycle and benefit from their experience in industry, current research projects and advancements in those fields.
We are the only department in the UK that combines end-to-end multidisciplinary expertise from creative design, through engineering design, manufacture and management of the entire system. This is more commonly split between art school and engineering faculties; however, we can provide you with a broader understanding of the overall process and expertise in each area, in a single department.
Industrial Experience
During the programme, you'll undertake an individual and group project.
In the group projects, you'll work with fellow students and an industrial client to address a practical problem. You'll gain direct industry experience to add to your CV, develop skills, manage a project through to completion and practice working in a multidisciplinary group, preparing you for collaborative work throughout your future career.
We work with around 50 organisations per year and previous students have worked with organisations such as:
Facilities
The Department of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management is well equipped with state-of-the-art tools to help design, prototype, manufacture and perform research on a broad range of items. We have one of the UK’s only digital design suites to combine virtual and physical design and prototyping.
We use our skills and equipment on a number of commercial and research projects. We have various workshops to assist us in this work, including:
Find out more about our other facilities.
As a Masters student in the Department, you'll have access to a private postgraduate student community area, including collaboration work and social areas, as well as a kitchen.
Take a look at our Industrial Group Project video
Teaching staff
You'll learn from leading experts in the field of product design. All our staff have great experience working with industry, product development and improvement projects.
Staff include:
Accreditation
Accreditation by a professional body is a mark of assurance that programmes meet the standards set by a profession. It's an accepted and rigorous process that commands respect both in the UK and internationally and helps students, their parents and advisers choose quality degree programmes. It also confers market advantage to graduates from accredited programmes, both when they are seeking employment and also when they decide to seek professional qualification. Some employers require graduation from an accredited programme as a minimum qualification.
Our MSc Product Design programme has been awarded academic accreditation from two institutes. This demonstrates the degree meets the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) as outlined by the Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP).
This accreditation is achieved through a panel of trained and expert accreditors looking closely at our programme’s content and delivery, including its relevance, coherence, challenge, assessment, staffing, quality assurance and resources.
The accreditors also monitor that the programme is continually improving and in line with the latest best practice, providing assurance to our students that they are getting a relevant and quality degree.
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Accreditation has been awarded for this programme from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for further learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
Gaining accreditation isn’t just about ensuring the quality of our programmes, it also benefits you as a student. For example, being accredited by IET means that our graduates will benefit from a more straightforward process when applying for professional registration. Also, being part of an IET accredited programme is part of the eligibility criteria for many IET Scholarships and Prizes, including the Diamond Jubilee, Belling and BP Scholarships and IET Grants.
Institution of Engineering Designers (IED)
Accreditation has been awarded for this programme from the
Institution of Engineering Designers
(IED) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for further learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.Accreditation by IED means students would automatically be offered free IED student membership for the duration of their studies, would receive a bi-monthly journal ‘Engineering Designer’ in which they can submit articles for print and their final year projects would be eligible for entry into the IED Student Prize competition held annually. These prizes are prestigious and are only awarded for outstanding engineering design projects. Student members can also place their CV on the IED website and have access to the Job Board which gives details of current vacancies within the field of Engineering Design. In addition, students will also be able to use the IED’s on-line CPD system.
Program Outline
Course content
You require 180 credits for the award of MSc.
Compulsory classes
Optional classes
Product Modelling & Visualisation (10 credits)
This module aims to enable students to understand the concepts of virtual product modelling and techniques used to visualise products before they are fully designed and manufactured.
The module covers: an introduction to basic modelling, visualisation and evaluation techniques creating models, parts and assemblies; The representations that underpin modern CAED systems (wireframe, surface, CSG and BRep), basic computer graphics (homogeneous transformations), data exchange, information integration, product data management, economics of CAD/CAM systems (cost breakdown, potential benefits, improving cost/benefit ratio), basic systems selection and justification and organisational impact and system management.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of coursework (100%).
Design Methods (10 credits)
This module aims to enable students to select and apply appropriate design methods as a part of the design process.
The selection and use of design methods within the context of modern design practices and the new product development process will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on recently developed product independent design methods and their application within industrial environments. Specific topics include the design process management frameworks, user understanding methods, product specification methods, creative methods, design for production and cost methods, design for safety and reliability methods and design for the environment.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback will be in the form of an exam (60%), a report (35%) and a presentation (5%).
Global Design (10 credits)
This module aims to prepare students with the knowledge, skills and experience to become competent members of global/distributed design teams.
It covers the nature of distributed design, including: Benefits and issues relating to distributed design, design methodologies; Extended supply chains (design and manufacture); Distributed team structures; Comparison of co-located and distributed design teams; design to manufacture, distributed design expertise, different distributed design scenarios, e.g. cross-site, cross-company, national, international, etc.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of coursework submissions (70%) and project presentations (30%).
Management of Innovation (10 credits)
This module focuses on innovation implementation. It integrates insights from research and strategy, management control, innovation and technology and organisational behaviour to consider how innovations can be managed. Three main challenges to innovation are explored: resources, organisation and management mechanisms.
The module covers: Management of Innovation including an overview of what makes innovation management complex and three models for how these complexities can be managed; Introduction to Model S for small initiatives; Introduction to Model R for Repeatable Innovations; Introduction to Model C for all other innovations; Build the Team: An Overview and Division of Labour; Assembling the dedicated team and managing the partnership; Creating the Innovation Strategy; Enabling, running and evaluating Disciplined Experimentations.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group presentation (40%) and an individual final report (60%).
Design Form & Aesthetics (10 credits)
This module aims to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of design form and aesthetics.
The module covers:
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of preparing a Design Folio. This will include a mid-project design folio presentation (30%), a final presentation of visuals, prototypes etc. and critique of project work (30%) as well as submission of the design folio detailing stages and outputs of the design process (40%).
Human Centred Design (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with theoretical and practical understanding of Human Centred Design (HCD).
The module covers:
At the end of the module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a project progress presentation in class (30%) and submission of project (70%).
Design Management (10 credits)
This module provides a structured introduction to the Design Management process, issues and tools.
The module covers: Different approaches and aspects to design development including concurrent engineering, team engineering, product management, design management, distributed design, and decision support, the design activity, methods and process models including role of the market, specification, conceptual and detail design, basic team and management structures (organisation), key issues related to design complexities and the key aspects of design coordination, design performance and innovation.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of coursework (100%), there will be no exam.
Postgraduate Group Project (40 credits)
This module aims for students to integrate and apply design, manufacturing and engineering management knowledge and skills to an industry based product and process development project and to develop project management skills.
The module consists of a team-based industrial project where an outline project brief is set by an industrial client. The team is expected to manage all aspects of the project through to a finished solution. This can be a product, system or process depending on the nature of the project. Teams meet with academic staff and industrial clients regularly through the project.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback includes a project report, a presentation to the client and any other deliverables specified in the project brief.
Postgraduate Individual Project (60 credits)
The aim of the individual project is to allow students to combine the skills learned in other modules of the course and apply them within a significant project in a specific area of design, manufacture, or engineering management. This will be achieved through students carrying out work into a particular topic relating to their course and preparing a dissertation that documents the project.
On completion of the module the student is expected to be able to:
Based on the work of a project, a student will submit an individual dissertation that will account for 90% of the final mark for the class. An interim project justification report will account for the remaining 10% of the mark.
One to be chosen.
Sustainability (10 credits)
This module covers one of the major challenges of modern industry which is to address the need for sustainable product development and manufacturing. International legislation and increasing costs of fiscal instruments such as the landfill tax now aim to force producers to reduce the environmental impacts of their products and processes.
Accelerating globalisation and industrialisation continues to exacerbate complexity of sustainability. Whilst manufacturers are constantly required to lower their costs and maintain their competitiveness, legislations require them to look at lifecycle costs.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback will be in the form of coursework (100%) including discussion forums, group seminars and a position paper.
People, Organisation & Technology (10 credits)
This module aims to introduce students to the 'softer' aspects of engineering management. Given some key organisational and technological issues, the main focus is to examine the relationship between “human” elements and change management from an engineering-oriented perspective.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is given in the form of:
Strategic Technology Management (10 credits)
This module aims to provide a series of strategic frameworks for managing high-technology businesses. The main focus is on the acquisition of a set of powerful analytical tools which are critical for the development of a technology strategy as an integral part of business strategy. These tools can provide a guiding framework for deciding which technologies to invest in, how to structure those investments and how to anticipate and respond to the behaviour of competitors, suppliers, and customers. The course should be of particular interest to those interested in managing a business for which technology is likely to play a major role, and to those interested in consulting or venture capital.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Grades will be determined by class participation assessed through four two-page papers on case studies, which may be written in groups of 4 people (40%), and an individual final technology strategy report based on an in-depth exploration of technology strategy in an assigned industry (60%). There is no final exam.
Supply Chain Operations (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of those key concepts, methods, tools and techniques that are fundamental to effective and efficient running of supply chain operations from suppliers’ suppliers to customers’ customers.
The module covers an Introduction to supply chain operations; Demand management; Master planning; Material management; Capacity management; Inventory management; Distribution management; and Case studies.
On completion the participants will be able to design and manage operational supply chain planning, scheduling and controlling systems for complex and disparate operations. In particular, students will:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of 2 in-class tests (60%) and one coursework (40%).
Strategic Supply Chain Management (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the fundamental building blocks of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and e-Supply Chains from a strategic perspective with a view to developing their capabilities in modelling, analysing, diagnosing and re-designing/improving supply chains.
It covers Understanding the Supply Chain; Strategies alignment; Supply Chain performance; Supply Chain benchmarking; Sourcing decisions; Supply Chain network design; Sustainability in the supply chain and case studies.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of 40% individual work and 60% group work.
Enterprise Resource Planning (10 credits)
This module aims to develop a critical understanding of operation, structure and implementation issues around enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems as used in industry. Students learn how a typical ERP system works using an up-to-date SAP training package and consider the real-life use of a typical software package within an organisation.
The module covers: Business Excellence; What is ERP?; Business Planning and Control; Expected Benefits; How does ERP work?; ERP Pre-Requisites; Selecting the right system; Implementation Planning.
At the end of this module students will have a critical understanding of:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a 40 minute quiz (40%) and one coursework (60%).
Engineering Risk Management (10 credits)
This module aims to introduce the basic principles and techniques of engineering risk management and demonstrates the appropriate application of this knowledge within an engineering context.
The module covers: Risk definitions and basic risks in engineering; Risk management processes; Reliability - achieving reliability; Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) cycle; failure rate; Mean Time Between Failure; Mean Time to Fail; Mean Life; failure stages within bathtub distribution; downtime; repair time and availability; Risk classification - failure rate; severity and detection; As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP); Risk identification - Failure Modes and Affects Analysis; Hazard and Operability Study; Fault and Event Tree Analysis; Risk-based decision making – uncertainty, decision trees, Pareto optimality, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Risk legislation and litigation in engineering.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group coursework to show understanding of the risk management process in practice (100% for group contribution and submission of main reports).
Management of Total Quality & Continuous Improvement (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the key principles, concepts, tools and techniques of total quality management and continuous improvement together with an awareness of how these can be used to design and deliver an integrated continuous improvement programme.
It covers an Introduction to Total Quality Management including definitions, basic elements and quality costing; ISO Quality Management System Standards; Quality improvement tools; Reliability Engineering and Continuous Improvement Concepts (FMEA, Lean methodologies, Kaizen, Poka Yoke, Theory of constraints).
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of one group work (a case study report, 40%) and one individual coursework (a journal article, 60%).
Fundamentals of Lean Six Sigma (10 credits)
This module aims to introduce students to the principles of Lean and Six Sigma. From Continuous Improvement approaches to organisational requirements, the module covers the critical success factors needed to support sustainable and effective business transformation.
The module covers: an Introduction to Lean Thinking, Six Sigma, and Lean Six Sigma (LSS); Comparing and Contrasting Lean & Six Sigma; DMAIC Continuous Improvement Methodology; LSS project characterisation and selection; Lean and Six Sigma metrics; Overview of basic Lean Tools and Techniques including: affinity diagram, project charter, project selection matrices, SPC, Ishikawa, 5 Why’s, 5S, SMED, DoE, etc.; Evolution of Lean Six Sigma (from manufacturing to service environments and the implications of each).
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of an exam (35%) and an assignment in the form of a project report (60%) and project presentation (5%).
Sustainable Product Design & Manufacturing (10 credits)
This module covers one of the major challenges of modern industry which is to address the need for sustainable product development and manufacturing. International legislation and increasing costs of fiscal instruments such as the landfill tax now aim to force producers to reduce the environmental impacts of their products and processes. Accelerating globalization and industrialization continues to exacerbate complexity of sustainability. Whilst manufacturers are constantly required to lower their costs and maintain their competitiveness, legislations require them to look at lifecycle costs.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Systems Thinking & Modelling (10 credits)
This module aims to introduce students to the theories and principles of Systems Thinking. The module also introduces the methods, tools and techniques for modelling, analysing, improving and designing systems in a variety of organisations including industrial, commercial and public sector.
The module covers: Systems theory, concepts and approaches; Hard and soft systems analysis and systems dynamics; Systems and organisational performance – including leadership in a systems environment and ‘design’ in a systems environment and Practical application of Systems Thinking.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group presentation and one coursework in the form of a reflective diary.
Advanced Materials & Production Technology (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the fundamentals of advanced materials, characterisation and advanced surface engineering. The module also covers advanced machining processes and technologies and the principles and practices of rapid prototyping and manufacturing.
The module covers:
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of four pieces of coursework (25% each).
Remanufacturing (10 credits)
This module aims to develop a detailed understanding of the concept of remanufacture and its industrial application as well as new developments in the area. It explores the potential impact of remanufacture on a circular economy as well as the enablers and barriers.
The module covers: Remanufacture concepts & significance (including history, drivers, issues, future developments); Design for remanufacturing; Reverse logistics; Remanufacture disassembly; Lean remanufacture/Remanufacture Cleaning; Novel remanufacture tool and techniques.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of two assignments:
Mechatronic Systems Design Techniques (10 credits)
This module introduces design techniques and mechatronic systems at an advanced level in order to enable students to understand the application of advanced design techniques and development platforms for modern products and engineering systems. It provides opportunities for students to develop technology-focused products/systems by using the state-of-the-art hardware platforms and industry-standard software development tools within the class environment.
The module covers: Mechatronic system design process (including Product/system design specifications (PDS), concept generation and selection, mechatronic system design and flow chart diagrams); Sensing and actuation (including sensing theory, sensor selection, drive design and motor control); Control systems (understanding and applying control theory in a mechatronic system design); Hardware and software design (including software design basics, algorithm and code design, programming tools and software engineering principles); Prototyping and evaluation (prototyping methods and tools including rapid prototyping and computer modelling).
At the end of this module students will be able to:
Assessment and feedback is in the form of two assignments. Both are carried out in groups and assessed in terms of the quality of report and presentation/demonstration (50%/50%).
Chat to a student ambassador
If you want to know more about what it’s like to be an Engineering student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Chat now!
Mamta Singhal
Toy Engineer
I do feel like my education at DMEM allowed me to be a step ahead compared to peers in industry. I was confident, had a broad education, was prepared to work in a team and had a raw passion for my field of work plus I gained a very determined attitude to succeed.
Find out more about Mamta's Strathlife
Kim White
Zimbowties Entrepreneur
Studying Product Design was great. I especially value the relationships I was able to form with a number of the staff members who have an incredible range of experience and expertise.
Read more about Kim's Strathlife
Raphaelle Garcin
Product Design Graduate
I chose to study in this department because I have a mechanical engineering background and a keen interest in design and creativity. This department succeeds in making these two fields work well together.
Find out more
Holly Dixon
Product Design Graduate
I’ve had opportunities to experience a wide variety of projects, work within many disciplines, make lots of friends and to top it off will have a highly regarded degree at the end of it all.
Find out more about Holly's Strathlife
Careers
With continual advancements in the market place, including customers wanting personalised products, faster turnaround times, globalisation, as well as increasing backings of local businesses, product design continues to evolve and stay at the forefront of our physical and online stores.
Potential graduate roles
Studying product design gives you the broad theoretical knowledge and practical skillset you’ll need to use production methods and materials creatively to pursue a career in a variety of sectors, with potential graduate job roles such as:
With the importance that employers place behind industrial experience our masters is the perfect combination of learning from leaders in the design, production and manufacturing fields, as well as gaining direct industry experience through the industrial group project which you will be able to add to your CV and discuss during interviews.
Industries
Example employers include:
According to PayScale, the average
Product Designer salary
is £24,507*, the average salary for a Product Manager (Software)* is £44,535 and for any entrepreneurial students, the average salary for a Product Owner is £40,921*.*Last accessed 18 February 2019
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Life in Glasgow