Program Overview

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Product Design

BA (Hons)

Overview

Address the future needs and challenges of sustainable production through materials, making and innovation on this contemporary Product Design degree.

What you'll learn

As a student on our Product Design course you’ll become a creative and versatile designer, able to develop your ideas into high quality products.

You’ll learn to think critically about end-use and construction, and experiment with various materials to come up with innovative designs. As well as working in more traditional 3D design processes in wood, metal, plastic and ceramics, you’ll learn and use digital making and CAD design, and develop a strong foundation of experience and knowledge as a maker.

We’ll provide excellent technical support and equip you with the necessary production knowledge, contextual understanding, research, communication and problem-solving skills for your emerging career.

This hands-on degree addresses the future of design and manufacturing, with a focus on sustainable design, production and materials.

Course structure

Year one

• You’ll develop a foundation of core design skills from sketching and model-making to digital and analogue making processes, material knowledge and experimentation.
• You’ll acquire skills in design communication, visualisation, research and prototyping, and develop your understanding of small to large-scale production.
• You’ll get access to all the technical workshops, enabling you to progress confidently into year two.
• In addition, you’ll be introduced to our excellent library staff and the extensive design reference and research resources and learn about critical issues in contemporary design, such as the circular economy, distributed manufacturing and experiential design.

Year two

• In the second year, you’ll deepen your understanding of design practice and the opportunities available, and start to identify your personal direction in design.
• You’ll apply more focused design principles around sustainability and human-centred design.
• External briefs and study visits provide direct engagement with the design industry, and ensure you explore design innovation with a global outlook.
• Entrepreneurial approaches to design will be supported, and you’ll gain valuable experience of collaboration and project management.

Year three

• You’ll further develop, challenge and explore design and your understanding of your field of practice in preparation for establishing your career.
• Your final research and contextual study project will underpin your practice and critical thinking as you expand your industry awareness and produce product solutions and design proposals.
• Part-way through the year, you’ll have the opportunity to present your work through a public platform, gaining essential feedback and experience to confidently progress your final project and develop an outstanding portfolio of work to be able to promote yourself to your industry networks.
• Your final project challenges you to create a professional level of design work to present to an external audience, showing at the end of year degree show and often in an external show such as New Designers.

Assessment

Assessment is 100% based on coursework, presented at the end of each module. You’ll receive formal feedback so you’ll know how to improve or develop your work, as well as feedback from tutors and peers throughout the course.

Facilities and resources

As a BA Product Design student, you’ll benefit from access to comprehensive digital workshops and specialist art and design facilities, including:

• Our student service point at Locksbrook where you can purchase subsidised art and design materials, hire out equipment for free and collect Library resources
• Access to our well-stocked Library at Newton Park
• Specialist technical workshops across all of art and design
• Access to studio space where you can work on projects and refine your practice

Locksbrook campus

Locksbrook Campus is a Grade II listed building designed by Nicholas Grimshaw in 1976. It has now been transformed into an innovative, open plan space, redesigned to meet 21st century environmental standards, with technical workshops surrounded by flexible studio spaces and large social areas.

Fees

2025 entry

• UK full time: £9,535
• UK part time: £4,768
• International full time: £18,380

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee.

• UK: £1,905
• International: £3,676

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document for details of any additional costs.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

• A Level - grades BBB-BCC including a Grade B in Product Design or other Art and Design subject.
• BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject, or evidence of experience in Art and Design.
• T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
• International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required with a minimum of grade 5 in an Art subject at Higher Level.
• Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher) together with evidence of experience in Art and Design.

Study options

• Integrated Foundation Year (UCAS code: TT20)
• Professional Placement Year (UCAS code: TT19)

Opportunities

• Study abroad
• Work placements, industry links and internships
• Careers
• Global Citizenship

Contact

• Admissions: +44 (0)1225 876 112
• Course leader: Erin Deighton