BA (Hons) Product Design

Course content features a blend of ideas generation, design, practical application and advanced manufacturing processes. Our focus is on User-centred design (UCD) and we will encourage you to devise original and creative solutions to design problems, supported by insight gained through design research. This culminates in a sustainable and selective use of materials and process to acknowledge the need for efficiency in a challenging economic climate.We strike a balance between traditional established processes and emerging technologies. You’ll develop your skills in workshops for MDF and modelling foam, advanced techniques using wax based styling clay and hand worked materials, while having access to laser cutting, CNC, 3 and 5 axis Milling, rapid prototyping and 3D printing. Within a studio environment, you will work on projects developed from real-life scenarios, integrating knowledge of factors such as branding and visual brand language, product semantics, marketing principles, ergonomics, insight into user needs, production processes and engineering.On our BA route, you will have options to arrange placements through the University modules or to progress directly to your final year and then choose from a variety of Master’s courses which complement the undergraduate course.The teaching team includes specialists in industrial design with extensive industry experience, which includes well-known companies like the Conran Design Group.**Key Course Benefits*** Opportunity to practice form development using 3D styling Clay.* Links with universities in Europe, Asia, China, North and South America provide opportunities to study abroad and gain an international perspective (subject to availability and additional costs).Specialist design studios feature drawing tables, presentation AV equipment, wireless internet access, supported by a dedicated print bureau for 2D outputs up to A0 size and the CSAD Art Shop. * Extensive facilities include state of the art laser cutting, rapid prototyping, desktop CNC milling, 3D printing facilities, paint spraying, scanners, two large block material workshops, large scale painting facilities, styling clay workshops and handwork shops.* Computing suites offer modelling, animation and analysis software, as well as graphic and word-processing packages, including Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, Alias, Maya, Vector works. Visualisation is supported with software such as Bunkspeed, Keyshot, Showcase and VRED.* Our regular speaker programme makes use of our extensive links with specialists and current practitioners – with past presentations from Ian McCallum - Jaguar, Carsten Astheimer Design, Penny Hale - Haptic Architecture, Zoe Loughlin – Institute of Making, Maeve Keane and Heather McQuaid - Future Tonic HCD.