Product and Furniture Design BA (Hons) module details

Year one (Level 4)

The Principles of Design

In this module you will undertake design projects of increasing complexity and rigour; helping you to gain experience and confidence of working throughout the complete design process. You will draw upon skills and knowledge gained in each of the other modules to deliver creative, aesthetically appropriate and technically robust product outcomes. This module will also introduce and develop your knowledge of professional practice.

CAD for Product Designers 1

This module teaches you the fundamentals of CAD and provides you with the ability to communicate the visual and technical detail of a design through accurate three-dimensional (3D) models and produce both renders and animations of your designs.

Visual Communication

This module develops your core 2D and 3D visual communication skills, enabling you to demonstrate significant ability and understanding in how to generate and manipulate 2D and 3D visuals and forms. You will also be taught Digital Illustration, hand drawing and rendering techniques.

Design for Manufacture

This module covers the study of Materials and Manufacturing Technologies (MMT) for the industrial production of artefacts and component parts.

Design Cultures 1

This module introduces you to Design Cultures; the study of the social and cultural significance of man-made objects, research methods and academic writing.

Workshop Practice

An important must-pass module in which all students undertake workshop and equipment inductions.

Year two (Level 5)

Design Practise 2

This module is pivotal in providing opportunities for you to develop your understanding of a wide range of design issues, ranging from commercial to social, and aesthetic to technical. The module also develops your ability to apply the design process as an effective tool for decision making and for the progressive exploration, development and definition of innovative design solutions. This module will also prepare you for applying to placements and further develop your knowledge of professional practice.

CAD for Product Designers 2

This module provides you with the opportunity to learn a range of three dimensional modelling techniques to enable you to produce highly effective renderings and detailed technical drawings to BS 8888. The module will introduce a typical work-flow for industrial design beginning with concept modelling and rendering through to final manufacturing definition and technical drawings.

Advanced Visual Communication

This module provides you with the opportunity to learn a range of physical modelling techniques which enable you to produce effective test rigs and well detailed prototypes. Additional components focus on branding and the development of sophisticated visual languages.

Advanced Design for Manufacture

This module will extend and develop your knowledge regarding the selection and application of Materials and Manufacturing Technologies.

Design Cultures 2

In this module you will examine the role design plays in society and the ways that society and culture influence and construct the meaning of designed products.

Year three (Level 6)

Product Communication and Career Launch Marketing

This module has been designed to prepare you for professional practice and employment through firstly enhancing your CV and application skills and then expanding your software skill-set and improving the content of your portfolio through development and design projects.

Product or Furniture Design - Personal Project

This major design project is composed of three parts: Firstly, a research (Viability) study aimed at establishing an appropriate design brief and objectives. The second stage is the exploration and development of a single concept that best expresses the design brief and objectives. In conclusion you will realise a detailed, fully-specified final design, presented as a 3D prototype and 2D presentation.

Product or Furniture Design – Student Design Competitions (Core)

In this minor design project you will be asked to design innovative products that are appropriate both culturally and sociologically in terms of the aspirations of their consumers and as defined by the competition brief. Free from some of the constraints of the major project this module gives you the opportunity to propose products that are at the leading edge of material, technological and human-centred design.

Note: All modules are subject to change in order to keep content current.