Sustainable Product Design

Course Summary

Immerse yourself in the future of sustainable product design on a course that’s driven by the major challenges facing humankind today. Develop your skills as a designer and critical thinker, identifying your own niche and career direction. You’ll explore the social, environmental and ethical aspects of product design, learn how to create products with a lifetime far beyond what’s typical, and consider how to create positive changes in human behaviour to improve sustainability. You will: Develop digital design and manufacturing skills with access to cutting-edge 3D printing and CNC technologies. Get hands-on in the workshop to prototype your ideas through a broad range of materials and processes. Harness your creativity to design innovative solutions that address global sustainability challenges. Design and create your own projects, either independently or with an industry partner. Proactively build your network and develop career pathways, with opportunities to meet industry practitioners. Take optional study week trips to events such as Milan Furniture Fair and Stockholm Design Week.

Course Details - Modules

As part of this future-focused product design course, you’ll learn how to become a practitioner with a strong understanding of truly sustainable products. You’ll develop a broad range of creative and prototyping skills and critical thinking, to bring ideas to life through the design process. Your work will reflect your own experiences and interests, developing a personal direction towards the designer you want to become. You’ll nurture strong networks within the course and the wider design industry, which will support your ongoing development as a designer. Year one: You’ll develop creative and conceptual skills by exploring major modern issues, the visual language of sustainable design, and its critical and theoretical processes. We’ll help you professionally communicate your ideas by teaching you drawing, model-making and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) skills, and introducing you to fundamental manufacturing technologies. You’ll also have the chance to go on local, national and international trips to exhibitions and events like the Milan Furniture Fair. Modules Design Principles Form & Materials Design Ethics Material Capital Year two: You’ll study inclusive design and human-centred research, before collaborating on projects with industry partners. This will build your teamwork skills and uncover possible product design career paths. You’ll also develop your CAD and digital manufacturing skills and debate the contexts, concepts and ethics of the industry. Focusing on the business of design, you’ll explore what’s involved in producing a product – from intellectual property to cost and profitability. And you’ll have the chance to study abroad in countries like Finland, Iceland and the Netherlands. Focusing on the business of design, you’ll explore what’s involved in producing a product - from intellectual property to cost and profitability. And you’ll have the chance to study abroad in countries like Finland, Iceland and the Netherlands. Modules Digital Prototyping Inclusive Design Design for Manufacture Design Networks Year three: You’ll explore current and original design opportunities, develop your ideas through tutorials and team discussions, and turn your concepts into prototypes using skills like digital manufacturing. By delivering one-to-one and group presentations, you’ll focus on professional practices and management. There’ll be opportunities to gain real-world experience by working with external project partners, and to make potential work connections through external networks, project partners and start-ups. There’ll be opportunities to gain real-world experience by working with external project partners, and make potential work connections through external networks, project partners and start-ups. Modules Design Drivers Design Visions Design Futures The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

Course Details – Assessment Method

Continuous assessment with no formal examinations. Visual, verbal and written assignments, and your final-year projects.

Course Details – Professional Bodies

Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.

How to Apply

26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application Codes

Course code: W250

Institution code: F33

Campus Name: Main Site

Campus code:

Points of Entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.

International applicants

Standard Qualification Requirements

We welcome A Levels in a wide range of subjects, especially in those relevant to the course for which you apply.

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points, primarily from Level 3 equivalent qualifications, such as A levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma, or current, relevant experience. Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE English Language, or equivalent, is a minimum language requirement for all applicants. Due to the creative nature of our courses, you will be considered on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen course. Please contact the Applicant Services team for advice if you are predicted UCAS points below this range, or if you have questions about the qualifications or experience you have.