Sustainable Product Design BA(Hons)

In your first year, you’ll develop creative and conceptual skills by exploring major global issues, the visual language of sustainable design and its critical and theoretical processes. You'll learn to professionally communicate your ideas through drawing, model-making and 3D computer-aided design (CAD). You’ll also discover the strategies designers use to develop sustainable products and begin to understand how to evaluate and defend sustainability claims. 

Modules

Creativity & Communication

This module focuses on the creative methods designers use to inspire and develop design ideas. Through a series of creative exercises, you’ll develop specialist skills in design communication including sketching, graphical presentation of ideas, Adobe Photoshop and 3D CAD. Local field trips to the coast, gardens and woodlands will inform observational drawing and creative design thinking inspired by nature. 

Sustainable Design Principles

You’ll investigate the materials, methods and tools product designers use to reduce the environmental impact of their design concepts. You’ll learn about sustainable design strategies and apply this to your design practice. There will be a particular focus on wood as a material. To support model-making and prototyping activities, you’ll learn how to use a range of basic wood workshop equipment. 

Life Cycle Thinking 

This module introduces a range of tools to assess the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifetime. The examination of existing products will underpin discussions relating to material selection, manufacturing processes, use and disposal. 3D CAD skills will focus on parts, assemblies, and manufacturing drawings. Adobe InDesign sessions will help you to present final outcomes of project work in a professional and coherent way.  

Design Ethics 

In this module, you’ll examine key global issues that are informing design debates for sustainable change. The connection between theory and practice is emphasised and explored through human-centred studio projects aimed at developing innovative design solutions. You’ll continue to develop your woodworking skills by prototyping design concepts in response to the module brief. 

In your second year, you’ll study inclusive design and human-centred research before delving into collaborative projects with other courses and industry partners. 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. 

Modules

Design & Business

In this module, you’ll investigate re-design opportunities for existing products to reduce environmental impacts. While questioning the commercial viability of your concept, you’ll also consider social and environmental impacts. Business skills will focus on Intellectual Property and design protection. Throughout the module, you’ll work collaboratively using digital design and manufacturing tools. 

Inclusive Design

This module introduces the principles of inclusive design and human-centred design strategies. You’ll learn primary research methods such as observation, shadowing, simulation and empathy. You'll also cover data collection techniques, recording and documenting research findings, as well as evaluation strategies. 

Collaboration

Working as part of a team, you’ll work on ‘Challenge Briefs’ that reflect the sort of assignments you could expect to be working on in industry. Developing your ‘soft skills’, like communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership, you’ll sharpen your ability to work well as part of a group to produce outstanding work. 

Circular Economy

You’ll be challenged to respond to live projects with industry to support the design of innovative products or services that engage with the circular economy. Your design skills will be tested in real contexts through project partnerships and mentoring with external organisations. 

You can choose to take an optional placement year after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the RealWORKS employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your placement year 

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

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 and make valuable connections by working with external project partners and meeting project partners and startups. 

Modules

Design Drivers

You’ll establish the direction of your final year studio project by investigating the contextual and theoretical drivers that will underpin your design work. You’ll engage in secondary and primary research techniques to develop a strong rationale that drives your creative practice. This will be articulated through a written design report. 

Design Visions

You’ll develop and articulate critical rationales and professional practice skills in preparation for your final year studio design practice modules. You’ll apply research in and to real-world contexts, providing insights that inform and guide the creation of a personal design brief and the creative process. 

Design Ambitions

This module will create an opportunity to reflect on your skills and ambitions, helping you define a career pathway for life after university. It is about ‘career readiness’ as you transition from university to the workplace, self-employment, or postgraduate study.

Design Futures

The final module of the undergraduate programme will provide you with the time and support to develop resolved design outcomes to a professional standard through advanced prototypes and communication materials.