You study either a BA or BSc in Product Design – with the option to switch from one to the other after your first year, once you’ve established where your interests and ambitions lie.
BA
You’ll focus on the intellectual and creative skills you need to develop objects with purpose, beauty and social relevance. You’ll take a user-centred approach to design and consider how objects are used in social groups and cultural situations.
BSc
You’ll concentrate on design for manufacture and assembly – focusing on technical and engineering issues. You’ll develop your logistical and intellectual skills and use them to solve problems and develop products.
Throughout your studies you’ll have full use of our extensive workshop facilities and specialist design studios – where you’ll gain practical knowledge of a variety of materials and develop skills in both traditional and new technologies surrounding core competencies, including:
Design Process: User Centric Methodologies including Design Thinking and Human-Centred Design
User Insights: Ethnography Research, Empathy as a Designers tool, User testing
2D and 3D Conceptualisation: Sketching, Rapid Prototyping, Hand Modelling
Prototyping: Arduino/Electronics, Laser cutting, Computer Numerical Machining (CNC), 3D printing, Woodwork, Stitch, Metal work, Ceramics
Design for Manufacture: Industry standard CAD software, CAD/CAM, Exploration of Manufacturing Processes and Material Properties
Presentation Techniques: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Keyshot
Engineering Science (BSc): Mechanical Properties, Machines and Mechanical advantage, Power Transmission Systems, Analogue and Digital Signal and their processing, Electronics, Computer Programming, Electro Mechanical Systems
Both the BA and BSc give you vital opportunities to experience how product design works in the real world – with live briefs, industry placements, research projects and options to study abroad. In your final year, you can choose to complete a business plan, technical report or dissertation to help you get closer to your career goal.
Year One
Subject: Design: Visualisation and Presentation - 40 credits & Design: Materials and Processes - 20 credits
In your first term, you’ll discover what it means to be a product designer in the 21st century.
You’ll assess and evaluate how product designers have shaped relationships between humans and technology – and the key roles they play in addressing social, economic, cultural and environmental issues.
Field One: Collaborate - 20 credits*
Widen your horizons by joining students from other courses to collaborate on a project. You’ll take inspiration from other disciplines to build on your experience and expand your creativity – and use your skills and artistic insight to apply them to your work.
Constellation: Concept - 40 credits
This module introduces you to the wider world of ideas, theory and contextual studies to help you develop your academic research skills and critical thinking. You’ll focus on particular areas of interest in study groups and you’ll become familiar with the exciting trans-disciplinary research and expertise in Cardiff School of Art & Design.
Year Two
Subject – The Practising Product Designer - 40 credits
Choose a design project and use it to develop a creative approach to concept generation and development. You’ll explore research expertise in areas like usability, market focused design, advanced product methodology, technical conceptualisation and materialist systems. And you’ll begin to recognise your individual specialty – and how you can shape your practice.
Field Two: Explore - 40 credits*
You’ll expand your experiences with challenging projects designed to encourage you to explore and experiment outside your immediate discipline. This transformative opportunity leads to new thinking and innovation – and opens up all kinds of future possibilities. You’ll take on exciting projects that challenge you in new ways. You can also choose to travel, take a work placement, start your own business or try something new.
Constellation: Critique (BA only) - 40 credits
You’ll critique literature, journals and exhibitions – and sharpen your ability to put your design practice into context. You’ll also have opportunities to specialise in your areas of interest.
Constellation: Engineering Science (BSc only) - 40 credits
You’ll explore a number of topics in a series of lectures, seminars and laboratory and workshop sessions.
Year Three
Subject – The Product Design Professional - 40 credits
This is the time to take your creative practice and professional ability further. You’ll take on a brief from a national or international product design competition – or work to solve a market need that either you or your industry sponsor has identified.
Field Three: Exposure - 40 credits
Your final term is dedicated to a major project and an exhibition of your work. This is where you draw together everything you’ve learned during the course and is the launch pad to your future career.
Constellation: Contribution (BA only) - 40 credits
Your practice is underpinned by your knowledge. Demonstrate your research and analysis skills with your final constellation submission, where you’ll explore ideas in both written and practical forms.
Constellation: Technical Research Report (BSc only) - 40 credits
Demonstrate your knowledge and ability with a technical research report of between 8,000 and 10,000 words.
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