Product Design MSc (Full-time, Part-time)

Course overview

An optional 40-week industry work placement is available on this course.

Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising future developments in design and manufacture is a complex challenge for product designers across the globe.

The focus of this course is on innovation and the development of competitive products. You will cover a range of topics from materials technologies to sustainability issues. Many of the units are very practical, and you will use you will use industry standard product design methods and tools. We have state of the art computer aided design and analysis tools in dedicated workshops. You will investigate, select and learn to use the tools that are appropriate to the requirements in your field of work.

This course will also give you the skills and knowledge to lead and manage projects with the commercial acumen demanded in today’s competitive global environments; and the ability to manage, document and effectively communicate project plans and results. If the management aspects of this course are particularly appealing to you, then you may want to consider the MA Product Design Management.

There will be a mix of teamwork and individual study. You will be encouraged to become an independent learner with the confidence to lead project teams when appropriate. Our academic staff are active leaders in sustainable development issues, including economic growth and employment, social progress, protection of the environment and prudent use of natural resources; and they are involved in industry collaborations and/or research within these fields.

Throughout this course units are taught intensively, usually over 4.5 days, with assessment normally taking place 5-6 weeks after the delivery of the unit. This pattern of teaching lends itself naturally to anyone already in full-time employment wishing to develop their personal and professional capabilities, or even looking for to change the direction of their career. If you are a recent graduate, the opportunity to take a work experience year at this stage of your career will be invaluable in shaping your future direction in the creative and innovative product design environments.

The research you will undertake as part of the Individual Masters Project could be a work based project, and will give you the opportunity to explore a particular area of interest or topic in greater depth.