Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Design (Products) / BA (Hons) Design (Interactions)

This multi-disciplinary course blends and blurs the boundaries between product and interaction design to create a truly dynamic discipline that develops the knowledge and expertise to enter a variety of careers in the area of product and interaction design.

The course aims to produce adaptable, creative thinkers who are able to embrace a multi-disciplinary approach, have strong teamworking skills and fully understand emerging technologies and processes.

Broad design principles are at the core of your learning, with the option of choosing definitive pathways of either product and interaction design halfway through the course. You will also have the flexibility to follow new and emerging pathways in the future.

Level 1

Explores the principles of design including research and brainstorming skills, communication and visualisation, storytelling, typography, branding, target markets, usability, human factors and an understanding of the design processes common to the industry.

Level 2

Offers the opportunity to work with other disciplines within the college as part of a cross-faculty project. From here the course divides to form two pathways – Interactions or Products, allowing you to develop your strengths and primary interests within your chosen pathway.

Choosing the Interactions pathway, you will focus on interactive experiences; user experience and usability; services. Topics include: interactive products, HCI, play (games), ethnography, tangible media, physical computing, behaviours, physical computing and screen-based interactions.

Choosing the Products pathway, you will focus on form and aesthetics; design for manufacture and materials; sustainability.

Topics include: emotional design, materials, product semantics, ethnography, design for manufacture and digital technologies/ rapid prototyping.

Level 3

Prepares you for professional practice through a series of predefined as well as self set briefs, a major project, a dissertation and a guided preparation of a portfolio to professional standards. You will also take part in external exhibitions, competitions and the end of year degree show.

Each level is complemented by units in Contextual Studies, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and Personal and Professional Development to give you a rounded education that prepares you for professional life.

Assessment

You will be assessed through the completion of practical and written work including essays, analysis, individual and group presentations, critical self and peer-evaluation, practical and technical tests, and the completion of individual and team projects.

Learning and Support

You will learn through a mixture of problem-based learning, design and prototyping studio tutoring, and traditional teaching. You will be guided by professionally qualified and experienced teaching staff and visiting speakers from industry.

Career Opportunities

As a products or interactions design graduate, you will have opportunities in both independent design consultancies and in-house design teams. You could be involved in a wide range of interface, product design, manufacturing and experience design roles. Job titles may include design roles in packaging, interaction, service or multimedia.

To find out more on jobs in this field visit I can.

Progression

Successful completion of this course can lead to the postgraduate degree in Interactive Digital Media, Interactive Product Futures, Web Applications, Web Applications Development, or Applied Technologies – Rapid Prototyping and Digital Technologies.

Download the full course programme specifications (PDF).

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