| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
This professional design program at Kingston University equips students with skills in furniture, housewares, industrial products, and sustainability. Through a focus on collaboration, critical practice, and industry partnerships, graduates are prepared for careers in product and furniture design, industrial design, and more. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, research, and the development of a personal design philosophy.
Program Outline
This course provides the skills, knowledge and practical experience needed for a career in professional design. It covers domestic and commercial furniture, housewares and ceramics, industrial and technology products. Kingston University has a strong industry focus, working with companies such as John Lewis, Foster & Partners, Herman Miller, Sony and New Balance. The course incorporates optional study tours, visits to design studios and research-based trips. The program encourages collaborative working and critical practice. It covers free-hand drawing and rendering techniques, simple 3D model making methods, and presentation techniques.
- Design 1: This module introduces students to the process of design, observation, idea generation, concept development and communication skills. It focuses on a user-centered design philosophy, understanding user needs and desires. It explores the relationship between materials, techniques, processes, technologies and meaning.
- Final Major Project: This 'capstone' module allows students to demonstrate their personal design philosophy through both the execution and choice of their major project.
- Dissertation: Research and Reflection: This module focuses on in-depth research, critical enquiry and reflection on questions and critical issues emerging in students' own practice.
Assessment:
Year 1: Coursework 100% Year 2: Coursework 100% Year 3: Coursework 100%
Teaching:
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. It may also include critiques, project work, studio practice and performance, digital labs, workshops, and placements. Guided independent study (self-managed time) also occurs outside of scheduled learning and teaching hours. Staff are practising designers, researchers and academics who provide contemporary issues, events and challenges.
Careers:
Graduates work globally in product and furniture design, industrial design, exhibition design and interior design. Many graduates establish their own design companies whilst others progress to postgraduate study.
- Examples of roles include:
- Creative director
- Design director
- Design manager
- Design consultant
- Furniture consultant
- Furniture buyer
- Freelance designer
- Industrial designer
- 3D designer
- Packaging designer
- Product and furniture designer
- Product design manager
- Service designer
- Examples of employers include:
- Established & Sons (design team London)
- Richard Brendon
- John Lewis (design team)
- Heal's Design
- Habitat Design Studio
- Ideactio (design team Singapore)
- Conran (design team)
- Robert Welch
- Lego (Denmark)
- Dyson (Design Studio)
- Hay / Hay London
- Foster & Partners (Industrial design team)
- Marks & Spencer (design team)
- Pinch (Russell Pinch studio design team)
- Stella McCartney (design team)
- Studio Makebelieve (Anthony Dickens)
- Sony (design team)
- Samsung (design team Europe)
- Sebastian Bergne Studio
- Hasbro (toys)
Other:
The course uses a "thinking through making" ethos. There is a "Toolkit" lecture series featuring guest designers from industry. The course is delivered primarily in person, but may include some online delivery of activities.
Fee category Amount Home (UK students) £9,250 International Year 1 (2025/26): £19,500 Year 2 (2026/27): £20,300 Year 3 (2027/28): £21,100 A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Fee category Amount Home (UK students) £9,250 International Year 1 (2024/25): £18,400 Year 2 (2025/26): £19,200 Year 3 (2026/27): £19,900 A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. This decision only applies to new EU students starting after 2021/22.
