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Students
Tuition Fee
GBP 18,800
Per year
Start Date
Medium of studying
Duration
60 months
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
Design | Graphic Design
Area of study
Arts
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
GBP 18,800
About Program

Program Overview


This integrated Master's program in Product Design develops skills for designing and developing successful commercial products. It combines practical skills, academic knowledge, and industry experience, emphasizing innovative problem-solving and meeting the functional, social, and economic needs of design. Accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers, the program enhances employment prospects and prepares graduates for diverse roles in product development, from designer to production manager.

Program Outline


Degree Overview:

This integrated Master’s course will give you the skills to develop successful commercial products. You’ll be encouraged to take an innovative approach to problem-solving, while also addressing the functional, social and economic needs of your design.


Outline:


Year 1

  • Core units:
  • Team Project:
  • You will engage in collaborative team work across the design disciplines to generate a wide range of design ideas, concepts and solutions in response to set design briefs, and effectively present to different audiences to communicate your ideas.
  • Design Communication: You will develop understanding of the principles of idea generation, design communication and presentation through a range of media.
  • Lab sessions will develop your ability to select, test and exploit materials and manufacturing processes in the synthesis of product design solutions.
  • Materials and Technology B: This unit will further develop your knowledge of a wide range of materials and their basic properties in order to understand how these properties may be exploited or modified to satisfy a design requirement.
  • Design Projects 1: The unit aims to develop a holistic approach to design that is creative, dynamic and structured, thereby encouraging the development of creative and analytical thinking in design.
  • You will create a physical and/or digital model, prototype or visual and present the results in a professional manner.
  • Design Studies 1: This unit will develop your understanding of contextual and historic design issues and perspectives and your understanding of the application of psychology and physiology for effective ergonomic product design.

Year 2

  • Core units:
  • You will also develop your working knowledge, understanding and application of an increased range of physical and technological principles relevant to the design of components, machines and products.
  • Product Design Tools: This unit will broaden your understanding and application of the principles of product design visualisation, presentation, tools and techniques.
  • Product Design Projects 2A: You will develop your ability to satisfy both the technological and humanistic needs and requirements of a product in the context of current social, economic and manufacturing requirements and regulations.
  • Product Design Projects 2B: You solve increasingly complex design problems and expand your ability to employ materials, media, techniques, methods, technologies and tools associated with product design through drawing, modelling, computer visualisation and physical prototyping using skill and imagination.
  • Management and Commercialisation: This unit will introduce you to the key aspects of business and management that relate to the development and delivery of commercial value, and the issues facing business functions such as marketing, operations and finance.
  • Design Studies 2: This unit will build on the design experiences in the first year, developing your sensitivity and awareness to aesthetics of design and efficient methods surrounding the product design and development process.

Placement year

  • You will complete a minimum 30-week industrial work placement which can be carried out anywhere in the world.
  • You'll get an opportunity to include a period of academic study during this time. The placement year offers a chance to gain experience and make contacts for the future.
  • You'll choose either the BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons) option during your placement year.
  • The BSc option has more focus on the technological areas of design, while the BA option has more focus on the humanistic and contextual issues of product design.

Year 4

  • Core units:
  • Design Studies 3: You will further build on knowledge built in your first two years, exploring the synergistic relationship between product design aesthetics and ergonomics.
  • The unit will enable you to make informed ergonomic decisions through the application of psychology and physiology.
  • Business Development: Approaches to strategic management and thinking will be examined to capitalise on your entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
  • Product Design Projects 3: This unit aims to synthesise the broad range of skills and understanding gained during the whole course to identify, develop and solve a Product Design problem, in a professional manner.
  • Product Design Prototypes: This unit will enable you to gain in depth knowledge of prototyping material and techniques, manufacture your own advanced product prototype.

Final year

  • Core units:
  • Competitive Product Development:
  • You will look at a broad range of business factors including political, social, environmental pressures and others affecting competitive product development within domestic and international markets. Additionally you will establish best practice surrounding strategic marketing, product design, manufacturing and product sourcing, and the benefits of partnerships within the supply and distribution chains.
  • Design Thinking: In this unit you will encapsulate a research based approach to investigate the latest ideas surrounding advanced design methods and user experience design to move products from a physical viewpoint to one of also seeing the product as a service, taking the product into the virtual and the interfaceless.
  • Interdisciplinary Group Project: This unit will develop essential management skills required to lead a professional team towards a successful solution of a technical problem.
  • You will also develop strategies for team building and conflict resolution on a holistic approach to management.
  • Life Cycle Management: This unit consolidates your knowledge of sustainable design issues through the means of materials optimisation and life cycle techniques, including the quantification of environmental impacts during the life cycle of a product/service from cradle to grave.
  • You will also demonstrate application of financial, economic and social legislative and environmental factors to product design, and the impact of a positive ethical conduct to design practice.
  • MDes Project: In this unit you will critically investigate and report on a particular product design issue in depth, considering recent research findings and industrial experiences.
  • You will develop and engage in project proposals, planning, experimental design and analysis techniques, and be able to independently select appropriate strategies to successfully execute an independently-conducted product design project.

Assessment:

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.


Teaching:

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. This means the course is fully supported by the Institution, and IED student membership is free to full-time students for the duration of their studies.

  • The placement provides an excellent opportunity for students to gain first-hand industry experience.
  • Experience gained on the placement is invaluable in helping students to make informed decisions about their future career path, as well as enhancing employment prospects upon graduation. We provide a great deal of help and support to ensure you achieve a rewarding and satisfying placement.
  • Many of their projects are a direct result of industry collaboration – offering a solution to a real-life problem, and resulting from practical issues experienced during placement years.
  • With practical learning being integral to your degree, we provide industry standard specialist facilities.
  • If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible.
  • We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need.
  • Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety.
  • The overall philosophy of this course is to produce graduates who, starting from an initial need, can design and develop well considered and potentially commercial products.
  • the ability of the applicant to think both laterally and logically, in both artistic and scientific domains is crucial in order to satisfy aesthetic, ergonomic, technological, manufacturing, standards and economic criteria.
  • In addition to the need for a broad basic knowledge and the ability to communicate in a wide range of disciplines, is the recognition that applicants must be able to think both creatively and analytically.
  • The applicant must also have a desire to be able to learn about design by producing working prototypes of their solutions.
  • Experience of CAD would be beneficial although not essential.
  • You will be offered a chance to have your portfolio reviewed by one of the tutors on the course.
  • We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement.
  • AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants.

  • Fees for the final year (postgraduate): £7,000 (UK, ROI & CI) or £16,500 (Int'l)
  • The placement year fee is £1,850
  • September 2023 entry: £9,250 (UK, ROI & CI) £18,800 (Int'l)
  • Fee regions explained:
  • UK: United Kingdom
  • ROI: Republic of Ireland
  • CI: Channel Islands & Isle of Man
  • Int'l: International
  • Understanding your tuition fee status.
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Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements:

  • For September 2024 entry: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A levels or equivalent.
  • BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM.
  • **Numeracy and literacy requirements (e.g.
  • GCSEs): GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system).
  • They also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.
  • A-level and AS levels: 104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two A-levels.
  • Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate: They accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
  • Access to HE Diploma: 102–118 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.
  • BTEC National:
  • Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
  • Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
  • Foundation Diploma/90-credit Diploma: They accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
  • Extended Certificate/Subsidiary Diploma: They accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
  • Cambridge International Pre-U Diploma: 104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two principal subjects.
  • Cambridge Technical:
  • Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
  • Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
  • Subsidiary Diploma: They accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
  • Introductory Diploma: They accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
  • Extended Project Qualification: They accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by two A-level sized qualifications to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
  • International Baccalaureate Certificates: 104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level certificates.
  • International Baccalaureate (Diploma): An overall score of 28–31 points.
  • Scottish Highers: 104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of four Scottish Highers.
  • Scottish Advanced Highers: 104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.
  • Chinese Senior High School Graduation Certificate (Huikao) average 80%, or Gaokao 61-71%.
  • Grade depends on the course
  • Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma (4,4,3 to 4,4,4 from three subjects).
  • Grade depends on the course
  • All India Senior School Certificate Examination (Standard XII) 60-70%
  • Italian Esame di Stato with 60-70%.
  • Grade depends on the course
  • Titulo de Bachillerato with 6 or 7.
  • Grade depends on the course
  • Portfolio: A portfolio will be required which will be reviewed during your interview.

Language Proficiency Requirements:

  • For September 2024 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.
  • Successful completion of their Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.
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