Product Design PgCert / PgDip / MA

Getting started - what will I need?

Either a first or upper second class Honours degree in a related 
subject, or equivalent qualifications or experience.

Tell me more...

This course is aimed at students who are fascinated by everyday products and who wish to better understand the design decisions that led to their creation, in order to challenge current expectations through design practice or theory. You will undertake a wide variety of projects which ultimately prepare you for senior level design positions within the field.

Personal projects will build upon the studio and workshop skills you bring from your previous experience and education. You will also analyse contemporary products and the commercial and cultural contexts that influence their form and function.

What will I study?

You will benefit from studying within a large, diverse and dynamic postgraduate community through group assignments and informal sharing of a well-equipped workspace.

An extensive programme of lectures and assignments is delivered by an enthusiastic team of staff that includes eminent theorists, practitioners and researchers.

Focused around a creative studio ‘hub’, the communal nature of the course provides a supportive environment in which students develop their personal practice.  Studio based sessions are complemented by an extensive Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle), providing students with 24/7 online access to up-to-date information and course documentation.

In the Postgraduate Certificate stage (Trimester 1), conceptual frameworks and analytical techniques are developed through assignments in design processes, commercial contexts and markets, strategic design policy, product evolution and design processes. These assignments introduce new perspectives to further inform and develop your design knowledge base.

During the Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s stages (Trimesters 2 & 3), you will pursue subjects such as post-optimal design and research methods, along with your own personal project in a chosen pathway, which will be developed through comprehensive research and practice phases. All students also participate in team projects with top international companies and organisations.

How is my work assessed?

Taught modules are assessed through assignments.  These account for half of the credits available on the course.  The majority of the remaining half of the course consists of a personal project involving a negotiated mix of theory and practice. You will receive regular feedback on your performance throughout the course.

Who are we looking for?

We invite applications from talented, hard working individuals with a good command of the English language, an enquiring mind, and a keen interest in the wider world of Product Design. Prospective international students from a variety of backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

You will need an appropriate skill set (from a BA or BSc course) and will be required to submit a portfolio. Ideally, this will demonstrate knowledge of traditional design processes such as concept generation, sketch work, model-making, CAD, Photoshop/Illustrator and computer rendering.

You should also own a laptop computer as this will be an essential tool throughout the course. The nature of this course is such that some small costs may be incurred for model-making materials, depending upon your choice of project(s).

What are my employability prospects?

Successful graduates will be highly employable within the design industry and will be well equipped to enjoy the opportunities available to them in a variety of professional destinations.  These include manufacturing, design consultancy, design management, academic research and teaching. Recent graduates have secured employment with organisations including Renault Design Studios (Paris), Glass Domain (UK, furniture), Rotadex Systems (UK, office furniture), DCA (UK, design consultancy) and Design Knowledge Network (UK, advisory service). Others hold senior teaching posts in Santiago (Chile), Valletta (Malta), Caracas (Venezuela) and Beijing (Chinese Academy of Fine Arts).

How do I apply?

Direct to Faculty
PgCert Product Design
PgDip Product Design
MA Product Design
MA Product Design (Furniture)
MA Product Design (Ceramics and Glass)

For more information…

T: 0121 331 5820
F: 0121 331 5821
E: graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk 
W: www.biad.bcu.ac.uk