Take a look around you wherever you are and you will see the work of the Product Designer. If the sheer number of objects does impress you, then the incredible diversity and breadth of shapes, functions and technologies must. Product Designers participate at all stages of the creation of a new product from initial concepts - sketches through to the generation of finished products for mass manufacture. The creation of a new product requires the gathering of skill and knowledge from many different areas. The designer’s job is to take information and opinion and turn it into a tangible object. Whilst most of this comes from the designer’s mind, experience must also be brought in from a large and diverse number of sources, processed and acted on.
Programme of Study
This course will teach you all the skills needed to be an effective and successful Product Designer. From initially identifying the problem, you will be taken through the “design process” and introduced to the skills and techniques, such as model making, visualisation, technological specification and material selection that can guarantee a competitive advantage in the professional design environment. Within the Department of Design in AAS, you will find dedicated facilities that will provide you with the necessary support required to develop your skills and awareness of Product Design as an educational area and ultimately a creative discipline.
Designing a product is not simply about solving a problem; the designer’s responsibility is to engage the user in ways that go beyond the simple fulfilment of a task or operation. The ability to control and shape the intangible is a skill indeed, but it can be taught to you.
Course Content
During the first year the programme will develop your ability to function as an effective and successful Product Designer. From initially identifying a problem, you will be taken through the ‘design process’ and introduced to the skills and techniques, such as model making, visualisation, conceptual definition, styling and detailing that can guarantee a competitive advantage in the professional design environment.
The course is designed with the flexibility to allow aspects from a wide area of product design to be experienced at level 1. This approach allows students to experience and appreciate the specification that is needed to the course.
The modules you are taught are:
Creative Thinking
Product Anatomy 1
Computer Aided Modelling (SolidWorks)
Concept Design 1
Historical Contextual Studies
At level 2 you will continue to develop your general design skills, in terms of problem solving, design communication, computing, model making, as well as an awareness of the contemporary product design landscape. Additionally you will begin to develop your core specialism. You will begin to consider design opportunities of conceptual exploration, styling, definition and detailing as a primary driver for your design activity.
The modules you are taught are:
Product Design Studies
Digital Visualising
Computer Aided Design (SolidWorks)
Concept Design 2
Contemporary Contextual Studies
By level 3 you will have the opportunity to explore areas of personal interest in your final year design projects. These activities provide you with an opportunity to design a product using new market identification as starting point. By the end of your studies you will be working to present your design ideas at the College’s Degree Show.
The modules you are taught are:
Honours Project
Concept Design 3
Computer Aided Prototyping
Contextual Studies - Design Futures