Product designers have a unique process for solving problems and contributing to the product development process.
This process can be used to tackle a wide range of problems including developing strategies that help determine the future direction of a business.
The approach is human centred and starts with observing and understanding people. The process then continues with the designer prototyping the inspirations gained. Practical skills such as drawing, computer modelling and model making are all applied to communicate the ideas. The process involves continuous research and the consultation of the relevant expertise and evidence that is needed to develop a viable and innovative product or strategy.

Our BSc programme is designed to equip the prospective student with an excellent foundation for careers in the design field, giving high value to creative and practical skills, as well as the tools to lead innovation in a fast changing world.
Well established links with local industry and business give us the opportunity to introduce our students to realistic project briefs and real life scenarios within the academic environment.
We strongly believe in the responsibilities the designer has towards the needs of the individual as well as towards our future environment. The choice of our design projects reflects this.
Our programme benefits hugely from the cultural diversity of our students‘ backgrounds enriching the learning experience and the potential for creativity and innovation.

The programme is modular in structure. Each year consists of two semesters of 15 weeks containing the equivalent of 3 modules.
The BSc programme shares a common first year with the BA (Hons) Product Design programme. There is the opportunity to take either the BSc or BA programme at the end of Level 1.

The programme operates in purpose built design studios and is serviced by a workshop for model making. The design projects and design critiques take place in the studios. Lectures are held in purpose built lecture rooms or the studios.
Students benefit from the programme’s close links to the Product Design Lab and Knowledge Dock, the University’s enterprise and support services for business and graduates.

Knowledge Dock facilities include a fabric print and design bureau and research centres.

Approximately half of the programme is taken up by the design project work which is subject to interim assessments and final presentations. Final year project work is assessed by the teaching staff, advised by external examiners. Other modules are either assessed by formal examination and course work or by coursework alone.
There is the opportunity to exhibit project work in an internal exhibition at the end of each year.

Industry sponsored design projects, competitions and work placements give a real life context to the academic environment. Most recent project briefs have been set by Newton Engineering, Beyon office furniture, Magpie furniture, Kamihimo paper products, Mungo&Maud pet accessories, Daler Rowney drawing equipment, Bill Amberg leather goods and Albany sanitary ware .
Real life projects often lead to placements, publicity or other career opportunities.
The programmes offer the opportunity to do a placement in the third year. The Erasmus Foreign Exchange Programme enables students to study abroad for the latter part of the 2nd year. A particular successful link has been established with the product design course at the University of Braunschweig, Germany.

The design projects provide the main forum for creating and evaluating new concepts for innovative products and services. Projects include team projects, design competitions and ‘real life’ projects set by business and industry. Each level of the programme sees the project work increase in complexity applying the skills acquired. The final year provides you with the opportunity to carry out a major design project from the stage of project selection and research right through to a developed design solution. This project is evaluated against professional and academic standards of practice by the teaching staff and external examiners.

• How products work and how they are made
• Why products sell
• What products look like and who they are for
• How products are used
• What happens to products we no longer need
• What products we need in the future

Learning, drawing, thinking, sketching, computer modelling, brain storming, model making, investigating, researching, interviewing, debating, presenting, team working, competing, blue sky thinking, analysing…

• To make a difference to the environment of others
• To contribute to designing a sustainable future for ourselves
• To innovate the way we interact with products
• To create an inclusive future for those who are excluded
• To study in a cosmopolitan and multicultural environment
• To learn from practising designers and academics
• To tackle real issues with real clients
• To compete for prestigious design awards
• To design for a competitive market
• To benefit from the resources of a world cultural capital

Design skills are highly transferable and the product design education provides you with an excellent grounding not only in the product design area but also in many design related careers such as design management, research, consultancy and various teaching activities.

Students benefit from the programme’s close links to the Product Design Lab and Knowledge Dock, the University’s enterprise and support services for business, public and voluntary sector organisations as well as for students.

After the successful completion of the programme, students use the annual event ‘New Designers’ (a prestigious exhibition at the Business Design Centre Islington, London) as a platform to show their abilities and skills. With the support of the design tutors the students design their own exhibition stand and present their best project work. New Designers’ attracts professionals and academics from the wider national and international design field. The event offers the opportunity for prize winning, publicity with the design press and recruitment.

Recent graduates have moved on to:

• Post graduate courses across the country
• Employment with British and overseas consultancies.
• Employment with design engineering firms
• Employment in website design
• Setting up consultancies with the support of Knowledge Dock
• Developing and marketing their project work with the support of ‘hot hatch’ and Knowledge Dock

All UEL students are eligible to receive support from the student advice centres for study skills, IT, career advice, learning resources, language support, health and personal advice.
On the product design course we have a personal tutor system in place. Apart from lessons and tutorials teaching staff can be contacted via e mail. Web CT offers another platform for students and lecturers to engage in debate and teaching material. The design projects are reviewed with the lecturers either in small team or in individual tutorials.

• Close links with industry and business result in real life project experiences.
• Engaging in major design competitions opens the opportunity for our students to compete on national and international level. Most recent successes include the winner and runner-up at the RSA competition 2005 and 2007, winner and short list achievements in the international lighting competition 2003, 2005 and 2006.
• Close links with the Design Lab and Knowledge Dock, providing business links and opportunities for innovative ideas.
• Teaching staff on the programme are practising product designers or actively engaged in design research
• Well established links with foreign design courses like the University of Braunschweig give our students unique opportunities to study abroad for part of the second year
• There is the opportunity to undertake a one year industrial placement between year 2 and 3.