Bachelor of Science (Hons)

PRODUCT DESIGN

Do you want to create flawless designs? Craft sleek products from scratch, taking them from scale drawings to the final prototype? On this IED accredited course, you’ll view product design as a science, creating technical products such as electronic devices and complex 3D images. You’ll be able to create your own products, learning how to present your ideas for manufacture.

Why study this subject?

If you find yourself admiring the small details of a product, wondering how it was made, and thinking how you could make it more efficient, then this course may be perfect for you.

Use your love of Product Design and problem solving attitude to bring your ideas to life, and change the future in all things tangible. You can design products that answer a need whilst ensuring ethical and social issues are addressed.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Embrace the technical side of design. You’ll use a range of industry standard 3D CAD and CAD/CAM systems, and some fantastic workshop facilities to produce 3D models, fully working prototypes, computer models and animations to demonstrate your design solutions. You’ll explore different solutions for a number of areas, working with real clients as you use your expertise to create products with a purpose.

BNU has invested in workshops that replicate those you’ll find at global product companies. They keep on top of the best equipment, using professional facilities and software for your designing needs. Their course is also accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED).

Their staff are all designers themselves and keep updated on the challenges that surround the industry. You receive group and one-to-one teaching as we fully support you throughout your studies. While independent study makes up most of your time, staff and peers are never too far away to bounce ideas off when you’re in the workshop.

With London only a short train journey away, we are perfectly placed for you to discover some beautiful product design. It also means we can bring in industry professionals to run a range of masterclasses, as well as enabling you to get the opportunity to work on a series of live briefs for real clients in our well-equipped studios.

What facilities can you use?

Using BNU's state-of-the-art facilities, you will undertake computer-aided design with their 3D CAD and CAD/CAM systems, as well as having access to some fantastic workshop facilities to produce 3D models, fully working prototypes, computer models and animations.

What will you study?

With your skills as a product designer, you’ll be able to adapt to many different areas. They look at special effects, medical equipment design, games environment design, technical illustration, model making and architectural visualisation. Part of the role involves working closely with clients as you examine exactly what they want as an end product.

BNU believe that Product Design has a major role to play in the technological revolution. They are developing students who can make a difference. Already, BNU's graduates have gone on to work with huge companies such as Maclaren, Nokia and Microsoft. Even their current students create products that get taken forward into manufacture.

How will you be taught and assessed?

BNU give you opportunities to gain valuable experience working as a product designer. Throughout the course, you’ll work on real briefs, interacting with clients as you work on creating products for their business.

Product design skills can equip you to work in areas such as special effects, medical equipment design, games environment design, technical illustration, model making and architectural visualisation. Part of the role includes working with clients and getting to understand exactly what they want as an end product.

This course is 75% practice-based so you will have ample opportunity to develop your subject through a hands-on, experimental approach. This will involve access to workshops to support the design process.

This course has been designed with inputs from industry practitioners and professional organisations to meet the requirements of the graduates in the field of Product Design.

You will also learn through:

• Lectures, seminars and workshops
• Guided research and reading
• Laboratory experiments
• Examination of projects, simulated or real
• Analysis of work-based scenarios
• Independent learning through individual learning plans
• Tutored classroom sessions
• Visiting speakers and guest lecturers.

BNU's graduate network continues to spread through many companies in the industry. You’ll be a part of this network, gaining valuable contacts with a variety of work opportunities. Many former students often ask us to suggest people for their own organisations.

With experience, you’ll have the vision and integrity to respond to the needs of society.

What are your career prospects?

Throughout your time with Buckinghamshier New University they'll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. BNU also help you find employment after graduation. 

With a range of new skills and experience working in a professional environment, you’ll have many qualities employers look for.

Graduates of this course have gone on to a wide range of careers such as product designer for Nokia, model makers for Sony, aerospace designer for BAE, and engineering designer for BMW, as well as progressing to further study. Some students also go on to start their own design business and work within design consultancies.

Their BSc (Hons) Product Design course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:

• Product Designer
• Industrial Designer
• Automotive designer
• Model maker
• Design Engineer
• Exhibition and Event Designer
• Furniture and Kitchen Designer
• Display Designer
• CAD Visualiser and Technician
• Production and Set Designer or Prop Designer and Maker.