Course Summary
This exciting BA (Hons) Product Design programme at UEL provides an educational and creative framework that enable you to become professional product designers and will ultimately give you, as graduates, the knowledge and tools to explore, experiment and find interesting solutions to complex problems.
The curriculum will provide you with the right transferable skills required to be problem-solvers and creative product design thinkers. These traits include having the ability to empathise so that you fully understand who you are solving the problem for and why and how it benefits society.
The course will help you gain a solid understanding of the processes, practices and expectations of a future product design culture in an international workplace which is changing at an ever-increasing pace. Throughout the course, engagement with industry experts and real work experience will be embedded into the core elements of learning and assessment.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
This practical-based programme will aim at stimulating your overall intellect and creativity and will specialise in all things digital to embrace advancements in machinery and technology. This combination of skills will ultimately enable graduates with the tools to explore, experiment and find interesting solutions to complex problems as well as opening up a world of new career opportunities that can be taken advantage of.
It will deliver a curriculum that provides you with the right transferable skills required to be problem-solvers and creative design thinkers. These traits include having the ability to empathise so that you understand who you are solving the problem for, and why and how it benefits society. Add to that the skills of radical brainstorming and experimentation, which require the maturity to ideate productively, and the encouragement needed for you to be open to receiving ideas from other disciplines without preconceived notions. Presenting and articulating solutions is vitally important along with the ability to receive and synthesise feedback.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
You will be joining a creative hub of innovative engineers and designers. You will be able to observe other design projects, share ideas, and participate in interdisciplinary projects and competitions, such as IMechE Formula Student challenge to design and build a single-seat racing car.
Year 1 prepares students with a comprehensive understanding of design principles and this knowledge will be embedded into an approach to realising innovative ideas which can be profitably manufactured and marketed.
With a personal tutor to oversee students' progress, and module leaders for each part of the course, they will work independently or occasionally in small groups on design briefs and projects in our dedicated design studios.
Our fabrication and design facilities include traditional workshops as well as computer-aided design (CAD) suites where a student can use a range of two and three-dimensional programmes to produce test results and resolve concept ideas through to final design.
• Guided independent study
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7. We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces and dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.
• Academic support
Students are supported with any academic or subject related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, former and current UEL students.
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, maths or IT, our Skillzone and English for Academic Purposes we offer workshops, drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential. You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses.
Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need. UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
• Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Year 1: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
Year 2: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
Year 3: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work. You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year dependent on your course.
Who will teach on this course:
Andrew Wright – Programme Leader
Mat Brown
Dr Bahar Khayamian-Esfahani
Dr Sabian Andron
Susan Ginsburgh
Dr Keith Winter
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
- Product designer
- Industrial designer
- Manufacturing engineer
- Digital fabrication
- Product engineering
- Engineering
- Freelance designer
- UX/UI design
- Social design
- Design management and strategy
UEL has a dedicated team to forge close and strong links within industry and with individual businesses and all the while supporting students with placements during study and advice with graduate employment.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.