This award winning course produces professional designers capable of highly creative design ideas. You’ll develop sufficient technical know-how to solve problems and develop mass produced products with worldwide appeal. The course has a high level of vocational bias and we enjoy close industry links, which result in a substantial amount of live project work and our excellent graduate career record. UoH introduces you to a range of skills which include sketching, drawing, physical model making (aesthetic, ergonomic and prototypes), computer aided design skills (including rapid prototyping), together with technical and contextual inputs.

BA and BSc students enrol onto a common Year 1 programme and choose, with staff help, which pathway to follow at the start of Year 2. Both routes integrate an optional, though strongly recommended, 48-week work experience period during Year 3. The courses receive excellent feedback when UoH exhibits at the annual New Designers exhibition in London.

The broad nature of the course, coupled with experience gained in industry, results in high graduate employment within a wide range of manufacturing or consultancy organisations. Outside the practice of design itself, design management, product management and marketing management positions are also available to you. Recent employers of our graduates include Antler, Black and Decker, British Aerospace, DePuy, Dyson, Flexiform and Lego.

Specific requirements for this course are normally one of the following:

• Successful completion of a foundation course in Art and Design
• 280 points gained at GCE awards or Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE) A level or equivalent.
• An EdExcel/BTEC National Diploma with a distinction and merits in a relevant subject.
• In addition to the above, strong emphasis will be placed on the quality of your portfolio and a satisfactory interview.
• Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered.

Year 1 (BA and BSc)

• Creative Thinking Projects
• Ergonomics
• Visual Techniques
• Computer Aided Design
• Business Design Interface
• Design for Manufacture
• Material Culture

Year 2 (BA)

• Design Projects
• Design for Manufacture
• Buyer Behaviour
• Green Design
• Computer Aided Design
• Material Culture
• Work Placement Preparation
• Advanced Computer Visualisation

Year 2 (BSc)

• Design Projects
• Technology Studies
• Buyer Behaviour
• Green Design
• Computer Aided Design
• Advanced Design for Detail
• Work Placement Preparation
• Advanced Computer Technology

Year 3 sandwich

• Optional 48 week work placement

Year 3 full-time/Year 4 sandwich (BA and BSc)

• Minor Design Project
• Major Project Research Planning
• Major Design Project
• Major Project Report