product design€¦ · Bird Base Project (Chandni Kumari, 2012) What is Product Design? Product design plays an essential role in our day to day life. We are all confronted by good,

product design

...real solutions for real people

Sustainable

Inspiration

Products

Sketching

Modelmaking

Research

Presentations

Aesthetics

Environment

Innovation

Imagination

Diversity

Fun

Improvement

Business

ExplorationTechnology

Materials

Team work

Exhibitions

MarketsCompetitions

CAD

Users

ProjectsPersonality

FunctionForm

Problem Solving

Challenge

User Centred

Prototyping

Content

What is Product Design (UEL perspective)

BSc (Hons) Programme

Entry requirements

Product Design Introduction to year structures (Year 1, 2 and 3)

Project work (BA and BSc Programmes)

Links with Industry (Live Projects and Shell Step Projects)

Opportunities abroad (Erasmus Exchange)

Exhibitions (Internal exhibitions, New Designers)

Career opportunities (Business Start up and Industry links)

Student Images (Project Work)

Contact details and location

Bird Base Project (Chandni Kumari, 2012)

What is Product Design?

Product design plays an essential role in our day to day life. We are all confronted by good, bad and indifferent design every day on some level whether we realise it or not.

Product design is as much about people as it is about products.User-centered research is an important element of the process leading to good design. The process of designing a product requires the designer to understand the interactions between the potential design solution and t he user o f the product. The p rocess o f modelling and prototyping enables the designer to refine the ideas and involve the user from an early stage ensuring viable design solutions.

Product Design at UEL

At UEL we will equip you with an array of skills including research, concept generation, product development, prototyping, contextual studies, material development, marketing and business strategies. Project briefs set by staff give market focus, yet allow the freedom to explore wihin the boundaries of the projectss . By the end of your degree you will have the essential tools to design socially and ethically viable solutions, and to lead innovation in a fast changing world.

BSc Programme

BSc (Hons) Product Design

UCAS Code: H764 - UEL Institution Code: E28

The BSc (Hons) programme looks at the incremental process of product development, encouraging the student to:

- Collect and analyse research data within user scenarios

- Create design concepts in 2D and 3D formats, and respond to a performance framework

- Evaluate and test design ideas at all stages of the design process

- Explore material properties, structures and compositions

- Develop and refine innovative product solutions for manufacture

- Present resolved design solutions

- Demonstrate feasible solutions understanding current know-how,technology and resources available

- Consider real world issues and needs

Olympic Packaging Project (Major Project, Andrew Millar RSA Winner)

Entry Requirements

Portfolio

The portfolio should showcase your skills, interests and abilities. All work should be originals, created by you, or in the case of 3D models, photographs. We are also interested in self motivated work undertaken outside of school or college. Please include a range of different work.

As a guide your Portfolio should contain 10 pieces of work.

The portfolio may include any of the following:

- Examples of observational drawings, such as still life, life drawing - Examples of ideas development including sketchbooks and journals

- Work that demonstrates skills such as modelmaking or photography

- Work that demonstrates an understanding of mechanisms or materials

- Visual material showing an interest in Art and Design

In addition to achieving 240 points (plus GCSE Maths and English grade C and above or equivalent) you will also need to provide a portfolio of work

Programme

Year Programme Structures

Year 1The First year provides you with general design skills such as research methods, concept generation, model making, CAD* (computer aided design), team building exercises, design history, cultural context and presentation skills.

Year 2Students are provided with a professional insight into business skills, project brief and report writing, user-centred research activities and team leadership. You will have the opportunity to develop live projects with industry. In addition you will have the chance to participate in a European exchange programme with a partnering university, as well as possible summer placements with local business.

Year 3Engaging in major design competitions opens the opportunity for you to compete on a national and international level. Design project briefs, like those set by the RSA design direction scheme, offer students the chance to engage with topical social issues and public sector services, factoring in crucial future trends and needs. Finally, the self initiated major design project culminates all skills, giving you the prospect to exhibit at UK graduate shows such as New Designers (www.newdesigners.com).

* Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Projects (From top left to right)

1. Brand New Water Playground Project (RSA - Competition winner)2. Future Communication3. Solar Sill Projct - Harnessing Energy4. Intuitive Design (Radio and Clock)

Black and White images:

5. Students and Staff (Studies trip Japan)6. Asakusa Temple (Tokyo, Japan)7. Milan (Design Fair visit)8. Reichstag Berlin (Erasmus exchange)9. Japanese and English students10. Knowledge Dock building

11. Stuff Bag project12. Recycling packaging (Straw pack)13. Roll (Sustainable project)14. Packaging project (competition work)15. Stacking storage16. Cig a Stir (Nicotine dispensor)

Industry

Links with Industry

Our undergraduate programmes, Product Design Futures (BA) Hons and Product Design(BSc) Hons, are uniquely positioned within the University’s Knowledge Dock Centre, which aims to encourage and assist the development of enterprise opportunities for students, inventors, academics and local companies, through projects such as the Shell Step programme, and London Innovation placements. You will have an opportunity to apply your skills at an early stage.

This unique positioning of the product design course offers a wide range of opportunities to our students, materialising in the experience of ‘Live projects’ with local industry, or the chance to develop your academic project work for the market. Live projects often lead to career opportunities such as placements, employment, commissions, or publicity for your work.

The School has a commitment to enhance students employability, and has appointed an employability officer to coordinate student engagement with business. The University also has a central employability unit.

Please visit: uel.ac.uk/employability

Exchanges

Opportunities abroad

The Erasmus Foreign Exchange Programme

The Erasmus Foreign Exchange Programme enables students to study abroad for one semester towards 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.

Students engage in design projects, attend tutorials, drawing classes and workshop activities, as well as visiting exhibitions and places of cultural interest.

We are continuing to expand our European and International links.

Pictures (Left to Right)

HBK ExhibitionPhotography workshop HBK Public Exhibition

Opposite page

UEL Student Paula DenbyAccomodation (HBK)Fellow StudentsProfessor Erich Kruse

Exhibitions

New Designers Exhibition

On the successful completion of your degree you will have the opportunity to exhibit your work at a prestigious annual showcase at the Business Design Centre, London.

New Designers is a platform to show your abilities and skills. With the support of your tutors you have the opportunity to design your exhibition stand and present your Final Design projects.

‘New Designers’ attracts professionals and academics from the wider national and international design field (www.newdesigners.com).

In House Exhibition

Each academic year concludes with an exhibition and opportunity to showcase your work to your colleagues, the University and potential employers.

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 close links to the Sustainability Department and Knowledge Dock, the University’s enterprise and support services for business graduates.

Recent Graduates have moved on to:

Post graduate courses across the country and teaching careers

Employment with British and overseas design consultancies and engineering firms

Employment in Website Design

Setting up new enterprise with the support of Knowledge Dock and the University

Careers

Career Opportunities

Photos (Clockwise)

Sustainability DepartmentFanny Chevet (Nestle Design)Paula Denby (Solar Sill)Zsusanna Nagy (Lighting Company)Exhibition (BTA) Black and White Design

1 Day Design Project:

Students Explore Structural elements as part of an introductory Project

Staff: Paul Lighterness - Programme Leader

Tel: 020 8223 7548 E-mail: [email protected]

Joseph Stewart - Senior Lecturer

Tel: 020 8223 2425 E-mail: [email protected]

For University Open Days please visit: www.uel.ac.uk/openday

Contact us

Contact Details

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.uel.ac.uk/ace/undergraduate/productdesign/