Is Product Design and Digital Modelling for you?
The design of the things we use is central to the quality of our lives. Product Designers bring together aesthetic sensitivity, manufacturing know-how and creative, logical thinking in a unique mix to produce solutions that are exciting, original and good to use.
It is the job of the Product Designer to keep up with global developments. This applies both to the needs and demands of the market and to developments within the design profession. Traditional design skills are now seamlessly merged with the latest computer based design applications at all stages from concept to production. As no designer can operate successfully without a good understanding of such programmes, digital modelling is integrated throughout the programme.
Equally the conventional career choices for Product Designers are changing with the times. In the past Product Designers had two basic career options; they could either work for a large manufacturer as a staff member of the development team or they could work as a design consultant, hiring themselves to a selection of clients as external specialists. Now, in addition to these choices, designers have realised that they can free themselves from the demands of employers and clients by designing and marketing their own products even turning previous client manufacturers into suppliers. Other career options have developed too. Many of our graduates choose to continue their training to become design teachers and there are emerging opportunities for design managers, design researchers, CAD specialists – the list continues to grow. We have called these career options ‘pathways’ and we have written our degree programme to accommodate them.
Of course, which ever design pathway you choose to follow, industrial manufacture remains central to the design process which is why we work to maintain our links with industry. In addition to organising short work-based learning modules we have developed successful opportunities for students to work with local manufacturers on specific projects or for longer work placements.
Along with these design related experiences we imbue our students with transferable graduate skills such as time management, logical thinking, organisational, communication and presentation skills, which will enhance any chosen career path.