Университет Данди, BSc (Hons), Product Design

Level 1: Introduces students to some of the key skills a designer requires to develop successful products; they work on a number of short and longer projects as individuals and in teams; students explore a range of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional visualisation techniques in design studies; fundamental principles of engineering, as well as the materials available to students as designers are introduced through technology modules; semester 1 covers: understanding product design and innovation; visual expression 1A; mechanics and thermodynamic; semester 2 covers: fundamentals of design; visual expression 1B; design technology. Level 2: encourages students to build on their understanding of designing products gained at level 1; they learn how to develop products to a greater level of detail and consider how issues such as ergonomics can influence design; students are also introduced to the world of interaction design; students are encouraged to develop a personal design process, as well as understanding the different contexts in which they may operate as a designer; technology modules provide an introduction to electronics, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional computer-aided design and structural analysis; semester 1 covers: industrial design; contexts and stakeholders; software applications for mechanical engineering design; semester 2 covers: interaction design; structuring creativity; structural design and manufacturing. Level 3: deepens students’ understanding of designing products through investigating the needs of people; participants are introduced to a number of research techniques that allow them to engage with people and are encouraged to embed this new knowledge in their products; students also explore some of the commercial issues that affect the development of products and are encouraged to contextualise the development of their work in terms of current social issues; in preparation for the final year, emphasis is placed on the development of highly polished models with working technology embedded in them; technology modules develop students’ understanding and use of the principles behind engineering design; semester 1 covers: design research; design futures and professional practice; engineering design; semester 2 covers: design products; design futures and professional practice; engineering design. Level 4: the majority of students’ time in the final year is spent in the studio and dedicated to a major personal project; by this stage students have enough knowledge of product design to define their own brief; the year results in an exhibition of their work at the Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show; students also have a range of optional modules to choose from including a dissertation, business and advanced computer-aided design module; semester 1 covers: personal programme of integrated study; electives (from dissertation, business and advanced computer-aided design modules); semester 2 covers: personal programme of integrated study.

The philosophy of this course is to educate contemporary designers to meet current industry needs; it aims to educate hybrid designers who have the ability to evaluate and creatively use technology in a design context; the programme encourages students to develop and articulate their own unique approach to designing; through critical studies and contextualisation they come to understand some of designs big issues and apply these ideas in the development of their own work; students engage with real-world briefs through current design thinking; consolidation and articulation of ideas is communicated through a range of media; the course encourages the embodiment of concepts in professional and convincing forms; it also aims to develop designers who can re-appropriate existing and explore emerging technologies in a playful way and use them as a creative medium throughout the design process.