Why this course?
An award-winning programme that produces designers with a versatile range of professional skills
Promotes creativity and innovation in developing functional products and furniture
Covers the design and manufacture of furniture and related product design.
Entry requirements
Students should normally have a good portfolio, plus one of the following:
Successful completion of an Art and Design Foundation Course
National Diploma merit profile in a relevant subject 240 points, to include two GCE/VCE A Levels with grade C in one art or design subject.
All equivalent international qualifications are welcome, as are applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or work experience.
Additional entry information
Applicants should have a strong GCSE profile, including English at grade C, or equivalent.
Career opportunities
Graduates work in consumer product, furniture and home appliance design, including in-house design for companies such as Habitat, Philips and Dyson. Skills developed are also relevant for design consultancies and freelance design, or for progressing into marketing, design management, teaching and postgraduate research.
Programme
The programme gives students the ability to think creatively, and encourages them to challenge conventional ideas, often crossing the boundaries between furniture and product in the development of innovative solutions to changing lifestyles.
It also looks at social requirements of product and furniture design, including ergonomics, aesthetics and usability. Specific areas include technical drawing, computer aided design and written report writing.
An explorative nature is encouraged, with interest in new materials and technologies essential to developing products and furniture that meet the requirements of the modern consumer. Students have access to a range of workshop facilities with specialist technical support staff that can assist students in the use of a range of traditional materials and manufacturing techniques. Students learn prototyping skills to test their ideas with users during the development process.
Lively studio facilities allow students to analyse their design concepts with others, and to make contact with professional designers and manufacturers.
Teaching/assessment
The programme includes lectures and practical tutorials in a broad range of areas from manufacturing to aesthetics. Coursework is the main method of learning and assessment, for which students have continuous support from staff drawn from a range of professional working practices.
