Design Techniques in Practice (H7072)

15 credits, Level 5

Autumn teaching

The module provides methods for managing and coping with the risks in modern design development and production, including design for uncertainty. This includes an understanding for the main empathic and intuitive (non-systematic), design methods to further inspire and develop design thoughts and subsequent potential concepts. There is appreciation for the relevance and importance of the Product Design Specification (PDS), with an understanding for how it changes during a typical product design development process.

In addition, there is an introduction to the design process in industry, with the related importance of good planning and scheduling for successful product design development. This includes the values and relevance of using two and three-dimensional sketch concept work, along with other typical design development techniques used within the product design process as a whole. Subjects also include; the use of two and three-dimensional Computer Aided Design (CAD) for application to the associated and underlying year-long project design brief. This will complement an introduction to modern Rapid Prototyping (RP) and Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) methods of product creation. The module content and associated project brief includes the presentation for potential design concepts that will be taken to the eventual physical creation and presentation of a full-sized, three-dimensional functioning model. This is associated with the product concept designed and developed throughout the second year.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2023/24. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to COVID-19, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let our applicants know of material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses:

• Product Design (with an industrial placement year) BA
• Product Design (with an industrial placement year) BSc
• Product Design BA
• Product Design BSc