Are you fascinated by how design can influence and improve modern life? Do you want to design the products, devices and solutions of the future? Ideal for students with backgrounds in art, graphics, design or engineering, this innovative degree offers a perfect balance of creativity, design thinking, manufacturing and materials, and commercial awareness.
We take the approach that product design is the blend between art and engineering, and keep this in mind with the projects you’ll undertake, helping to ensure a balanced portfolio.
You’ll be provided with a range of experiences and support to develop transferable skills that will enable you to work within the broader creative industries after graduation. Our approach is to provide a creative environment for you to thrive and achieve your full potential.
The curriculum also includes specialist study of ergonomics and human factors to ensure your designs are fit for purpose. You’ll also have the opportunity to test your designs with our empathy suits to ensure a fully user-centred approach to design has been adopted.
With a strong industry focus, product design at Solent is accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED). This mark of quality is reserved for courses that are best suited to preparing students for employment in engineering design roles. Our growing network of employers (currently 18) sponsor a number of units across the three year programme, from guest speaker talks, live projects, to workshops on preparation for employment, awards, internships and work placements.
Many of our students have gone on to set-up their own business/design practice, so we aim to provide these opportunities while studying on the course with appropriate mentoring and support. A number of units allow you to create, make and retail products in our shop, Re:So and many students work on professional freelance jobs in their second year through our Solent Creatives initiative.
All of this in a friendly, supportive and encouraging environment with small group sizes. Perhaps the reason why for four years out of the previous five we have achieved 100% in the National Student Satisfaction Survey (NSS).
What does this course lead to?
The transferable skills learnt on this course enable graduates to apply for a range of careers within the broader creative industries including roles in: product design, design consultancy, design engineering, interior design, special effects, exhibition design, human factors and usability, user-experience (design UX), service design, prototyping and specialist model making, advertising, product packaging and POS (point of sale), product marketing.
Recent graduates have gone on to find roles within companies/organisations including: Bright Innovations, Fitch, ALH Systems, Alfa Display and Design, Celsus, 2LK, Kenwood, Hexatronic, B&Q, IKEA, Wiggle, Ocean Safety, Kinneir Dufort, Spinlock, Extreme Exhibitions, Innovate Product Design, JPR Lighting, Italdesign, Solid Solutions, Rolls Royce to name just a few.
Who is this course for?
Product design at Solent University is ideal for students with a background in art, graphics, design, or engineering. It’s a Bachelor of Arts – BA (Hons) programme but with sufficient engineering content and understanding to ensure you can apply for membership to the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED). The course also combines both traditional and digital skills necessary for work in the creative industries.
