Course summary
Our BA in Product and Furniture Design focuses on developing your intellectual and creative skills. You will explore the design production process with an emphasis on aesthetics and social relevance. Available as both a BA and BSc, the BA option is ideal if you are passionate about the artistic and cultural aspects of design, aiming to create objects that are both beautiful and purposeful. BA Product and Furniture Design degree offers a comprehensive understanding of the design process, helping you develop the practical skills necessary for designing for manufacture. You will also gain analytical, evaluative, and communicative skills, which are crucial whether you are working alone or as part of a team. You will become aware of the social, environmental, and ethical frameworks within which you, as a design professional, will operate. Engaging with real-world challenges and client requirements will be a key part of your learning experience. Product and Furniture Design is a strategic problem-solving process that sparks innovation and drives business success. This field improves our quality of life by creating innovative products, systems, services, and experiences. It bridges the gap between what exists and what is possible, using creative problem-solving to turn challenges into opportunities. In this course, you will learn to develop innovative approaches to the design, development, and creation of products and furniture. As a Product and Furniture Designer, you will place people at the heart of the design process. By understanding user needs through empathy, you will apply a user-centred design approach. This pragmatic process ensures that the products, systems, services, and experiences you design truly meet the needs of users. You will be in a unique position to connect different professional disciplines and business interests, working together to create a better quality of life. We do not require a previous portfolio for entry. Instead, we look for passionate creatives with a strong desire to improve. With these qualities, we can help you become a designer capable of making a significant real-world impact.
Modules
In your first year, you will be introduced to core design skills and knowledge, tackle contemporary design challenges and learn to make a difference. Working on a range of studio and workshop projects, you’ll explore design thinking, technical design, and practical skills through hands-on projects. Embracing digital tools and diverse ways of perceiving and thinking, you will build a strong foundation in the design process. Compulsory Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference (20 credits) Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits) Ways of Perceiving (10 credits) Design & Make 1 (20 credits) Design Thinking (20 credits) Technical Design (20 credits) Ways of Thinking (10 credits) In the second year, you’ll delve into designing for manufacture and virtual simulation. Creativity and value creation will be key themes as you work on projects that enhance your personal brand and employability. Research skills will be developed through context-based and practice-based studies, and you’ll further explore CAD and design realisation. Compulsory Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation (20 credits) Design for Manufacture (20 credits) Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment (20 credits) Research in Context (10 credits) Research in Practice (10 credits) Design Exploration (20 credits) Design Realisation - CAD (10 credits) Design Simulation – Virtual (10 Credits) Your final year focuses on advanced creative enquiry and an individual major project. You’ll work on a self-directed project that showcases your skills and creativity, applying everything you’ve learned. This year emphasizes independent work and critical thinking, preparing you for a successful career in design. Compulsory Independent Project (40 credits) Advanced Creative Enquiry (20 credits) Individual Major Project (60 credits)
Assessment method
Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written and practical. There are no exams on this course. You are formatively assessed reviews during a module, with the summative assessment taking place at the end of a module. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used throughout the course which includes amongst others; Informal and Formal Tutorials These tutorials are held on a regular basis, across all levels. In Year 1 you regularly discuss your work with a member of staff during the studio sessions, likewise in Year 2. In the third year, you tend to work more independently but benefit from weekly timetabled tutorials. We pride ourselves on the fact that you can see staff on a one to one basis. Pastoral Tutorials These tutorials give you the opportunity to discuss your progress and engagement with the whole programme and University life and raise any issues/concerns by either party. Group Critiques These are held on a regular basis, across all levels, during the course of the module, and provide an excellent opportunity for you to share and exchange ideas with your peers in a structured manner in addition to valuable input from staff. Studio Projects This is where you evidence your creativity, innovation and professionalism in presenting a variety of types of work for assessment such as; portfolios, sketchbooks and project journals, presentation artwork/visualization boards or real and virtual 3D models. The projects are set to examine your abilities to master the integration of new design principles and skills to your design practice. Written Assignments These are coursework elements that usually take the form of an illustrated paper or report that you undertake in your own time supported by scheduled tutorials. It is where you are expected to demonstrate critical insight and proficiency in articulating the results of a practice or research-based assignment. Online Assignments These are coursework elements which are undertaken and self-directed by yourself, usually submitted as an e-portfolio. Informal & Formal Presentations The nature of the presentations varies according to your level: in Year 1 informal presentations are introduced in order to help you gain confidence in talking about your work to your peers and staff. It is also usually part of the assessment process at the end of each project. In Year 2 you are expected to give more formal presentations as part of each module. In Year 3 a formal presentation and Q&A session is part of the final assessment of your Major Project Outcome. Exhibiting Work In Years 1 & 2, the nature of exhibiting work varies in formality from corridor exhibitions to public venues. At the end of the third year of study, you have the opportunity to showcase of your work in public-facing exhibitions within the locality of Swansea, and at the prestigious national design show in London, New Designers.
How to apply
29Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- PFD1
- Institution code:
- T80
- Campus name:
- Alexandra Road, Swansea
- Campus code:
- A
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. For full information read our visa application and guides. Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 120 points
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
English language requirements
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
Acceptable Evidence of English
https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/apply/international-applications/english-language-requirements
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £15525 | Year 1 |
| International | £15525 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.
However, art and design students will likely incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining optional study trips, and printing.
Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment when they commence the course. We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.
A basic ‘art and design kit’ will cost approximately £100, but you may well already have much of the equipment required, so check with us first. Although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework, you may wish to bring your own digital devices, again check with us first before making a purchase.
Depending on distance and duration, optional study visits can vary in cost from approximately £10 to visit local galleries and exhibitions to £200+ for overseas visits. These costs cover things like transport, entry to venues and accommodation and are normally at reduced rates for our students.
Provider information
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
College Road
Carmarthen
SA31 3EP