Course summary

The world is changing — and so are the private and professional spaces we live, learn, eat, sleep, work and relax in. If you’re a hands-on, experimentative designer who’s curious about furniture and product design, you’ve found the perfect course! Together, we’ll be exploring function, form, and the relationships we forge with the simplest objects — from beds, baths and bookcases to desks, door handles and deckchairs. Alongside technical skills like sketching, modelmaking and prototyping, we’ll explore the key human issues of ethically responsible design, the ways our lifestyles are changing, and the importance of harmony between products and spaces. You’ll test your skills across live projects, and you can even complete a year-long work placement, throwing yourself into the cutting edge of real-world industry. We don’t produce cookie-cutter designers. Our students graduate as specialists, not generalists — some are successful freelancers, and others secure roles with companies like John Lewis, DFS, Next and Nestlé. Some are designer-makers; others become journalists and curators. By exploring your craft, developing your own design identity, and making the most of some genuinely unique opportunities, you’ll be a stand-out prospect in the world of design. Why choose this course?

• You’ll be part of a genuine community. Our students love the studio culture of this course — it promotes discussion and collaboration, encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas, and it’s somewhere to call your own.

• We’re industry-focused, with great connections. Through live projects and placements, you’ll be working face-to-face with some huge names — the likes of John Lewis, Pearson Lloyd, Hasbro, Philip Watts Designs, and deVol Kitchens.

• You’ll be using the same equipment as the pros. From 3D printers to waterjet cutters and bandsaws, plus a host of dedicated workshops for wood, metal and concrete working, we’ve got the lot — minimising the jump from uni to industry.

• You’ll have great professional design prospects. 100% of our sandwich-route graduates who entered employment are working in ‘high-skilled’ roles 15 months after graduation (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey).

Course details