8Feb
UndergraduateDe Montfort University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Open days
Course summary
Product Design is the study of the whole creative design process – from idea to production. On this course you’ll study the aesthetic, human-centered and market-led requirements of product design to create products that are valued by the end user. The curriculum balances both creative and technical aspects of contemporary design practices. You will focus on research insights, concept generation, three-dimensional design, product styling, brand definition, user interaction and the manufacturing process. You will also learn about sustainability and develop socially conscious products that reduce waste and conserve energy. Benefit from the very latest physical and digital facilities in a studio environment that is designed to mimic professional practice. We will nurture you to become an industry-ready graduate who can provide innovative creative solutions to real-world challenges. Key features
- This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers – this enables you to work towards membership after graduation.
- Bring your ideas to life both digitally and physically with industry-standard tools that will enable you to produce digital designs, renders and animations as well as 3D artefacts in plastics, wood and metals.
- Gain professional experience with placement opportunities that have seen students work at prestigious names such as BMW, Hodges & Drake, Lewis Design Associates and Artform International.
- We work with industry to shape our curriculum and you will be taught by professionally-active staff who are involved in projects with global brands, as well as benefit from our in-house design consultancy.
- 90% of students were satisfied overall with the course (National Student Survey, 2022).
- Strengthen your portfolio by entering prestigious competitions and showcasing your work. Our students have recently been recognised in the Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition and have exhibited their projects at New Designers in London.
- The award-winning Vijay Patel Building provides both the space and the facilities for ideas to develop and flourish. We offer superb workshops including the latest in additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping equipment supported by expert technicians.
Modules
First year Block 1: DMU Designer Block 2: Advanced Product Design Skills Block 3: Design Conception – Thinking and Methods Block 4: Design Delivery Second year Block 1: DMU Designer 2 Block 2: Advanced Product Design Skills 2 Block 3: Design Communication and Definition Block 4: Design Practice Third year Block 1: Design Practice 2 Block 2: Design Conception – Personal Project Block 3: Design Development – Personal Project Block 4: Design Delivery – Personal Project
Assessment method
We want to ensure you have the best learning experience possible and a supportive and nurturing learning community. That’s why we’re introducing a new block model for delivering the majority of our courses, known as Education 2030. This means a more simplified timetable where you will study one subject at a time instead of several at once. You will have more time to engage with your learning and get to know the teaching team and course mates. You will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, and have a better study-life balance to enjoy other important aspects of university life. Structure The curriculum is focused on developing professional practice skills and knowledge for a career in industrial product design for manufacture. You will study a broad range of areas including user-research, design methodologies, ergonomics, aesthetics, drawing, visual communication, interface, materials, manufacturing, technical specification, 2D and 3D CAD, sustainability, additive manufacturing, technology integration, team working and project management. You can determine your own design direction according to your passions and aspirations. We have seen students design a wearable sports tracking device, foldable electric scooter, augmented reality cycling helmet, urban beehive and sensory furniture to name just a few innovative projects. You will be taught through a combination of lectures, lab sessions, seminars, tutorials, workshops and self-directed study. There is a varied mix of assessment including: portfolios, group presentations, case study analysis, individual exercises, report writing, short form unseen exercises and essay writing. You are taught by design academics, designers in residence and visiting design consultants with specialist knowledge and skills in product design. All our staff have worked in industry and carry out commercial activity and leading research. Visiting lecturers support week-long projects or run weekly seminars, tutorials or lecture series. Previous visiting lecturers have come from leading companies including Mosley&, Empathic, Redline Studios, Seymourpowell, Out of the Bubble Design and Retail Lab. Our students have won many major awards in recent years including the prestigious D&AD Award for Product Design and the RSA Student Design Awards. Contact hours In your first year you will normally attend around 13 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 26 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.
How to apply
31Jan
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:
- W240
- Institution code:
- D26
- Campus name:
- Leicester Campus
- Campus code:
- Y
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff
A level
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
Access to HE Diploma - M: 30 credits
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points
T Level - M
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
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 | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| International | £15750 | 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
Please note that fees are subject to an annual review. Any increase in fees for Home students would be based upon a review of our provision and in line with the fee cap set by the government.
For Overseas students such reviews will be based on a market assessment and communicated to students at least 6-months before any programme commencing. Please visit the tuition fees pages of our website for further information: dmu.ac.uk/funding
Provider information
De Montfort University
The Gateway
Leicester
LE1 9BH