Course description
* Developed to interest graduates from a business or design background
* To enhance knowledge and understanding of the principles underlying professional product design
* To enable the student to develop appropriate entrepreneurial skills enabling viable start-up manufacturing, marketing or business enterprises.
Outline of programme
The programme requires the student to undertake 10 taught modules and to complete a major project of approximately 15,000 words. Each taught module involves up to 22 contact hours per week, including lectures, tutorials, seminars and project classes. The course will run from October to September with examinations/assessments held in December and March/April. The Research Project explores fully the feasibility of the Major Project, which must be completed by early September.
The seven core modules are:
* Product Design Entrepreneurship
* Sustainable Futures
* Advanced CAD
* Research Methodology
* Product Introduction Processes
* Research Project
* Major Enterprise Project
Three electives are chosen from:
* CAD Principles and Materials
* Strategic Finance
* Law
* e-Commerce
* EuroStudies
* Management of Change
Assessment
Assessment methods are chosen in relation to the particular requirements of a module. These modules vary from 100% examination to 100% continuous assessment. Currently the balance for the core modules element is approximately 30% examination and 70% continuous assessment. The major project accounts for 60 of the 180 credits required for successful completion of the degree.
Career opportunities
This programme is suitable for candidates seeking to develop their own product ideas and innovations ‘ready for manufacture and marketing’, start their own design business enterprise, or enter new product development organisations at a higher level of responsibility.
