This module is designed for design students who wish to develop their digital skills in their practice. This module will enable students to acquire the skills and competencies to represent designs and ideas graphically using digital tools and software. Participants will develop a firm understanding of digital tools associated with their chosen design pathway. Learners will develop skills through a series of demonstrations, direct experience and focused reflection.

On completion, learners will have gained experience in navigating a range of industry standard digital tools with focused learning in their core pathways.

1. Identify professional practices and production processes for digital design

2. Recognise key theoretical principles, skills and technologies involved in the production of digital design

3. Transform analogue concepts into digital form

4. Prepare digital artwork, using a range of techniques and software, for both digital and print media

5. Apply key design principles, skills and technologiesin the production of digital designs

6. Produce a coherent body of design work using digital tools to a presentation standard

This module provides an overview of the role of design in contemporary society, and design methodologies to address the challenges faced by people and planet. Contemporary theories and principles of design including sustainable, universal and service design will be explored. Global strategies and reports pertaining to complex design problems will be referenced and innovative contemporary designers and their platforms will also be discussed.

1. Define a design problem in comprehensive terms and viewpoints.

2. Research, develop and evaluate alternative ideas and possible solutions to complex design problems

3. Write and present clearly articulated, factually supported, critical reflections on a topic from the lecture series employing academic methods of research and citation

4. Apply knowledge of design theory and principles to the analysis of case studies in both written and verbal presentations.

5. Interpret and critique the effectiveness of various design methodologies in addressing the issues that impactcontemporary society.

A mixture of lecture, laboratory, workshop and studio, this module will work with Materials and Additive Manufacturing Processes available to the Product Designer. It will focus on the basic understanding of Additive Manufacturing Processes and the design opportunities presented by the materials and processes. Projects will involve the design and prototyping of basic 3D products. The studio will introduce a variety of materials & related to additive processes. A practical approach to the basic product design process will include design problem-solving, and application of skills such as drawing and visualising concepts, and prototyping of 3D objects. Project work will require the student to apply elementary design thinking to develop solutions.

Students will be working both individually and in teams.

1. Produce a variety of products using additive manufacturing processes

2. Apply design thinking and design skills to the solution of simple design problems and product design

3. Appreciate the health, safety and environmental considerations associated with the materials and processes
4. Experiment with design opportunities presented by the materials & processes of additive manufacturing.

5. Evaluate a variety of basic screen to the machineprocesses and machine calibration for additive manufacturing materials

This module will begin working with synthetic and natural materials focusing more on automated subtractive manufacturing processes and their design challenges/opportunities. Projects will involve the design and prototyping of product, for production, within time, budget, and user constraints. Studio work will begin with Computer-aided design & Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) processes, with more of an emphasis on the subtractive screen to machine processes for wood, metal, plastics and other synthetic materials. Design thinking and practical skills will also be applied to project work. This module will also focus on the skills required to communicate ideas to multiple audiences, applying learning from design history, with practical skills of visualising concepts and presentation skills. The projects will also expose students to time, budget and user/audience constraints.

1. Evaluate and specify a variety of synthetic and natural materials for use in product design, prototyping and manufacture
2. Apply design thinking and design skills to the solution of more complex design problems and product configurations

3. Appreciate the health, safety and environmental considerations associated with the materials and processes
4. Applya variety of basic screen to machine machining and assembly processes toa variety of synthetic and natural materials

5. Design 3D models and prototypesinvolving multiplematerials

6. Interpret and apply the product development process in terms of commercial and consumer products

The module explores ergonomics and human factors for product design and interior design. Students will explore various interiors sectors and related products (Healthcare, Education, Workplace, Hospitality, Leisure, Retail, Residential), and will research and apply anthropometric data to address design problems. Learners will explore case studies of evidence based design solutions, and apply to their own project work.

1. Access, interpret and apply evidence-based ergonomics and human factors research to design solutions

2. Integrate systems of form, function,colour, material, and finishin design solutions.

3. Communicate design ideas through visual, verbal and written methods

4. Evaluate and propose ergonomic interventions to existing case studies, making recommendations for further design development

This module involves a semester-long professional project (or projects) in a design discipline to be undertaken on campus. The project will provide learners with practical, hands-on experience with projects selected to enhance the learner's skills and problem-solving abilities to address real challenges and produce tangible outcomes. Undertaking professional projects on campus aims to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application by immersing students in a simulated professional design project setting.

1. Work independently or collaboratively towards the completion of project objectives.
2. Apply theoretical learning to practical problems in a design discipline.
3. Analyse and solve real-world problems.
4. Develop professional practice in project work i.e. communication, quality, deadlines, budgets.

This module involves a semester-long professional practice in a design company, department or other organisation involved in design. Learners combine experience in the day-to-day operations of the organisation with projects selected to enhance the learner's skills and provide benefits to the organisation. In addition to using practical skills in a real-world environment, students will develop valuable soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Undertaking professional practice for industry provides learners with invaluable real-world experience, bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application.

1. Work as a productive member of a team in a design company, department or other organisation involved in design.
2. Apply theoretical learning to practical problems in a design discipline.
3. Analyse and solve real-world problems.
4. Develop professional practice in project work i.e. communication, quality, deadlines, budgets.

Work Based Learners will participate in a seminar series which will develop their theoretical knowledge, writing and presentation skills, while offering them the opportunity to apply this to active learning situations.

There will be an emphasis on preparing for independent research with a focus on methodologies that can be applied towards an Extended Essay for level 7 or onwards to a level 8 dissertation if they choose to progress to the Higher level BA stage.

The Seminar Series will commence with workshops delivered that respond to current trends in design theory, practice and research.

Learners may present topics based on their experiential learning while completing their professional practice and projects module.

Delivery will be fully online to accommodate remote placement of learners throughout the year.

1. Demonstrate ability to source and critically reviewpublished literatureon design theory and case studies,themes and issues in contemporary design.

2. Synthesise a review of literature with their own critical thinkingin awritten essayfully supported with academic referencing and illustrations

3. Deliver a Seminar Presentation of their researchto peers using current online presentation tools.Actively engage peers in discussion and participate and contribute todialogue during peer seminar presentations

4. Bring previous knowledge of design history and theoryto the analysis of the consequences and impact of historic practices oncontemporary design solutions

5. Source innovative international case studies of contemporary design that exemplify current theories and best practice

6. Contributeto group discourse in the online space in which the seminar series is delivered and present both written and presentation content in an e-portfolio along with other modules from level 7.

This module is designed for design students who wish to deepen their digital skills in the context of their practice. The module builds on the competencies learned Digital Tools 1, and prepares students for implementing modern digital skills in the workplace. This module will enable students to develop the skills and competencies to represent designs and ideas graphically using digital tools and software. Participants will develop a deep understanding of digital tools associated with their chosen design discipline. Learners will develop skills through a series of demonstrations, tutorials, direct experience and focused reflection.

On completion learners will have strengthened their competency in using a range of industry standard digital tools with focused learning in their core pathways.

Product Design – This module develops the learner's use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems and their application for the realisation of 2 and 3 dimensional images of design concepts. It employs currently used industry-standard software and stresses the value of computer based visual data to professional designers, particularly in respect to the speed of producing or updating visualisations, drawings, models and to their communication.

1. Recognise the relationships between design technology,production,the individual, society and the environmentwithin contemporary design practices.

2. Select appropriate techniques and software to transpose design ideas into digital form and environments.

3. Express solutions in response to scenarios through problem solving, experimentation and testing ideas within the digital environment.

4. Apply the features of design software to implement geometric concepts and principles.

5. Generate enhanced visualisations ofdesign conceptsusing industry-standardsoftware.

6. Prepare technical drawings and specifications in accordance with relevant standards.

7. Compose multimedia presentations which clearly express design information and embody design intentions.

This module normally involves a year long professional practice and/or project a design company, department or other organisation involved in design. Learners combine experience in the day-to-day operations of the organisation with projects selected to enhance the learners skills and provide benefits to the organisation. Some learners may be based on campus while carrying out their professional practice work. Learners can complete 26 weeks focused on an industry project or professional placement, or can complete a semester long project and a semester long professional practice.

1. Work as productive member of a team in a design company, department or other organisation involved in design.
2. Apply learning, working as a professional in the design sector
3. Analyse and solve real-world problems
4. Develop professional practice in project work – quality, deadlines, budgets etc.