Design & Manufacture Projects will focus on the development of learners as professional furniture designers and makers. The module's applied nature will nurture making and design skills by the nature of industry focused project briefs. The applied projects will challenge learners to question the context of their design work but also explore manufacturing, technology and creativity in the realisation of their ideas.

Focus will be placed on increasing the learner's understanding of user centred design, design for manufacture principles and sustainability factors. Through specifications, material identification, process selection and production learner's designs will be tested for commercial viability.

Students will be encouraged to explore the use of hand, machine and digital manufacturing processes in the realisation of products, jigs and prototypes.

Products produced will be to industry standards and need to satisfy user functional needs as well as any social or environmental aspects linked to the design and production of a product. All projects will be developed through an in-depth practice led research and design development process before final manufacturing begins.

1. Compile, evaluate and apply research to the design and manufacture of furniture and wood products

2. Apply creativity, user-centred design principles, sustainability and innovation within constraints and limitations when responding to a design brief
3. Interpret and analyse design briefs, identify and clarify requirements, propose, develop and refine solutions and plan the manufacturing phase through to completion of innovative and contemporary furniture and homeware products

4. Illustrate conceptual and practical research led design skills to communicate the design and development of creative and innovative furniture and homewares products

5. Plan, organise and manage the safe use of a broad range of hand and machine processes to make and finish high quality products

6. Demonstrate skill, knowledge, competence and ability as a designer to create and critcally evaluate a body of self-directed high quality, innovative objects.

Design Elements 2 will aid students in improving their design sketching, model making and presentation skills but also ground their ideas, philosophy and vision in an informed space supported by relevant contextual studies linked to applied tasks.

Learners will build on key skills of communicating design through sketching and model making that were developed in Design Elements (Year 1). Learners will focus on the development of enhanced idea generation skills and presentation competencies. Through contextual studies learners will also be able to clearly identify their design philosophy, utilise design elements and principles appropriately and answer why their design is the way it is and who has inspired them.

Through the development of sketching skills, an introduction to photography and digital software for graphic presentation, visual communication, and relevant contextual studies learners will create presentations and promotional material for the products they develop in the Design Prototyping module.

Learners will focus on hard and soft skills' development with a confidence building exercise in presentation techniques supported by the design of self-promotion material.

1. Demonstrate an ability to gather reference and visual material and to utilise sketches and notes etc. to develop a clearly structured process of ideas development
2. Apply sketching skills and model making to produce multiple solutions to given briefs

3. Apply design principlesand elements in the creation of design solutions

4. Illustrate an ability to critically self-evaluate work with reference tocontextual studies

5. Prepare, plan and deliver professional design presentations using appropriate software

6. Apply graphic design and layout planning to professional self-promtional material

Advanced Materials & Sustainability will build on learners existing knowledge of traditional materials from Year 1. Learners will develop knowledge and skills related to the use of composite, resin, carbon fibre, silicon, textiles, plastics and bio-based materials alongside other developing materials.

Learners will explore the use of modern processes linked to the use of advanced materials in the design arena such as 3D printing, rapid prototyping, laser cutting and moulding to name a few.

The module will be contextualised by a theoretical exploration of developing materials such as smart materials, biomaterials and e-textiles as an example. This exploration of advanced materials will be framed in the mind-set of sustainability and the requisite materials eco credentials and effects on our environment.

Learners will attain an ability to identify, assess and select suitable advanced materials and/or processes for design driven projects.

1. Describe basic material properties, profiles and applications of selected materials and processes
2. Demonstrate an ability to safely perform selected processes to manipulate advanced materials
3. Identify and assess new materials for application in design driven projects
4. Critique sustainability concepts in relation to their application to design driven projects
5. Illustrate an ability to utilise selected advanced materials successfully in a design led product

This Module introduces the theory and practice of the safe set-up and operation of basic as well as more advanced wood manufacturing machinery such as CNC equipment. The concept of jig making and usage is examined and practiced. Machine tooling, feed speeds, cutter speeds and cutter block design and their relevance is explored. Best practice for Health and Safety in relation to woodworking machinery and equipment is studied.

1. Plan, organise and manage the setup and operation of a variety of woodworking machines
2. Select appropriate tooling, cutting materials and feed speeds for specific processing applications

3. Integrate the processing capabilities of manufacturing equipment with design specifications and deadlines
4. Incorporate health and safety regulations to a working environment using woodworking machinery and tooling
5. Evaluate processing operations in relation to machine suitability, jig design, tooling requirements, etc.
6. Set-up and operation of CNC equipment and usage

This blended delivery module aims to further develop the learner's use and competence with various Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) 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 and makers, particularly in respect to the speed of producing or updating drawings and to their communication.

1. Apply the features of relevant CAD and CAM software packages to generate high quality 3D digital models of various artefacts.
2. Recognise the key factors required to produce high quality working drawings in accordance with relevant standards.
3. Engage the features of CAD and CAM software to explore geometric concepts and principles.
4. Employ best practice in the transfer of images and models files between relevant CAD and CAM software packages.
5. Compare and apply the fundamental principles of parametric modelling across a range of furniture and wood processing industry applications.

This module aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of how economies and markets operate and the role played by a business in those environments. The module presents the Learner with the challenges to be faced in successfully managing any business or organisation in those contexts.

The study of the furniture industry,in preparation for the Learner's placement in Year 3 of their Programme, provides one specialised area of focus for the Learner in examining its structure, composition and significance to Irish society and the Irish economy.

1. Identify, describe and illustrate the elements, structure and organisation of the Irish economy.
2. Identify, discuss and evaluate the role and significance of the wider furniture industry on Irish society and the Irish economy.
3. State and evaluate the influences of relevant regulatory and legislative influences on the management of a business with particular reference to the management of staff and transacting business.
4. Perform an asssessment and report on the market potential, costing and pricing of a specified job or product.

This module explores the following areas as they relate to and affect the furniture industry; basic physics; specifying standards in the areas of product testing, fire safety, workshop H&S and an introduction to ergonomics. Learners will develop their knowledge of environmental issues and concerns with reference to the role of the EPA and implementation of Environmental Management Systems. Learners will carryout basic structural analysis in labs and lectures and apply these principles to furniture construction using solid modelling software.

1. Preformpractical experiments and showcase the associatedresults with reference to the furniture industry.

2. Demonstrate best practices techniques in using digital technologies as a method that generatesscientific rigour within the furniture industry.

3. Differentiate between the types of standards as they apply to furniture products; test methodologies, classification, and safety requirements.

4. Present comprehensive analyses and findings while referencing the implications for the wood industry, sustainability and the environment.

5. Measure and evaluate wood properties and furniture joints/assemblies using physical models.

This module may be delivered on campus, using traditional face-to-face lecturing, or using an online or blended format. The module aims to further develop the learner's use and competence with various modern Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems and their application within the furniture and wood processing industry. It employs currently used industry-standard software and stresses the value of computer-based visual data to professional designers and makers, particularly in respect to the speed of producing or updating drawings and to their communication. The module will expose the learner to an integration of CAD/CAM techniques as well as processes for advanced modelling and manufacturing.

1. Efficiently apply the features of Computer Aided Design software to generate 2D presentation drawings and 3D digital models of artefacts, to a professional standard.

2. Identify and critique advanced CAD and CAM workflows and problem-solving techniques in various applications across the furniture and wood processing industry.

3. Investigate how efficiencies in CAD and CAM systems can be achieved using parametric modelling, solid body manipulation, surface modelling and rules based design.
4. Demonstrate the application of a range of advanced CAD and CAM parametric modelling techniques.

5. Describe and demonstrate competence with the application of the various processes involved in the generation of NC codefor use in the furniture and wood processing industry.

6. Compare and assess different furniture CAD and CAM software packages and become confident withmaking informed choices about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

7. Confidently apply the various procedures and workflows involved in transferring files and data between various CAD, CAM and BIM software packages.

The Marketing and Accounting elements of the module aim to to develop the Learner's understanding of and ability to use specific Marketing and Finance concepts and techniques as part of the process of Product Development and also in the overall management of an Organisation. The subject areas will include Market Research and analysis, the segmentation of a Market, formulating an offering for potential customers in the form of a 'Marketing Mix' i.e The Product, The Price, How it will be Promoted, The Place where it will be made available. The Product/Process Costing with a specific focus on the management of Fixed Overheads; Investment Appraisal; Cost-Volume-Profit analysis and Planning.

The Product Development element of the module introduces the learner to structured product development processes. The module will focus on the creation of industry-specific product hierarchies which analyse component specifications and costing through bill of materials and process development. Various engineering design tools are applied to product designs and guide the learner to develop products that align with industry best practices, customer requirements, product functions, and conformance to standards and legislation.

1. Identify and describe the factors and processes which influence the demand for goods and services in a modern economy.
2. Perform and report on an investigation and assessment of the market potential for a specified product/service.
3. Perform an assessment and report on the financial and non-financial considerations relevant to common business decisions.
4. Interpret and explain the interaction between innovation and the product development process in the design and development of furniture products.
5. Apply product data management principles in furniture design and production.
6. Develop hierarchical product and component specifications through functional and process analysis of product designs.

7. Analyse current products, new product designs,materials and product componentsfor conformity with the Circular Economy and current sustainability legislation and guidance. Identify reuse and recyclability options for materials and product components.

The Industry Placement module involves an industry experience placement with a ATU Connemara approved manufacturing company or other organisation associated with the furniture and wood products industry. It is a progressive extension to the academic, practical and management skills developed during the programme. Students will be given an opportunity to apply their knowledge, skills, and learning in a real-world environment while applying academic theory from their programme learning.

Students will actively engage in self-directed learning to facilitate successful integration into the host organisations day to day and planned operations and projects. Students will complete academic reports and presentations during the placement to demonstrate experiential learning and skills development. Students will submit placement reports detailing their learning experiences and will be required to make a presentation to a group of academic and industry stakeholders upon successful completion of the industry placement module.

To facilitate the completion of modules while on placement students will be required to work 4 days per week with the placement company and will have one day per week for online module delivery and to focus on completing industry focused applied projects for blended delivery modules specific to the student's programme.

Students will gain valuable insights into current work practices and identify potential graduate employment opportunities. The module shall address the professional practice required by students entering and participating in the modern workplace. Each student is required to undertake the industry placement module in the third year of their programme, occurring from September to May.

1. Develop work-related skills and professional practice in project work, product quality, deadlines, and budgets.

2. Enhance career and industry knowledge and best practice.

3. Demonstrate the ability to record work experiences and practices and communicate in an academic format.

4. Apply academic theory to commercial projects in a professional environment.

5. Demonstrate an ability to work efficiently and effectively as part of a team and integrate as a productive member of the host organisation.

6. Engage in self-directed learning while working in industry to aid in the development of key professional and transferrable skills.

7. Critically evaluate and reflect on their placement experience in terms of personal development and assess the effect of their placement experience on their future career prospects.