BA (Hons) Design

Your first year is about forming a foundation for good design knowledge as well as introducing you to the core skills of a professional Designer. This includes design context with an emphasis of combining theory and practice in the form of design projects We introduce the design process through strategic and practical design skills. We encourage experimentation, exploration and working in teams. Students practice communication individually and in teams. The year concludes with an individual design brief encouraging students to explore the design process bringing together all elements of the design skills bootcamp. It is important to start developing individual areas of interest and values to take into the second year. The course will support you in your independent decision making and you'll be introduced to realistic self-assessment. This will build your resilience and confidence as a designer. We'll challenge your previous assumptions about design through the exploration of design ideas, critical thinking, visualisation skills and interpretation. You’ll attend specialist demonstrations, as well as practical studio and workshop sessions.

The second year is a continuation of your first year during which we expect you to deepen your understanding of design and further develop your design practice. We'll challenge your ability to communicate your concepts and solutions through projects, research, writing and prototyping. Starting the transition from design student to design professional requires a broad set of skills. Employability is a key element of the second year. Problem-based learning, building an individual portfolio of work, exploring new areas of design through individual, team and competition project briefs, and communicating within teams as well as with external partners and employers is the core focus this year. A deeper design context understanding addressing sustainability, diversity and inclusivity, innovation and legislation are part of the second-year curriculum. You'll be living and breathing design through increased engagement with industry and society. We'll encourage you to develop interests and lines of enquiry which will inform your choice of career direction in your final year. The journey through your second year will be one of self-discovery, improved design skill sets, confidence building and independence.

Your third year will be a project-driven year with opportunities to work on live industry briefs, enter competitions, write your own briefs, and work collaboratively with other students in your year. The final year is exciting, intense, and inherently more complex as it’ll be dominated by research-driven project work. Key areas for this year are: Competition Individual design work and values Research, investigation, and experimentation Collective design achievements and communication Some of the project work will overlap, time management will be crucial and working to tight deadlines will be the norm. You’ll be encouraged to promote your professional intent, direction, creativity, individuality, and strengths. You’ll have established your personal values and preferences as designers by the end of the final year, which will help you specialise your design expertise through further study, employment, or self-employment.