Product design

Single Honours 

• Product Design 

• Product Design Engineering 

Joint Honours 

• Product Design and Business Management 

• Product Design and Engineering 

• Product Design and Marketing 

SOURCE: COMMON DEGREE TITLES FROM WHATUNI 

Alternative options 

• Foundation years Providing students with a solid introduction to design principles and manufacturing processes, as well as an opportunity to develop their portfolio, a foundation year in product design is a great choice for anyone wishing to boost their skills and experience before starting an undergraduate degree. 

• Sandwich degrees Sandwich degrees include opportunities for industrial placements or internships, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in design studios before graduation. The additional ‘sandwich’ year can also be used to study abroad. 

• Integrated Master’s Offering a Master’s qualification by extending an undergraduate degree by one extra year, these streamlined options allow students to deepen their knowledge of design theory and practice, gaining a postgraduate degree with relatively little extra cost. 

• Degree apprenticeships Typically lasting between three and six years, a degree apprenticeship provides a unique opportunity for students to earn a wage while gaining on-the-job training and academic qualifications in product design. And the best thing of all is that the employer covers all tuition fees. 

SOURCE: WHATUNI

Entry requirements for product design degrees vary between universities but can include most different types of A-level (or equivalent), although subjects such as art, design and technology, mathematics, and IT can be an advantage. Most likely, a portfolio of creative work will be needed, demonstrating your skills in design, problem-solving, and visual communication. 

There’s an endless stream of products, objects, machines, and moving parts that comprise the things we use every day, and that keep the systems running which we rely upon. As a student, you’ll be able to specialise in a particular field that interests you, in which you can build an area of expertise that can form the basis for a future career path. These specialisations include: 

• Prototyping Involves creating preliminary models of a product to test and refine its design. Prototypes can range from simple sketches or mock-ups to functional objects, allowing designers to evaluate concepts, gather feedback, and iterate on designs before final production. 

• Manufacturing design Focuses on optimising the production process and workflow to create more efficient and cost-effective products. It involves selecting materials, production methods, and equipment, as well as designing for scalability, quality control, and regulatory compliance to ensure successful mass production. 

• Accessibility Aims to ensure that products or services are usable to people with disabilities. It involves considering diverse user needs and abilities, providing alternative modes of interaction that are available simultaneously to people with different requirements, and adhering to standards and guidelines to promote equal access. 

• Design for sustainability Integrates environmental considerations into the product development process. Designers aim to promote sustainable practices throughout the product lifecycle. It involves using eco-friendly materials, reducing resource consumption, and designing for recyclability and circularity. 

• Ergonomics Focuses on designing products to be comfortable, safe, and efficient for users. It considers how readily a person can use a product and how it can be adapted or improved to give it greater utility. 

• Sketching and rendering 

• CAD (computer-aided design) 

• Prototyping  

• Materials 

• Manufacturing processes 

• Usability and accessibility 

• Creative writing for designers 

• Digital illustration 

• Sustainability 

• User research  

You’ll learn how to spot gaps in the market and be able to imagine a product which can fill these gaps, as well as how to understand customers’ or clients’ concerns, worries or needs and learn how to address these.

Product design is all about producing a solution, and you’ll be part of the process from start to finish, from concept to first design and testing to the final product and launch. You’ll gain a range of skills, from digital design and quantitative reasoning, to being able to visually communicate your ideas using a variety of mediums. You’ll gain hands-on fabrication skills and become fluent in many types of technologies. 

Also, you’ll pick up key transferable skills that'll serve you well in many professional environments. These can include: 

• Ability to work to deadlines 

• Attention to detail 

• Collaboration 

• Project management 

• Organisation 

While there is no formal professional accreditation for product designers in the UK, many universities offer courses accredited by relevant professional bodies such as the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) or the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), ensuring that programs meet industry standards and prepare students for careers in product design. 

If you’ve got an eye for design but aren’t yet sure which avenue you wish to pursue at university, then you may be interested in exploring the following alternative degree pathways. These fields offer opportunities to apply design principles and creative skills to solve complex problems and create impactful designs. 

• Art and design 

• Fashion 

• Interior design 

• Mechanical engineering 

• Industrial design 

• Architecture 

• Graphic design 

Many product design graduates go on to work in designer or manager roles and can apply their skills widely across many industries from automotive and industrial engineering to clothing and jewellery, furniture, public infrastructure, electronic appliances and so much more.

The list is almost exhaustive, and there are constantly new areas of product design opening up as new materials, technologies, and lifestyles emerge. You may opt to work in-house as part of a large established organisation, or as a freelancer designer, where you can choose which jobs to accept and work across a range of different industries.

Examples of roles which you can pursue include: 

• Car manufacturer 

• Jewellery maker 

• Industrial technology 

• Furniture maker 

• Web designer 

• Manufacturing quality controller  

• Fashion designer 

• Market researcher 

• Architectural model maker 

These are just a few of the most common job roles. You'll find plenty of other options available to you, and you can also continue your studies by completing a postgraduate degree in product design or a related subject.