Product Design – BSc (Honours)

At a glance

Study for a career as a product design engineer in excellent industry-standard computer-aided design (CAD) suites and workshops. During the course you develop your professional knowledge and experience with projects set by industry and the opportunity of a year-long placement earning around £14,000.

Key points
• Take advantage of industry-standard CAD suites and workshops.• Learn about the demands of industry with projects set by companies.
• Complete a paid placement at major companies like Rolls-Royce, Bosch and Airbus.
• Develop your skills from lecturer-guided projects to autonomous projects progressing an idea into a fully functioning prototype.

What is product design engineering?
Product design engineering combines the traditionally separate fields of industrial design and engineering. They provide skills needed to the bridge the gap between creative design, material science and the science and manufacturing processes required to prototype new ideas.

A product design engineer may be involved in the initial designs of a product with engineers and designers to develop the conceptual, preliminary and detail designs. They work on a range of technical products including complex technological and scientific systems such as aircraft, computers and cars. They may then provide consistency throughout the product’s life cycle making requested changes and corrections whenever necessary.

This course

Study the skills required to play a central role in designing, engineering and developing products, processes and services as a product design engineer.

On this course, you learn to design, engineer and prototype working products through • drawings • models • engineering calculations • rapid prototyping • laser scanning • CNC machining • testing and analysis.

You also learn to balance the needs of users and the cost of manufacture, and develop an awareness of the broader issues affecting engineering design including sustainability.

As a student, you benefit from extensive computer-aided design suites and workshops. Our computer suites run industry standard CAD software such as Solidworks and Creo. Your final year project includes producing computer models and working prototypes for the degree show using our IT and engineering studio facilities.

This course is designed in consultation with industry and these industrial partners provide real life projects to work on. Because of this you get the opportunity to work on projects that include designing general consumer products.

You develop skills in • design • mechanical engineering • information technology • problem solving • product performance testing • aesthetics and function of products • metrology • manufacture and materials • computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) • rapid prototyping • industrial design • engineering analysis • reverse engineering products.

You can then apply those skills in a professional environment, with at least 36 weeks spent on a paid placement in industry. By taking this opportunity you gain valuable professional experience, subject and industry understanding and new skills. All of this enhances your career prospects and employability. Sometimes it can also lead to the offer of a permanent job after you graduate, or may lead you onto a graduate scheme.

Previous students have worked with companies such as • Reckitt Benckiser • Bosch • Airbus • Lubrasol • Penny Hydraulics • Thermotechnology • Kostal UK Ltd • Rolls-Royce. Currently the average salary for a student on placement is £14,000.

Key areas of study
Key areas include • structured systematic strategic design approach • problem solving using different technologies and engineering calculations • testing and analysis • production (manufacturing) and selection techniques • a mix of pencil drawings, CAD and hand-made prototypes to represent your ideas.