Why choose this course?
This award-winning course focuses on designing innovative products for the real world in the areas of commercial and domestic furnishings, interiors, lighting, and household goods. You will benefit from:
It encourages you to approach design projects in a creative and contemporary way, while appreciating the key technical, social and commercial factors needed to achieve realistic design solutions.
Firmly established for almost 20 years, the course has grown progressively in reputation and operates on a truly international platform with dynamic opportunities for work experience and permanent employment.
Read what employers say about our placement students.
Student galleries and profiles
Have a look at some of the work created on this course in our student gallery.
Read Furniture and Product Design student profiles
Specialist equipment and facilities
You'll benefit from our high-quality engineering laboratories, extensive modern studios and workshop facilities, and full IT and CAD suites. Find out more about our facilities and equipment.
Visit the workshops facebook and School facebook to see the latest projects in progress.
Take a look at final year students from our furniture and product and architectural design subjects in the build up to the 2010 final year show.
Open days
Find out more about this course at an open day.
Our open days are designed help you find out about our courses and the University. You'll meet our lecturers and current students, and get to see some of the fantastic facilities we have. You can visit with friends, or bring your parents or guardians along with you. Find out the dates of our next open day.
Any questions?
Email us
Telephone: +44 (0)115 941 8418
Please note the following information for applicants
This course will provide you with a professional creative approach to all aspects of product design and will enable you to develop your personal design direction.
Modules
You will cover the following during your course.
Year One
- You'll receive a broad introduction to the principles of the design process, including consumer trends, traditional craft methods, the market, technology and systems.
- You'll focus on learning to explore many aspects of product design through project work, from understanding consumer needs to using diverse materials and technologies.
- Your projects will also help develop your problem-solving and communication skills.
- You will explore a range of media such as drawing, model making and digital computer-aided design (CAD).
Year Two
- Building on the principles of the first year, your project work will intensify to centre on real industrial and commercial challenges.
- You'll learn more about industry practices and will be expected to express critical design awareness, both in written work and verbal presentations.
Year Three
- Most students opt for a 30-week work placement during this year.
- Your placement will enable you to take advantage of a network of extensive industry contacts, which can often lead to full-time employment after your degree.
- A successful placement leads to the award of a Diploma of Professional Practice.
Year Four
- Working to detailed design briefs, you'll undertake two or three major projects of your choice, in agreement with your tutors.
- You'll also produce a dissertation.
- Project forms an essential part of the final-year degree show exhibition in Nottingham. Take a look at final year students in the build up to the 2010 degree show.
How do you study?
The course is largely studio-based and focused around project work. Design skills are taught alongside industry standard design and presentation software which, supported by workshops, allow you to experiment with and develop your design in a variety of 2D and 3D media.
The lectures, seminars and tutorials are supported by talks and presentations by designers from industry and every year there's a networking event where past graduates return to share their experiences of life in the design world.
Assessment
Assessment is continuous throughout, based on coursework.
Student gallery
Have a look at some of the work created on this course in our student gallery.
Student profiles
Read Furniture and Product Design student profiles
Specialist equipment and facilities
You'll benefit from our high-quality engineering laboratories, extensive modern studios and workshop facilities, and full IT and CAD suites.
Specialised and futuristic state-of-the-art equipment includes:
- Rapid prototyping modellers; these machines quickly create a 3D object from a virtual computer model using a highly advanced laser process.
- Waterjet cutter: the latest generation precision technology capable of up to 150mm in almost any sold material such as glass, steel, granite, marble, aluminium and rubber.
- CNC (computer-numerical control) router and a new laser cutter.
Find out more about our facilities and equipment.
Visit the workshops facebook page to see the latest projects in progress
Course visits and trips
You'll get the chance to visit influential design-led European cities in your second year, with recent destinations including Berlin and Barcelona.
Several students every year work internationally in countries like Australia, the USA, Holland, Germany and Italy.
Find out more about the trip and study visits on this course.
Competitions and shows
You'll have the opportunity to show your work at events such as the New Designers and Free Range exhibitions in London.
There's also the possibility to enter a range of prestigious national and international product and furniture competitions.
Find out about the awards our product design students have won.
Read Furniture and Product Design student profiles.
Any questions?
Email us
Telephone: +44 (0)115 941 8418
Visit the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment website.
Nearly 94% of NTU graduates with first degrees from full-time study are employed or engaged in further study six months after leaving.*
Graduate employment opportunities are diverse and exciting. Recent students have gone into positions such as furniture designer-makers, business managers, production developers, marketeers and computer-aided designers in interior design, architectural and design practices, contemporary design studios and manufacturing organisations.
Recent graduates have gone on to work for companies including:
- B&B Italia
- Habitat
- Nestlé
- Fitch and Co
- Tom Dixon
- Noble Russell
- Droog and Benchmark.
As well as providing the necessary vocational and professional skills for a successful career in the industry, this course also develops transferable qualities such as communication, time management, analysis, teamwork and IT skills.
* of those available for work, HESA survey 2009 / 10
NTU is in the top five universities in the UK for the number of Design Studies students taking year- long placements.*
This course gives students the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (minimum of 36 weeks in one or more organisations). This will give you real, hands-on experience within the industry, opening up exciting opportunities for future employment.
Read what employers say about our placement students.
Find out about the experiences our students had during their work placement year.
Recent placement destinations have included:
The School has a dedicated placement office who will assist you in securing a placement and guide you along the way providing everything you need to know before, during and afterwards.
Although a work placement is highly recommended, obtaining one is based on an individual's efforts and is not guaranteed.
* HESA data 2009 / 10
Entry requirement details
- A minimum of 280 UCAS tariff points to be achieved from at least two full A-levels, BTEC, Foundation or equivalent
- GCSE Maths at grade C or above, or equivalent qualification
- GCSE English at grade C or above (literature or language), or equivalent qualification
- A developed and comprehensive creative portfolio
- English language requirements for International and EU students
- Mature applicants with non-standard qualifications will be considered on an individual basis
If the qualifications you have, or are currently studying for, are not included above please take a look at our UCAS tariff table or contact us to find out whether they meet our minimum entry requirements.
How to apply
Application deadline
- 2012 entry: 15 January 2012
Applications received after this date will be marked as late, and only considered if places are still available after all on time applications have been assessed.
Interviews and portfolios
Selection for this course takes place through UCAS application form and, where invited, interview and portfolio.
UK applicants
If you are invited to attend an interview at the University, you'll bring your portfolio with you for assessment. For more information about what we look for during an interview, and some useful tips for your portfolio, download our BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design Interview Information.
Overseas applicants
If you meet the minimum entry requirements we will ask you to send us:
- 12 examples of your practical work
- a piece of written work (approximately 500 words) from your current or previous course.
When we receive your UCAS application we'll contact you to tell you how to submit your work online. Overseas applicants are not expected to attend an interview at the University.
English language entry requirements
English language entry requirements for courses in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment and a full list of all English language qualifications accepted by the University are available on our website,
Pre-sessional English courses
We offer Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) courses from six to 30 weeks for students who need help achieving these requirements. Even if you have already met the minimum entry requirements you could still benefit, as many students do, from the study skills and orientation to the UK education system that is offered by a short PEAP course.
For more information on PEAP including dates, fees and English language entry requirements for these courses, please visit our website.
In-sessional English language support
In-sessional English language support classes are available to all international (non-EU) students studying on degree courses at NTU. There is no extra charge for these classes.
Mature students
At the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, we don't believe that age or experience should be a barrier to learning. We want mature students to feel part of our vibrant community and recognise the different support requirements they may have so we offer advice on a range of issues; from financial advice and childcare to academic issues. Our Student Support Officer can talk through any issues with you before you apply, during the application process or once you arrive.
Funding
We have a strong commitment to maintaining access for all to higher education. We recognise the need to invest financially in the future of our students, so we have introduced a system of bursaries aimed at enabling home students from lower income families to undertake a degree course. For information about Nottingham Trent University bursaries please visit Fees and Funding.
Open days
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the School on one of our open days. Our open days are an ideal opportunity for you to get a taste of Nottingham Trent University, and find out if it is the right place for you. You will be able to meet our staff and students, get an insight into student life, and find out more about the courses we offer.
Please book your place before you attend.
Find out more about our Architecture, Design and the Built Environment open days.
Any questions?
Email us
Telephone: +44 (0)115 941 8418
