Why choose this course?
Our BA (Hons) Product Design course focuses on creative and design skills, and on the shaping of concepts and innovations in order to develop new products for manufacture within a wide range of creative industries.
The course explores design for a wide range of products including new media, consumer goods, packaging, sustainable environments, electronic gadgets and sports products. You will have the opportunity to:
Student galleries and profiles
Have a look at some of the work created on this course in our student gallery.
Read profiles from recent graduates and current students.
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.
What do employers say about our students?
"It's absolutely great to have those young dynamic talents here for a year."
Yvo Sturny, Packaging and Filling Department Manager, Nestle
Read more employer testimonials.
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
Course focus
This course focuses on creative and design skills, and on the shaping of concepts and innovations in order to develop new products for manufacture within a wide range of creative industries.
The course explores design for a wide range of products including:
- new media
- consumer goods (including packaging and services)
- sustainable environments
- electronic gadgets
- sports products
- medical applications
- transport and information systems.
Course content
Throughout the course you will cover the following.
Year One
- You'll get an introduction to the principles of the design process, including awareness of consumers, markets, technology and systems.
- You'll study historical, contemporary and future influences on product design.
- Projects work will help you develop problem-solving and communication skills.
- Projects include drawing, model-making and digital computer-aided design (CAD) simulation.
Year Two
- You'll develop more advanced projects, often set by real industrial partners or arising from briefs set by contemporary design industry contacts and competitions.
- You'll form a solid grounding in design principles, culture and philosophy, through debate, discussion and critical investigation.
- By the end of the year, you'll have produced a high-quality portfolio to enhance your profile for industrial placements.
Year Three - work placement (optional)
- Most students opt to spend this year on placement (36 weeks).
- In doing so, you'll tap into our network of extensive industry contacts, making links that could potentially lead to full-time employment.
- A successful placement leads to the award of a Diploma in Professional Practice.
Year Four
- Working to detailed design briefs, you'll undertake a major project on an area of your choice, agreed with course tutors.
- Project work forms an essential part of the final-year degree show in Nottingham.
- BA students undertake two or three projects and produce a dissertation.
How do you study?
The modules you take fall into the following three areas.
- Project work: This is based around a wide range of industry-led design challenges and creative briefs.
- Communication studies: This will develop the skills needed for portfolio presentations and exhibitions.
- Critical analysis: This involves understanding and evaluating the theories behind historical, modern and futuristic design, mainly involving written work, a dissertation, seminars and presentations.
You will be taught by specialist tutors with practice product design experience and a hands-on, project-led approach.
You'll present work in a whole range of formats, such as 2D sketches and computer visuals, 3D models and prototypes, simulated mock-ups and technological drawings.
Assessment
Assessment is continuous throughout, based on coursework, including essays, portfolios, presentations, exhibitions and a final year degree show.
Student gallery
Have a look at some of the work created on this course in our student gallery.
Student profiles
Read profiles from recent graduates and current students.
Competitions and shows
You'll have the chance to undertake live project work with industry partners and enter design competitions on an international level.
Recent student competitions were set by:
- Lloyd Loom
- Nestle
- Paul Smith
- Interact
- Sapa
- Smith of Derby
- Crofts and Assinder.
There are also opportunities each year for you to exhibit work at design shows such as New Designers and Free Range in London.
Find out about the awards our product design students have won.
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 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 laser cutting machines.
Find out more about our facilities and equipment.
Visit the workshops facebook to see the latest projects in progress
Course visits and trips
You'll get the exciting opportunity to visit influential design-led European cities in year two, with recent destinations including Berlin and Barcelona. Several students every year also work internationally in countries like Australia, the USA, Holland, Germany and Italy.
Closer to home, you'll also get to take part in Networking Week. This is an annual networking event featuring industry representatives and previous Product Design graduates who will give you the benefit of their experiences and advice.
Find out more about the trip and study visits on this course.
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.*
Our graduates have built up an excellent reputation. Recent graduates have set up their own businesses, are employed as consultants or occupy exciting positions across the world.
Recent graduate destinations include:
- Boots
- BT
- Dyson
- Caterpillar
- Clarks
- Priestman Goode
- Pod
- Jacuzzi
- Design Acumen
- Tyco
- Kybotec
- FutureBrand
- Uniform.
As well as providing the necessary vocational and professional skills for a successful career, this course also develops transferable qualities such as communications, 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 offers 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.
Our Product design students gain placements all over the country and some work abroad. Recent placement destinations include:
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.
Find out about the experiences our students had during their work placement year.
Although a work placement is highly recommended, obtaining one is based on an individual's efforts and is not guaranteed.
* HESA data 2009-10
You will need to meet the following entry requirements.
- A minimum of 280 UCAS tariff points achieved from at least two full A-levels, BTEC, Foundation or equivalent qualification
- GCSE Maths at grade C or above, or equivalent qualification
- GCSE English grade C or above (literature or language), or equivalent qualification
- A developed and comprehensive creative portfolio
- Mature applicants with non-standard qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
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) 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.
Qualifications
If the qualifications you have, or are currently studying for, are not listed above, please take a look at the tariff table or contact us to find out whether they meet our minimum entry requirements.
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
