Product Design

Product design is the discipline concerned with conceiving, developing, and refining objects and systems that work well, look good, and meet the needs of the people who use them. It combines creativity with technical understanding and a rigorous focus on the user experience, drawing on materials science, engineering principles, visual aesthetics, and human factors research to produce designs that are both functional and compelling.

At the University of Chester this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, which provides the creative, technical, and academic foundations needed before you engage with the main degree content. This makes the programme accessible to students who are developing their design skills and need a structured grounding before tackling degree-level work. The programme also includes a year abroad, placing you in a different design culture and academic environment and broadening the perspectives you bring to your own practice.

You will study the design process from research and ideation through prototyping and testing to finished products, working with both physical making and digital design tools. The programme develops your ability to respond to briefs, to conduct user research, to evaluate materials and manufacturing processes, and to present and communicate your design thinking. Sustainable design thinking is woven throughout, reflecting the responsibility designers have in a world where material production and consumption are under scrutiny.

Graduates go on to careers in product design, industrial design, user experience design, furniture and interiors, packaging, medical devices, design consultancy, and manufacturing. Many also move into roles in brand strategy, innovation, and research and development within companies where design is central to competitive advantage. Some continue to postgraduate study in design, design research, or related fields.