Product Design

Product design is the discipline of creating objects, systems, and services that meet human needs in ways that are functional, aesthetically considered, and appropriate to their context. It sits between engineering and art, combining rigorous problem-solving with creative vision and a genuine concern for the people who will use what is designed. Good product design responds to real problems, considers materials and manufacturing processes, and takes seriously the social and environmental consequences of bringing new things into the world.

At Sheffield Hallam University, this three-year full-time programme prepares you for a career as a product or service designer with a global outlook. You will work on real-world projects that require you to identify opportunities, develop concepts, prototype solutions, and evaluate them against user needs and manufacturing constraints. The programme explores new materials, emerging manufacturing processes, and the systems thinking required to design not just objects but the experiences and services that surround them.

A foundation year is available for students who need to build their creative and analytical skills before the main degree begins. A sandwich year places you in a professional design environment for an extended period, and work placement experience is woven throughout the programme.

Graduates from product design programmes go on to careers in industrial design, consumer products, furniture and interiors, transport design, medical devices, packaging, and user experience design. The breadth of the discipline means graduates work across manufacturing, technology, retail, and the public sector. Many also move into service design, design consultancy, and innovation management roles.

Postgraduate study in product design, design innovation, and engineering is available for those who wish to specialise further or pursue research.