Product Design

Product design is the discipline of bringing new objects and systems into the world in ways that are useful, desirable, and thoughtfully made. It sits between art and engineering, asking designers to consider not only how a product looks but how it works, who it is for, how it will be manufactured, and what its impact will be on people and the environment. Good product design is grounded in deep understanding of materials and making, in empathy with users, and in an ability to move between sketch and prototype until a solution is genuinely fit for purpose.

At the University of Northampton, this three-year full-time programme develops your skills across the full design process from initial research and concept generation through to detailed development and final production. You will work with a wide range of materials and fabrication methods, including digital tools such as CAD software and rapid prototyping technologies, alongside more traditional craft-based approaches. You will learn to conduct user research, develop and test ideas, and present your work in ways that communicate your thinking clearly to different audiences.

The typical entry tariff of 72 points means the programme is accessible to students who may not have followed a conventional academic route but have genuine creative and practical ability.

Product designers work across a remarkably broad range of industries. Graduates go on to roles in consumer goods, furniture and interiors, medical devices, packaging, transportation, and technology products, among many other sectors. Many find employment with design consultancies, where they work across different clients and sectors, while others move in-house with manufacturers or retailers.

Some graduates establish their own design practices. Postgraduate study in product design, industrial design, or innovation management is also a route for those who want to deepen their expertise or move into research and teaching. The skills developed in this programme transfer well into adjacent fields such as exhibition design, set design, and design management.