Product Design BA

Overview

Our product design degree gives you the knowledge, practical skills and industry experience to build a portfolio that will help you launch a career in a wide-range of sectors.

Why study product design with us

Product designers are the visionaries who bring people and technology together. A BA in product design will open up both creative and technological career opportunities in areas that range from industrial design and engineering to mechanical design and creative technology.

Through project-based study, you'll develop the expert skills and understanding to combine aesthetic functionality and innovative technology. You’ll spend your first year studying a combination of product design and product design engineering to get a broad understanding of the fundamentals of both practices before choosing whether to continue with the BA Product Design or move across to our BEng Product Design Engineering programme .

Build your hands-on design skills

You’ll build your professional portfolio, and have the opportunity to enter prestigious design competitions to give you a competitive career edge. You’ll also showcase your work in our final year degree show, where you’ll have the chance to share your products with industry employers and build valuable contacts.

Our guest lectures from leading UK and international design experts and designer-in-residence scheme gives you the chance to build your industry knowledge, gaining valuable feedback on your portfolio. We’re also partnered with our design and innovation centre, redLoop, which gives you unique opportunities to work on real design and technology development projects.

You’ll have the option to gain valuable professional experience by spending your third year in an industry work placement leading to a Diploma in Industrial Studies. Our network of creative professionals also means you’ll have access to prestigious work experience placements throughout your product design course.

Get the support you need to succeed

We ensure that every student has adequate support throughout their time with us. That’s why you’ll get matched with a Personal Tutor as well as a Student Learning Assistant and a Graduate Academic Assistant. They’ll have experience in your subject area and will be able to help whenever you need.

Our degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) and meets the requirements of Registered Product Designer (RProdDes). You’ll graduate employment-ready and able to start a career in a wide-range of sectors. Many of our graduates have also gone on to start their own businesses, launching successful start-ups including Rebirth and Novo Consult.

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London, including updates on places available in Clearing for 2020 entry.

Department

Design Engineering and Mathematics

What our students say

Middlesex PD prides itself on the thinking side, creating systems and environments for people that are more than just a physical product but the whole user experience. It is a thinking-led approach, and that is why I chose Middlesex.

Stacey Mendez, BA Product Design graduate

Course content

What will you study on BA Product Design?

You will develop a range of techniques across studio based design processes, prototyping and traditional workshop methods, and computer aided design and manufacturing techniques. The design discourse strand will help you to understand design in its wider context and to recognise its place in the cultural landscape.

You will learn to design and produce a wide range of products across: consumer durables, lighting, furniture, smart products, sports and leisure products, and toys and games. You will also examine design issues relating to: design strategy, human factors, marketing, product semantics, sustainable design, CAD visualisation and simulation, advanced manufacturing, rapid prototyping and contextual design studies.

Our professional learning environment encourages you to develop a commercial approach to design. This happens through taking part in work placements and also through supporting live projects with industry partners.

What will you gain?

Product Design is a practice-based programme, and is focused on employability experience. Modules build technical skills and/or practice skills. Year 1 builds these through hands-on exercises and mini-projects. Year 2 develops the depth and range of these skills and adds ‘Live’ experiences with industrial or external collaborators in a range of Product Design sectors. The Placement Year extends this by allowing you to go out to work directly in a design and/or engineering practice or practices.

The final year combines external project experience with a self-initiated final project, which acts as a calling card for future employment and integrates and coheres all the previous experiences at the highest level.

The course will help you develop the theoretical and practical skills, experiences and attitudes to enter the professional world as an employment ready Product Designer across a wide range of sectors and emerging practices.

Modules

We’ve made sure that the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain on your course will not change during the coronavirus outbreak. If you’re applying to start this course or progressing into year one, two or three this autumn, your module information is below.

Year 1
- Design and Studio Practice (60 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module introduces you to core skills in design and studio practice. The focus of the module is on developing both an intellectual awareness and a practical application of design process methods, ideas generation and communication techniques and creative conversations.
- Prototyping (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module introduces you to core skills in prototyping. The focus of the module is developing confidence in an awareness and practical application of prototyping techniques appropriate for different stages of the design process.
- Design Tools (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module offers an introduction to core computing skills for design practice. It enables you to develop skills in CAD modelling, design visualisation, design communication and product prototyping. It introduces strategies for engaging with distributed communities or practice and developing an online presence.
Year 2
- Design Methods, Processes and Practices (60 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module provides the opportunity for you to develop your design knowledge, practice and experiences and to apply their design skills through workshops and selected external collaborative projects covering a range of sectors. You will focus on deepening theory, process and contextual knowledge, and applying that knowledge in responding to complex briefs.
- Advanced Prototyping (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module equips you with the prototyping tools and approaches to enable you to successfully engage in a range of prototyping activities to develop, explore, test and validate design proposals. The module will develop your capability to analyse design problems, to develop effective prototyping strategies and to explore creative approaches to prototyping. You will develop your knowledge and skills in building working prototypes, at a range of fidelities, and employing a range of methods for exploring prototyping
- Advanced Design Tools (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module develops your advanced CAD and CAM capabilities. It focuses on advanced surface and feature-based modelling techniques as product design tools and enables you to develop competence in the use of these processes, techniques and tools. The module develops students’ understanding of reverse engineering, mass manufacture design requirements and related design optimisation techniques.
Year 3 - Optional Placement
- TKSW Placement (120 credits) - Optional
  
  The aim of this module is to strengthen, extend and apply your knowledge, skills and experiences you have gained from your programme in the context of a working environment and to complement, stimulate, reinforce and encourage the development of discipline-specific technical knowledge and your transferable skills.
Year 4
- Design Projects and Professional Practice (60 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module provides the opportunity for you to synthesise your design project experiences and to develop your practice to a professional level, through selected external collaborative projects and through the generation of your Final Major Project. The focus of all projects is on various forms of innovation. The Final Major Project is self-initiated and self-directed, taking place over an extended period of time across the academic year. It requires you to make a significant personal contribution to all phases of the design development process and to your personal professional goals.
- Professional Context (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module develops your design research, strategic planning, theoretical background and contextual and commercial framework for your Final Major Project and your personal practice. You will prepare and publish a range of technical and contextual texts, and a professional and personal reflection upon your project work.
- Design Manifestation (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  The Design Manifestation module continues the making experiences from Year 1 & 2 modules to develop a high level of technical capability and an equivalent level of reflective practice sensitivity. It interweaves with the final year modules to create a coherent and supportive final year experience which will prepare them for their chosen future. The module will equip final year students with: - the understanding and experience of HOW to evolve great ideas and manifest them in appropriate and high-quality ways. - the ability to consider WHY the manifestation process they pursue is best suited to them, their project, their practice and the wider world. - the confidence to engage with challenges early in an active, exploratory and open manner, and to apply their knowledge and experiences in effective ways.

More information about this course

See the course specification for more information:

Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching

How is the BA Product Design taught?
Core to the Product Design Programme experience is the design studio (virtual and/or physical), where creative conversation, research, discussion, ideation, sharing of work, crit and review and exploration are central to the student experience. As students on our programmes, you are part of a series of design teams, first within your cohort, and then within the wider programme/s.
Our students develop knowledge and skills in specialist modules through a blended learning approach, which involves face-to-face sessions (lectures, laboratory sessions and/or seminar sessions), self-directed, resource-based learning, small group discussions, small group and individual exercises, laboratory and workshop sessions, demonstration of software, on-line examples, and group presentations. We have extensive studio, laboratory and workshop facilities.
As well as working on design projects – some with industrial partners - and exhibiting your work, you will learn through reading, research, observation, experimentation and discussion. Together, this forms a portfolio of work ranging from conceptual design and design for manufacture, right through to strategic design assignments and a written design report.
You can opt to extend your course by a year (without paying additional tuition fees) and spend the third year doing a paid work placement of between 36 and 48 weeks. This is very much encouraged as it helps you build a significant portfolio of work and a good CV. This will lead to the additional award of a Diploma in Industrial Studies.
Assessment
We’re planning to deliver our assessment in a similar way to previous years. We will review this regularly, and let you know in advance of your assessment if we need to make any changes.
You will enjoy regular studio and laboratory contact with academic staff (whether online or face to face), with regular and ongoing formative feedback. You will be graded on project work, both group and individual, but you will also submit written assignments and give presentations. If you choose to do an industrial placement, this will also form part of your assessment.
Assessment is entirely through coursework.

Teaching and learning

Changes for students in 2020

If you’re starting university in 2020, we’ll be teaching you in different ways to make sure you get the best learning experience possible. You’ll learn through live sessions with teaching staff and have the chance to study independently too, with access to all the online resources you need through our globally available student portal.

We’re planning different scenarios for teaching so that we can be flexible. While we’re social distancing, we’re aiming to teach you through some small group sessions on campus, with other interactive teaching as well as larger lectures delivered online and recorded sessions available to you on-demand. If you’re unable to make it to campus at first, or we need to limit access to campus in the future, your course can be delivered fully online.

The table below shows current plans for your learning across a typical week, including scheduled live online teaching and an indication of what we hope to teach face to face, where you can make it to campus. While some weeks might look different to this, due to how we schedule classes and make arrangements for any face to face sessions (for example, in some cases these could take place every two weeks with an increased number of hours), the table gives you an idea of what to expect based on the overall number of teaching hours on your course.

You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start.

Scenario 1: course delivered fully online
1.	Live learning	Contact time per week, per level:	All years: 12 hours
2.	Self-paced learning time	Average hours per week, per level:	All years: 28 hours
3.	On demand resources	Average hours per week, per level:	0 hours
Scenario 2: course delivered with a mix of online and face to face learning with social distancing in place
1.	Live learning	Contact time per week, per level:	All years: 12 hours
2.	Self-paced learning time	Average hours per week, per level:	All years: 28 hours
3.	On demand resources	Average hours per week, per level:	0 hours
4.	Face-to-face sessions	Contact time per week, per level:	At full capacity: All years: 12 hours If limited capacity: All years: 9 hours (priority given to Year 3)

Read more about our scenarios for returning to campus and what they might mean for your teaching and learning experience, and how you’ll be able to access student support.

Future plans for teaching

We’re developing our timetable for face to face teaching with current government advice on social distancing to keep you safe. If social distancing requirements are lifted, we’ll start to safely move back towards our usual teaching arrangements with more opportunities for face to face learning. Some learning and support might stay online in this scenario. If more restrictions are put in place, or there is another lockdown, we’ll be prepared to deliver your learning and support fully online, with alternative arrangements made for any required placements. We’ll always give you notice of any changes that we make.

Definitions of terms

Live learning – Live learning will cover everything you’ll do with teaching staff like lectures, seminars, workshops and other classes, and we’ll schedule all of this for you. This might include some study outside your regular timetable, like taking part in discussion forums or online blogs where you’re supported by academic staff.
Independent learning – Independent learning is all the studying you’ll do outside your live learning sessions with teaching staff. This self-paced study will give you the chance to learn, prepare, revise and reflect in your own time as you need to, and you’ll have access to on-demand resources and materials to help you do your best.
- Self-paced study – Self-paced study will give you the chance to learn wherever and whenever you want to and at your own pace, outside your live learning sessions. This independent learning could include reading and reflection, preparation for classes, revision or homework along with access to other online activities such as quizzes.
- On-demand resources – You'll have access to on-demand resources like pre-recorded video lectures and workshops as part of your independent study. You’ll be able to review and revisit whenever you need to at your own pace.
Face to face sessions – Wherever it’s possible to do so, and we can make the necessary arrangements to ensure your safety, you’ll be able to attend scheduled sessions, workshops or appointments on campus as part of your live learning. The number of hours given in this scenario provides an indication of the number of hours of face to face learning you could expect, and a full timetable will be provided to you before the start of your course.

Support

You’ll have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.

Our support services will mainly be delivered online and you’ll have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.

You’ll have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

More on teaching for your subject in 2020/21

Read our guide to what’s been happening in your subject area recently and more about what to expect this autumn.

Teaching
Lectures allow you to gain and develop knowledge in specific subjects. You can discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures and practicals in smaller seminar groups. In addition, you can arrange one to one sessions with your personal tutor or module leader. You will also have access to and use resources to support your learning.
Independent Learning
When not attending your teaching, sessions mentioned above, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and examinations. Your independent learning is supported by the facilities available including the library and Study Hub, Laptop hire, and with online materials in MyUniHub (see student support section below).
Overall Workload
Your overall workload will include the activities listed above, and with each credit being completed equating to 10 hours of study time (You will complete 120 credits per level of study, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits). While your actual hours may depend on the optional module that you choose (if available), the following information will give you an indication of how much time is allocated to teaching and independent study on your course:
Level 4
24% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity:
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
- Independent Learning: 912 hours
Level 5
26% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity:
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 312 hours
- Independent Learning: 888 hours
Level 6
21% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity:
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 252 hours
- Independent Learning: 948 hours
Academic Support
You will have access to academic support services that you assist you in the following areas;
- Study Skills, including academic writing, reading and numeracy skills.
- Employability, with workshops and tutorials on CV writing, interview and presentation skills.
- Library Support, including sessions on finding, and choosing the right resources and software and tutorials on referencing and plagiarism.
- Progression and Support Advisors to assist you with if you experience difficulties with your studies.
- Well-being Services.
These services can be accessed through the UniHelp Desk in the Library building.
Assessment
The course will provide you with opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding informally through ‘formative’ assessment. This will be completed before your formal ‘summative’ assessment which will count towards your final marks. Each module normally contains at least one piece of formative assessment from which you will receive feedback from your tutor. Formative assessments are developmental and any grade you receive from formative assessment does not count towards your final marks.
There is formal ‘summative’ assessment as part of the module, usually towards the end of the module. The grades from the summative assessments count towards your module mark. Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback, to suit content or based on feedback from an external examiner.
Percentage of course assessed by coursework
The balance of assessment will depend on the modules that you complete throughout your course. The approximate percentage of the course which is assessed by coursework is outlined below:
Level 4 100% coursework
Level 5 100% coursework
Level 6 85% coursework 15% practical exams

Feedback
You will receive feedback on the formative assessment, and written summative assessments. Feedback on examination performance can be requested from the module leader. Feedback is intended to help you learn and progress, and you are encouraged to review and discuss your feedback with your module or personal tutor.
We will aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of submission.
Details of progression and pass marks for assessment can be found in the university regulations.

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements provide a guide to the qualifications that you’ll need to study our courses. We understand that recent changes to exams and assessments mean you might be worried about your qualifications, so we’re taking a flexible approach to admissions this year. We’ll do our best to consider your application on an individual basis and look at more than your grades when we’re making a decision.
In light of the Government’s latest advice to delay the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have taken the decision to change our on-campus applicant interviews into online assessments. We will be in contact with specific arrangements for your subject area, so please check your email. Visit information for new students in 2020 for updates.
Qualifications
This course is now available in Clearing. Follow this link or call 020 8411 6565 for more info.
Middlesex University has a flexible and personalised approach to admissions and we accept applications from students with a wide range of qualifications and a combination of qualifications.
Please check our general entry requirements page to see how these points can be achieved from our acceptable level 3 qualifications and the combinations which are welcomed by Middlesex University, including GCSE requirements.
Applications from mature candidates without formal qualifications are welcomed, provided they can demonstrate appropriate levels of relevant ability and experience.
Eligibility
UK/EU and international students are eligible to apply for this course.
Academic credit for previous study or experience
If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex University course in year two or three. For further information please visit our Transfer students page.
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Entry onto this course requires an interview and portfolio. Please view the Interviews and Portfolios tab for more information
Our entry requirements provide a guide to the qualifications that you’ll need to study our courses. We understand that recent changes to exams and assessments mean you might be worried about your qualifications, so we’re taking a flexible approach to admissions this year. We’ll do our best to consider your application on an individual basis and look at more than your grades when we’re making a decision. You’ll still need to meet our English language requirements to be considered for your course.
Qualifications
This course is now available in Clearing. Follow this link or call 020 8411 6565 for more info.
Middlesex University has a flexible and personalised approach to admissions and we accept applications from students with a wide range of qualifications and a combination of qualifications.
Please check our general entry requirements page to see how these points can be achieved from our acceptable level 3 qualifications and the combinations which are welcomed by Middlesex University, including GCSE requirements.
Applications from mature candidates without formal qualifications are welcomed, provided they can demonstrate appropriate levels of relevant ability and experience.
To find out more about the qualifications we accept from your country please visit the relevant support in your country page. If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office for support.
Visas and immigration
You will not need a visa to study in the UK if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK. Please see our visas and immigration page for further information.
English language requirements for international students
You must have competence in English language to study with us. The most commonly accepted evidence of English language ability is IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all components). We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. Visit our English language requirements page for a full list of accepted tests and qualifications.
If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Entry onto this course requires an interview and portfolio. Please view the Interviews and Portfolios tab for more information
The application is just the first step in our selection process, we also invite you to an interview and review your portfolio of art and design work. We've put together some simple notes to help you prepare:
Your portfolio
- The portfolio is expected to consist of 5-10 pages showing a range of recent design work
- Be selective about the work you show while continuing to show a range of skills and ability
- Show mostly recent work that you are most proud of
- Consider how to present your work and the impression the overall look of your portfolio will have on the viewer
- We like to see lots of work but don't overfill your portfolio - you should be able to carry it by yourself!
- You do not need to bring large pieces of 3D work, photographs are sufficient
Sketchbooks are extremely important. They should be a 'diary' of your thinking and include observational and speculative drawings/sketches communicating a visual sensitivity. We also look for evidence of how you develop and work through your ideas. Include photographs and collected images and importantly your reaction to them, but avoid letting your sketchbooks be merely scrapbooks
Your interview
Depending on student numbers some interviews will occur in 'teams'. You will be asked to undertake a mini design project within these teams. In the case of low student numbers you will be interviewed individually. We use the interview process to allow us to find out more about you, to better understand your aspirations and interests and for you to learn more about us.

Fees and funding

The fees below refer to the 2020/21 academic year unless otherwise stated.
UK/EU students*
Full-time students: £9,250
*Course fees are subject to annual inflation.
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our undergraduate funding page.
The fees below refer to the 2020/21 academic year unless otherwise stated.
International students*
Full-time students: £13,700
*Course fees are subject to annual inflation.
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our undergraduate funding page.
Course costs
The following course-related costs are included in the fees:
- A free electronic textbook for every module
- All printing and copying required for your study
- Self-service laptops available for loan for a maximum of 24 hours
- Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders

Careers

How can the BA Product Design support your career?

As a Product Design graduate, you will enter employment in a wide-range of sectors that fall within the new definition of ‘Product Design’ and ‘Product Design Engineer’. You could find a career in such roles as:

Industrial Designer
Design Engineer
Service Designer
Designer/Craftsperson
Interaction Designer
Mechanical Designer
Experimental Designer
Product Designer
Creative Technologist
Design Strategist

You would also have the skills and knowledge to set up your own business, and successful start-ups such as Rebirth, Casezo, ADZero (ADCreative), Airbrake, Mutant Bikes, Exceptional and Novo Consult have been led by graduates.

Facilities

Our Product Design degree offers a professional standard learning environment with excellent facilities, including over 100 high spec workstations with dedicated CAD/CAM equipment. The workshops feature industrial scale facilities for CNC milling, turning, laser cutting, additive manufacturing/rapid prototyping and CMM reverse engineering.

Electronics and mechatronics prototyping and production, including LabView and Multisim tools with associated hardware such as NI-ELVIS training equipment and Compact Rio control systems provided by National Instruments and PCB manufacture. Festo automated production and assembly simulation equipment.

World leading and international award-winning designers work with our students, through visiting lectureships, guest lectures and projects regularly and throughout their experience.

Make sure to check out the official MDXPD YouTube channel to view the activities, ideas and outcomes of various modules from MDX Product Design.

Campus life

International students

Study abroad

Work and career

Support services

Staff profiles

Dr Kate Herd
Senior Lecturer

Dr Herd is an internationally renowned expert on co-design. She is also Associate Director of redLoop, the MDX Design and Innovation Centre.

Helena Ambrosio
Lecturer and Designer in Residence in Design Engineering and Mathematics

Helena is active in practice and research exploring design and engineering processes and data-driven design.

Professor Patrick W. Jordan

Professor Jordan is a world-renowned expert in the area of design psychology. He is a strategic advisor to many of the world’s leading companies as well as to the UK Government. He is the author of ‘Designing Pleasurable Products’.

Ahmed Patel
Associate Lecturer

Ahmed has extensive practice experience across the consumer product, public event and co-creation sectors. He researches into narrative in design.

Student profiles

Stacey Mendez

BA Product Design graduate

I graduated in 2009 and since then I have worked for various types of design companies, both in-house and consultancy as well as a bit of freelance – just to get a broad understanding of the Product Design industry. I have worked in Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland and Japan, and Currently I am in London working as the Lead Product Designer at a start-up which is really exciting.
When you get to a certain point within product design you're no longer just designing products, you have to think about things a lot more holistically – how things are going to affect the engineering, marketing and branding teams and integrate yourself with a much more diverse range of people.
I think this course was the stepping stone for me to get into the field of Product Design. Every product design course should do that, but the thing about the course at Middlesex is that it really broadens your thinking. A lot of courses teach you the traditional craft skills, how to sketch, render, make awesome CAD models, but this course is predominantly focused on thinking and designing for people. That is what made it different for me.
I did a placement at Vtech in Hong Kong which was really good. It was very different, but it was amazing in terms of experiencing another culture and the way they design. I'd recommend anyone to do a placement as it really helps you develop. I was fortunate enough that one of the lecturers noticed some of my work and realised I'd won a design competition before I joined the University and he put me in touch with ones of his contacts.
The facilities in the Grove are amazing, really really good. The way that everything is integrated into one area – so you have photography, animation, everything – is amazing. Everything you need as a creative is in this one building and the workshop is fantastic. Any Product Design student at Middlesex should really take advantage of this, because as soon as you get in to industry you may find that you won't have a workshop like it.
To anyone thinking about studying Product Design, I would tell them to look around and compare different courses and decide based on what they want from a Product Design course. Every course says Product Design but they teach it differently. Some are more focused on the engineering side, some are more focused on the traditional craftsmanship side. Middlesex prides itself on the thinking side, creating systems and environments for people that are more than just a physical product but the whole user experience. It is a thinking-led approach, and that is why I chose Middlesex.
What I enjoyed most was probably meeting the people that I met on the course. We have all gone off into different areas of design but we're all still friends and looking back that is probably what I enjoyed the most.
Find out more about Stacey's work on her website.
Kieron-Scott Woodhouse

BA Product Design graduate

Middlesex Product Design and Engineering student Kieron-Scott Woodhouse recently caused a media frenzy when his innovative design for a bamboo smart phone was noticed by a technology entrepreneur from China. The pair joined forces with a hardware engineer and within weeks had set up a company to manufacture the phone. Made from four-year-old organically grown bamboo that has been treated to improve its durability, the phone runs Google's Android operating system and was designed by Kieron-Scott to combat the lack of variety in the mobile phone market. The phone has since been put into production for the Chinese market and will also be launched in the UK later this year.
When I walked into Middlesex and got a feel for what they do, I knew it was the course for me. Being in London was also another major plus. I felt it was important to be where all the action is.
I feel that the emphasis on working with real industry clients has really pushed me to a level other universities may not have. Weekly guest lectures from external designers and companies like Aston Martin and Paul Cocksedge have had a big impact and help to keep me focused to succeed."
Find out more about Kieron-Scott's work
Betul Salman 

Product Design BA graduate

Betul won the W'innovate and Wilko Award at the New Designers Awards 2017 for Swishhh, her manual blender which helps to connect families through cooking. Betul was part of a group of Middlesex student entrants who championed diversity as their core objective. Middlesex University Product Design Diversity are a student team with a broad range of projects, skills and cultural backgrounds. In addition to Betul's Swish, they work to develop a number of innovative projects including Speak, musical jewellery devices that aim to improve stammering through rhythm, and FlyBaby, a motion-controlled guitar attachment.
I'm proud to have been selected, and also that design is accepting of people of different backgrounds because that's how you get a diverse range of ideas.

Contact us

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

Level 4	100% coursework
Level 5	100% coursework
Level 6	85% coursework	15% practical exams

This course is now available in Clearing.Follow this link or call 020 8411 6565 for more info

Overview

Why study product design with us

Build your hands-on design skills

Get the support you need to succeed

Find out more

Department

What our students say

Course content

What will you study on BA Product Design?

What will you gain?

Modules

Year 1

Design and Studio Practice (60 credits) - Compulsory

Prototyping (30 credits) - Compulsory

Design Tools (30 credits) - Compulsory

Year 2

Design Methods, Processes and Practices (60 credits) - Compulsory

Advanced Prototyping (30 credits) - Compulsory

Advanced Design Tools (30 credits) - Compulsory

Year 3 - Optional Placement

TKSW Placement (120 credits) - Optional

Year 4

Design Projects and Professional Practice (60 credits) - Compulsory

Professional Context (30 credits) - Compulsory

Design Manifestation (30 credits) - Compulsory

More information about this course

Teaching

How is the BA Product Design taught?

Assessment

Teaching and learning

Changes for students in 2020

More on teaching for your subject in 2020/21

Teaching

Independent Learning

Overall Workload

Academic Support

Assessment

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Helena Ambrosio Lecturer and Designer in Residence in Design Engineering and Mathematics

Professor Patrick W. Jordan

Ahmed Patel Associate Lecturer

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Product Design Engineering BEng/MEng

Design Engineering BEng/MEng

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Dr Kate Herd
Senior Lecturer

Helena Ambrosio
Lecturer and Designer in Residence in Design Engineering and Mathematics

Ahmed Patel
Associate Lecturer