Integrated Product Design – (M.Sc.)

Contents

This new course focuses on the design of innovative products, emphasising the balance between the interest of users, industry and society. The programme covers the whole design process, integrating all aspects relevant to product development, in particular global new product design. The course provides an integrated approach and promotes advanced studies in design theory, innovation methods, advanced design techniques, human factors and applied ergonomics, engineering, material and production science, sustainability and research methods.

Mode of Study

The programme can be studied full-time over 12 months, or can be undertaken within 2 years on a part-time basis. The first term of the full-time course includes 4 taught modules worth a total of 60 credits and the second term includes one thick module of 30 credits and two 15 credit modules. The thick module, Professional Design Studio, is a studio-based module, which will include guest lectures, research seminars and group or individual project practices. The projects can be based on design research or product/industrial design.

The `Design Futures´ module will introduce the importance and potential value of future foresight techniques and develop a vision of the future and critically evaluate its implications for design, innovation and enabling technology. The `Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Techniques´ module will introduce CAD and graphics based design modelling, rendering techniques and tools, product design simulation techniques and tools, rapid prototyping and manufacturing techniques. For the final four months of the programme (June to September), students will continue their projects to completion and undertake a dissertation project. Students are encouraged to undertake an optional industrial placement as part of this project.

Taught Modules

* Sustainable Design
* Design Research, Creativity and Innovation
* Integrated Design Management
* Cognitive Ergonomics in Design
* Professional Design Studio
* Design Futures
* Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Techniques
* Dissertation Project

Sustainable Design

* Key environment and socio-economic issues and relationships to sustainability
* The Life Cycle Assessment method and design practice with awareness of its strengths and weaknesses
* The tools of LCA and streamlined LCA to highlight critical environmental issues for development in a particular product
* Different views on environmental issues and practices
* Case studies to differentiate environmental problems, issues and possible solutions.



Design Research, Creativity and Innovation

* The characteristics and content of design, branding, strategy, innovation and creativity and their relationships
* The relationship between design research, branding, creativity and innovation, technology, socio-economic and environmental issues
* ovaluation of the nature of research and its application to design and branding as a basis for formulating strategies, plans and implementation recommendations
* Branding strategies in a context of current research and professional practice.
* Suitable methodological tools for carrying out design, branding and innovation research studies.



Integrated Design Management

* Strategic Design Management/Design Strategy
* Relationship between Design and Marketing
* Managing Customer Experience
* Project Management.



Cognitive Ergonomics in Design

* The relevance of the paradigm of applied cognitive psychology to human-centred design
* The key models of human performance and theories of cognition, and their relevance in design
* The systems model of performance and its implications for complex socio-technological systems
* Specific ergonomic theories to specific design contexts
* The human factors implications of a product or system design
* Concepts of product and system design with respect to cognitive ergonomics.



Professional Design Studio

* Socio-cultural, economic, technological and environmental factors
* Design research and process developments
* The role and management of design within organisations
* Design responses: high quality design deliverables as part of a response to a design issue.

Design and Innovation Futures

* Futures forecasting and forecasting techniques
* Influences of global and national economy; organisational change issues
* Social and ethical issues
* Influence of technology, marketing and branding; innovation drivers
* Key design research findings.



Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Techniques

* The technical challenges in the context of global product design and development
* Current computer aided design and manufacturing techniques in integrated product design
* Creative and virtual design theories, methods and techniques
* Applications of 2D/3D design modelling, rendering, analysis, simulation and prototyping, digital manufacturing
* Digital human modelling in design
* Integration of a range of CAD/CAM/CAE tools into design project.



Dissertation Project

* Identify one or more critical issues suitable for in-depth research in the context of current needs and/or concerns of integrated product design
* Show evidence of initiative and creative thinking in both the methods employed and the critical evaluation of the key issues identified
* Critically reflect on the learning in the taught modules and the application of conceptual and practical tools during the design research project
* Work independently to a high standard in investigating and addressing complex issues and self-manage their study programme effectively.