Product Design

• Usability
• Aesthetics
• Ergonomics
• Sustainability
• Application of technology
• Concept generation
• User research: how to understand people's needs
• Prototyping.

If you are studying the BA (Hons) Product Design with Integrated Foundation Year version of this course, key topics of your integrated foundation year will include:

• Fundamental 3D Design Principles: ergonomics, materials, scale, size, form, and function
• Essential UX principles: user-centered design, information architecture, hierarchy, visual flow, and accessibility
• Proficiency in software and applications for prototyping and extended reality (XR) experiences (Photoshop, Rhino, Blender, Figma, SketchUp, Unity)
• Applying visual language, form principles, and 3D thinking to communicate meaning
• Techniques for shaping, visualizing, and communicating 3D forms while balancing hybrid experiences
• Understanding technical workshop operations and using specialist immersive Design facilities
• Employing creative strategies to generate, test, and evaluate design concepts

Students will learn key skills in 2D and 3D design, user research, the iterative design process, and current design software.

They’ll begin developing their own approach to product design, building confidence in responding to both live and self-initiated briefs.

This stage also encourages students to start considering their contextual studies research.

Modules include:

• Design Approaches
• Design Skills
• Ergonomics, Inclusion and Empathy
• Interacting with Products
• Professional Life Practice: "Developing your Practice"
• Professional Life Practice: "Exploring your Practice"

Students will deepen their understanding of the design process, from prototype development to materials and manufacturing techniques.

They’ll collaborate on briefs with peers and have opportunities for work-based learning in the design industry.

Modules include:

• Sustainable Design in Practice
• Interface, Experience and Service Design
• Open Innovation
• Professional Life Practice: "Applying your Practice"
• Work-based learning.

We nurture student's independence as designers with a self-directed major product design project, ready for exhibition at the Degree Show.

They will be assessed on a collaborative brief and are required to enter competitions and engage with industry design challenges. At the same time, they will produce a portfolio for entry into the industry.

We ask students to show their contextual studies research and thinking in a long form dissertation.

Modules include:

• Negotiated Brief
• Final Major Project
• Portfolio and Promotion
• Professional Life Practice: "Situating your Practice"

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English and Maths in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade CC or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 64 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. We still think exams are important and look forward to hearing about your successes, but we place just as much importance on the work you will share with us as part of our portfolio process.

Selection criteria:

Students should ideally have a background in art, creative media or design. Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of a portfolio (or showreel). 

We may also consider a combination of portfolio and academic qualifications and take into consideration progress made during studies and/or relevant work experience.

If you wish to study our BA (Hons) Product Design course, we will need to see examples of previous work that showcases your suitability for the course. 

This page offers great tips for completing your portfolio/showreel.

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English and Maths in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade DD or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade PPP
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 48 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course.

Selection criteria:

Students should ideally have a background in art, creative media or design. 

There are no interview or portfolio requirements for this course.