Engineering and design

Design for Industry

Module code: H7008
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture
Assessment modes: Coursework

This module reflects the international nature of product design by optimising skills needed for a full understanding of the holistic industrial, technical and product design processes with their associated specifications. This includes techniques to catalyse product design, including how to locate sources of inspiration for genuine product innovation and the external influencing factors that help govern and create a successful concept.


The module will provide an overview of key design process stages for new design concept development. Subjects include historical and designer appreciation, industrial production techniques, 2D, and 3D presentation skills. In addition, there is a consistent emphasis throughout the module on appreciating the user and market contexts whilst designing for commercial and industrial customers. The module involves a series of seminars including the above that will enhance your ability to develop and present a design concept taken from an initial group project brief. The group brief will ideally be associated with an industrial partner and include an interim group visual and verbal presentation, as well as a final individual design portfolio-report presentation. All the above will extend your personal professional development, final year project awareness and later career preparedness. Where possible a related design visit will be included.

Pre-requisite

Materials and Manufacture
Principles of Engineering Design
Product Design for the 21st Century
Visual Communication

Module learning outcomes

  • Clearly communicate knowledge of engineering and design principles to solve engineering and design problems.
  • Design solutions according to the user and environmental requirements, whilst generating a detailed product design specification, (PDS) demonstrating an awareness for the influences of cost drivers on technical, engineering and design decision-making.
  • Monitor, interpret and apply the results of research, analysis and modelling in order to bring about continuous improvement within a typical design process development and presentation.
  • Practise collaborative and independent work to realise a range of practical, creative and theoretical projects