Intro to Product Design 1: Process (H7063F)
Introduction to Product Design 1: Process
Module H7063F
Module details for 2025/26.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 3 (sub-degree)
Module Outline
How are new products born? What does it take for an idea to become a fully finished, mass-manufactured product in a shelf, ready for sale?
This is the first of two modules aimed at providing the student with an initial taster of the field of product design, and the type of activities involved in professional practice. Students will develop an idea for a new product, and develop it into a fully functional prototype in response to a given design brief. In the process, students will gain knowledge of the basic processes, techniques, tools and theory behind new product development, and gain awareness of the multiple dimensions of a product. Students will learn how to understand a design brief, do research, enounce a clear problem statement, come up with ideas, develop and evaluate their ideas, communicate those ideas using a variety of tools and methods, and present their design solutions to an audience. The module assumes no previous knowledge and aims to equip the student through the right balance of both theory and practice. Students will spend a considerable amount of time developing their designs in the classroom, and are expected to spend an equally substantial amount of time on this task outside of the classroom.
Full Module Description
How are new products born? What does it take for an idea to become a fully finished, mass-manufactured product in a shelf, ready for sale?
This is the first of two modules aimed at providing the student with an initial taster of the field of product design, and the type of activities involved in professional practice. Students will develop an idea for a new product, and develop it into a fully functional prototype in response to a given design brief. In the process, students will gain knowledge of the basic processes, techniques, tools and theory behind new product development, and gain awareness of the multiple dimensions of a product. Students will learn how to understand a design brief, do research, enounce a clear problem statement, come up with ideas, develop and evaluate their ideas, communicate those ideas using a variety of tools and methods, and present their design solutions to an audience. The module assumes no previous knowledge and aims to equip the student through the right balance of both theory and practice. Students will spend a considerable amount of time developing their designs in the classroom, and are expected to spend an equally substantial amount of time on this task outside of the classroom.
Module learning outcomes
Apply Design Thinking to solve a problem.
Use a number of Design Thinking techniques particularly around research and idea generation.
Create a digital portfolio that showcases and describes creative process.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Portfolio | A1 Week 2 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Jill Kirby
Assess convenor
/profiles/212335
Mr Chris Stocking
Assess convenor
/profiles/335362
Dr Giovanni Contreras Garcia
Convenor, Assess convenor
/profiles/395592
Dr Emily Baker
Assess convenor
/profiles/123259
Prof Graeme Pedlingham
Assess convenor
/profiles/166463
Dr Polona Osojnik
Assess convenor
/profiles/387060
Dr Katherine Kruger
Assess convenor
/profiles/245567
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