This multi-disciplinary course blends and blurs the boundaries between product and interaction design to create a truly dynamic discipline that develops the knowledge and expertise to enter a variety of careers in the area of product and interaction design.
The course aims to produce adaptable, creative thinkers who are able to embrace a multi-disciplinary approach, have strong teamworking skills and fully understand emerging technologies and processes.
Broad design principles are at the core of your learning, with the option of choosing definitive pathways of either product and interaction design halfway through the course. You will also have the flexibility to follow new and emerging pathways in the future.
Level 1
Explores the principles of design including research and brainstorming skills, communication and visualisation, storytelling, typography, branding, target markets, usability, human factors and an understanding of the design processes common to the industry.
Level 2
Offers the opportunity to work with other disciplines within the college as part of a cross-faculty project. From here the course divides to form two pathways – Interactions or Products, allowing you to develop your strengths and primary interests within your chosen pathway.
Choosing the Interactions pathway, you will focus on interactive experiences; user experience and usability; services. Topics include: interactive products, HCI, play (games), ethnography, tangible media, physical computing, behaviours, physical computing and screen-based interactions.
Choosing the Products pathway, you will focus on form and aesthetics; design for manufacture and materials; sustainability.
Topics include: emotional design, materials, product semantics, ethnography, design for manufacture and digital technologies/ rapid prototyping.
Level 3
Prepares you for professional practice through a series of predefined as well as self set briefs, a major project, a dissertation and a guided preparation of a portfolio to professional standards. You will also take part in external exhibitions, competitions and the end of year degree show.
Each level is complemented by units in Contextual Studies, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and Personal and Professional Development to give you a rounded education that prepares you for professional life.
5 GCSEs (A-C) or equivalent (preferably including English, Media/Technology), and at least one of the following or equivalent UK or international qualification: 2 A Levels (A-C); 4 AS Levels (A-C); 2 vocational A Levels (A-C); Level 3 Foundation Diploma or National Diploma; Advanced Diploma (A-C) or International Baccalaureate (24 points or above). Also, an interview and a portfolio, showreel or other indicator of creative or technical practice where appropriate.
A Progression Agreement is a formal arrangement between two or more
education providers. It spells out what a learner needs to do to be
considered for a place on a named programme of study. Progression Agreements
may vary in the conditions they specify but they all aim to give guaranteed
pathways into higher education.
Advice on courses and careers:-
The Creative Way IAG team provides a specialist service for anyone
interested in finding out about courses and careers in the creative and
cultural industries. We can provide information direct to Students,
Parents/ Carers, Tutors and Careers Advisers via email, phone or organised
workshops and 1 to 1 sessions.
To find out more, visit our IAG page on this site on
http://www.creativeway.org.uk/IAG Or contact one of our career advisers: Matt Ball 07889 001764
m.ball@uel.ac.uk or Sarah
Comerford 07515 051509
s.comerford@uel.ac.uk