-
Study
-
Undergraduate
- Search for a Course
- Undergraduate Open Day & Events
- Application Guides
- Northumbria University UCAS Exhibitions
- Foundation Years
- Undergraduate Fees & Funding
- School & College Outreach
- Continuing Professional Development
-
Postgraduate
- Postgraduate Study Degree
- Postgraduate Research Degrees
- Postgraduate Open Days and Events
- Postgraduate Fees & Funding
- Flexible Learning
- Thinking about a Masters?
- Continuing Professional Development
- Change Direction
-
Student Life
- The Hub - Student Blog
- Accommodation
- Life in Newcastle
- Support for Students
- Careers
- Information for Parents
- Students' Union
- Northumbria Sport
- Be Part of It
-
-
International
International
Northumbria’s global footprint touches every continent across the world, through our global partnerships across 17 institutions in 10 countries, to our 277,000 strong alumni community and 150 recruitment partners – we prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow. Discover more about how to join Northumbria’s global family or our partnerships.
View our Global Footprint-
Applying to Northumbria
- European Union
- Our London Campus
- Northumbria Pathway
- International Events
- Entry Requirements and Country Representatives
- Regional Offices
-
Northumbria Language Centre
- Faculty Requirements
- Acceptable English Requirements
- Pre-sessional English Language and Study Skills
- Academic Language Skills Programmes (ALS)
-
International Fees, Funding & Scholarships
- International Undergraduate Fees
- International Undergraduate Funding
- International Masters Fees
- International Masters Funding
- International Postgraduate Research Fees
- International Postgraduate Research Funding
- International Money Matters
-
Life at Northumbria
- International student support
- Careers
-
International Mobility
- Current Northumbria Students
- Incoming Exchange Students
-
-
Business
Business
The world is changing faster than ever before. The future is there to be won by organisations who find ways to turn today's possibilities into tomorrows competitive edge. In a connected world, collaboration can be the key to success.
More on our Business Services -
Research
Research
Northumbria is a research-rich, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic quality. We conduct ground-breaking research that is responsive to the science & technology, health & well being, economic and social and arts & cultural needs for the communities
Discover more about our Research -
About Us
-
About Northumbria
- Our Strategy
- Our Staff
- Place and Partnerships
- Student Profiles
- Alumni Profiles
- Leadership & Governance
- Academic Departments
- University Services
- History of Northumbria
- Contact us
- Online Shop
-
-
Alumni
Alumni
Northumbria University is renowned for the calibre of its business-ready graduates. Our alumni network has over 244,000 graduates based in 178 countries worldwide in a range of sectors, our alumni are making a real impact on the world.
Our Alumni - Work For Us
What will I learn on this module?
In this module, you'll engage with design challenges chosen from competitions or industry partners, honing your skills in a competitive setting.
The briefs require you to tackle complex issues, addressing current and future challenges that might have multiple factors (social, economic, environmental, and cultural). By undertaking this brief, you will further develop your abilities to research complex issues; develop credible insights; and define design opportunities.
You will also develop your abilities in communicating design proposals in response to complex issues, selecting appropriate media (physical and digital) in order to present compelling, concise and impactful design propositions.
Working on the design competition / collaborating industry briefs is excellent preparation for the other projects you will undertake in your final year, as they challenge your understanding and knowledge of design contexts, research methods, and, your abilities to develop and communicate creative solutions to a high standard. They will also give you a chance to gain recognition for your work through shortlisting and/or being awarded a prize.
How will I learn on this module?
You will engage in experiential learning through studio-based and workshop activities, which work towards the completion of a design brief(s). Your timetabled sessions, which simulate real-world design studios, allow you to apply product design skills advancing a deeper understanding of the discipline while also providing opportunities for critical debate and feedback in a supportive and respectful environment.
Through both project and enquiry-based learning you will be given a mixture of design briefs providing an opportunity to develop and generate creative responses to challenging briefs. Identify and define potential problems that matter to others or just creating well-crafted artefacts. Explore and generate design ideas through sketching, introducing and building on key tools for user-focused / observational design research, prototype building and testing, evaluation, user feedback and visualising / communicating your design intent, pitching to a relevant audience. These projects will allow you to further develop and enhance your skills necessary in becoming an aspiring product designer.
You will be encouraged to think and work independently, investigating design challenges and researching through both primary and secondary sources, putting yourself in the position of others and designing through experimentation. Work on practical product design projects that reflect real-world challenges and your final designed outputs, prototypes, artefacts will be presented or exhibited to share your process with others. By the end of the module, you’ll emerge with a greater understanding of the Product Design process that will prepare you for tackling some of the latest challenges in a rapidly evolving design landscape.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Each project will begin with a comprehensive briefing that will outline and clarify the design project along with the expected learning outcomes, the module and project requirements / deliverables and a detailed schedule. Where a collaborative or live project is involved, professionals from the external partner will work with your module tutors to agree a suitable project and any additional support they can offer. This may include in-person briefings, feedback and guidance throughout the project, site visits, access to proprietary research and specialist equipment.
You will have regular weekly studio sessions to structure your learning experience. In these, you’ll participate in group discussions to receive guidance and feedback from your peers and tutors. Tutors are aligned to each module that relates closely to their own design expertise and experience providing specialist support, whether that is through prior professional experience, through ongoing industrial collaborations or through current research work undertaken within the University.
The module has a specific virtual learning environment (eLearning Portal) which acts as resource where you can access all the relevant documentation including module briefs and guides, presentations and assessment requirements. The digital submission of work, both formative and summative assessments, allow for expedient communication and the effective review of work whilst also utilising industry standard practices. During core working hours for the Design School but outside your timetabled sessions and project dependent, you will have access to a wide range of technician-supported workshop environments. Project and solution driven, these will support all your making requirements including specialist model making materials, laser-cutting, 3D printing, creating sewn soft-products, sensors and electronics, photography and videography. CAD workstations and industry-standard digital modelling software are accessible on campus 24/7 in certain buildings.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
Acquire in-depth knowledge of a complex issue based on critical engagement with relevant theories and debates.
Demonstrate the relevance of your design propositions in relation to aesthetic, technical, cultural, and commercial contexts.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
Use creative research methods to identify and redefine problems and issues in order to underpin design proposals.
Personal Values Attributes
(Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
Show curiosity to navigate complex and ambiguous issues to arrive at considered insights and propositions.
Justify your opinions and the decision-making that informs the framing and development of a design project.
How will I be assessed?
Tutorials and interim reviews will be timetabled at regular intervals during the project to provide a framework for progression and to support reflection and the development of propositions.
Feedback is written and delivered via tutorial review and via eLearning portal (eLP) after the submission at the end of each block (module). Feedback will
be tailored to the stage of the project, e.g., initial feedback will focus on the understanding of the problem space and broader context. As the project develops feedback will be more concerned with the definition of a design direction and refinement of potential solutions as concepts are developed and iterated.
Summative assessment through completing a design project(s) at the end of block 1. Exact deliverables will be clearly defined in the brief and will form 100% of the overall mark. Deliverables may include a range of media including physical artefacts (e.g. models, prototypes, mock-ups) as well as presentation materials (e.g. printed presentation boards; digital presentations; video and animations). Work will be assessed holistically against the learning outcomes with consideration of the brief and how well the student has understood the context, gathered and considered research material, developed creative solutions and communicated the proposal to an audience.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
In this module, you'll engage with design challenges chosen from competitions or industry partners, honing your skills in a competitive context. These carefully curated briefs are designed to enhance your learning experience and achieve module objectives. Addressing multi-faceted issues, encompassing social, economic, environmental, and cultural aspects, these challenges push you to research thoroughly, gain insights, and identify design opportunities. You will refine your ability to communicate design solutions effectively through various media, both physical and digital. This prepares you for future projects by strengthening your grasp of design contexts, research methods, and your capacity to develop and present innovative ideas. Additionally, participating in these challenges offers opportunities for recognition through potential prizes or shortlisting.
Course info
UCAS Code W246
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries, Northumbria School of Design
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Useful Links
Find out about our distinctive approach at
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp
Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms
Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees
Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy
Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints