Design for Industry BA (Hons)

The Study Abroad module is a semester based 60 credit module which is available on degree courses which facilitate study abroad within the programme. You will undertake a semester abroad at a partner university equivalent to 60 UK credits. This gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. The course of study abroad will be constructed to meet the learning outcomes for the programme for the semester in question, dependent on suitable modules from the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria). The module will be assessed by conversion of graded marks from the host University.

Learning outcomes on the year-long modules on which the student is unable to attend the home institution must be met at the host institution, and marks from the host are incorporated into the modules as part of the overall assessment.

You will learn to work with more challenging design projects, developing your skills and design process as a student of design. You will be encouraged to develop a flexible and creative enquiry-based approach to projects. You will become more engaged in this process, beginning to integrate your design practice with your developing intellectual skills and awareness of broader contexts.
A mixed diet of design briefs and industry-facing collaborative projects will provide you with the opportunity to develop your design processes, specialist skills and abilities through simulated and real-life scenarios – providing a rich learning experience. A range of projects will be presented in order for you to experience different specialised practices in the pursuit of design solutions in the sphere of products, services and experiences. You will work across each area of activity offered (including but not limited to product, service and experience).

You will continue to develop your communication and visual thinking skills in the production of a visual design process sketchbook, capturing a range of design development work produced in the pursuit of your design projects. The ability to think and explore visually in two-dimensions is still a crucial skill for designers and one that is highly sought-after within professional practice. Visual thinking and communication facilitate effective discussion, idea generation and feedback.

This module introduces you to the culture of design, examining historical contexts and theory of design, in order to better understand current design practice and situate your own activity.

The historical and critical studies component of this module aims to develop your understanding of social, cultural and economic issues in contemporary design. Building upon your study of design history at Level 4, you will explore critical debates around design practice within a broader theoretical framework. The lecture programme will examine the dynamic relationship between design production and consumption, asking how design informs social structures, cultural values and identities. Utilising a range of analytical perspectives, including Marxism, feminism and semiotics, you will develop your skills in critical thinking, as well as the cultural and ethical awareness vital for a successful career in design.

You will also be introduced to contemporary issues relating to design practice through a series of lectures, seminars and workshops. The topics covered will include areas of design culture, social issues and trends, technology, commercial design practice and realising design outputs. These topics will help you to consider the wider social and cultural implications of design practice and how the discipline might evolve in the future.

You will be guided and prepared for placement applications in a series of sessions delivered by tutors and the University’s Placements and Internships team. You will further develop your design portfolio in order to give you the best chance in applying for placements in a competitive environment.

You will also undertake a design projects with external stakeholder(s) or a design competition. You will have the opportunity to apply for a number of placement opportunities offered by a wide range of employers and organisations. Securing a placement will significantly develop your skills and abilities and your direct experience of real world design practice, greatly enhancing your awareness of how design is used in practice.

You will write and submit an illustrated reflective placement report – documenting your activity and reflecting upon what you learn/experience. This will also develop your ability to record and communicate your design process to others, it also will encourage you to think about your work and articulate it in written form.

You will also have the option to undertake a personal live-project if you choose not to apply for a placement, or you are not successful in securing one. This will require you to complete a design project for an external brand or organisation, acting as if you were designing for them in a consultant role or pursuing an agreed project of your own choice.

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.