Design Project (H6052)
Design Project
Module H6052
Module details for 2025/26.
60 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Module Outline
The final year design project is where you apply your accumulated knowledge and design skills to a more substantial project of your choice. The projects are designed to give you a taste of real-life design practice in which you must develop your skills in product design and realization, and interact with skilled people across a range of specialisms. The work must be completed by an agreed deadline, and then presented to an audience not necessarily familiar with the work you have done.
Projects are designed to expose you to issues of project management, resourcing, planning, scheduling, marketing, documentation and communication. This will involve you managing the process of design and may involve activities such as: observation, user research, design probes, specification, sketching/sketch modelling, concept development, prototyping, product refinement, user interaction and producing the relevant presentation material. A good project will demand creative thinking, analysis and implementation.
The project will involve you as an individual working two-days-per-week on a particular area of activity relevant to your major, with the goal of meeting a specific set of objectives. There will be two interim presentations for critique each term and at the end of the second term, you produce a Technical Report and a Portfolio and give a 20-minute presentation. In addition you are required to display and present your work at the Design Show. A single member of faculty will supervise your project; a second (minor) supervisor is also assigned to provide occasional guidance and to give an independent assessment of the completed report and portfolio. The specific objectives will depend on the nature of the project. It is anticipated that you will have developed a substantial piece of work for inclusion in your portfolio.
Module learning outcomes
Plan, conduct and report on the design implementation of a product, system, component and process to meet a need.
Analyse problems of a creative nature through generating a wide range of design ideas, concepts from a variety of researched sources and integrate and interrogate the data to inform the design process to provide appropriate solutions.
Apply a holistic approach in solving problems and designing systems, applying professional judgements to balance risks, costs, benefits, safety, reliability, aesthetics and environmental impact.
Research, select, evaluate, manipulate and manage information relevant to the analysis to select, test and exploit materials and manufacturing processes and cost drivers for the products.
Apply Human-centred and design thinking methods in an iterative process to evaluate, analyse and make evidence-based improvements to products.
Use research, anthropometric data and ergonomic principles to analyse user requirements to inform the technical requirements such as materials selection and manufacturing processes.
Consider and apply the appropriate mathematical and engineering principles to a particular product design problem.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Semester 2 Assessment Week 1 Tue 16:00 | 50.00% |
| Presentation | Spring Semester Week 11 Wed 16:00 | 30.00% |
| Coursework | 20.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Presentation | MYI Week 1 | 25.00% |
| Presentation | T2 Week 9 | 50.00% |
| Presentation | T1 Week 8 (8 hours) | 25.00% |
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 | Project | 8 hours | 11111111111 |
| Spring Semester | Project | 8 hours | 00111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Emeline Brule
Assess convenor
/profiles/461041
Mr Giles Ellis
Assess convenor
/profiles/638953
Dr Charlotte Robinson
Assess convenor
/profiles/415999
Miss Claire Potter
Assess convenor
/profiles/322434
Dr Giovanni Contreras Garcia
Assess convenor
/profiles/395592
Ms Clare Harris
Assess convenor
/profiles/384698
Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.
The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.