DE4024 - Product Skills

You will engage in experiential learning through studio-based and workshop activities, which work towards the completion of a design brief(s). During each timetabled session, you will progress through a structured product design process, practical workshops, group tutorials and peer group discussions to help you develop and deliver your design output and / or other design deliverables.



The studio-based learning environment provides a lively, creative and collaborative environment with the opportunity to gauge your own progress, learn from each-others’ strengths and build friendship groups. Tutors will both guide your design progress and encourage you to interact with your peers in sessions – sometimes to work in teams and always to support each other and give positive and helpful feedback. You will be encouraged to think critically, experiment with new ideas throughout the module and collaborate with peers to develop innovative proposals in response to a brief.

Each project will begin with a 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 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 sessions in studio and workshop settings to structure your learning experience. In these, you will 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 a 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.

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)

Knowledge & Understanding:

Demonstrate knowledge through the safe operation of machinery, hand tools, production processes or software applications.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

Independently generate concepts, proposals, solutions or arguments.

Apply knowledge of established development processes to create design-related artefacts.



Personal Values Attributes
(Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

Demonstrate making skills through the creation of design prototypes and artefacts.

Communicate design concepts, proposals or solutions using appropriate media.

You will be regularly assessed formatively and informally, using verbal feedback during timetabled sessions and at key stages of the design development process. Students may be asked to present their work verbally to an audience of peers, tutors and stakeholders to receive feedback and guidance. 



Students will be summatively assessed against one or more product design assignments over the course of the module submitted at the end of block 1. These will split 50/50 between 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional outputs. Students will be required to produce a sketch portfolio complimented with related 3-dimensional card and foam models. For each assignment, students will be assessed against the module outcomes and criteria set out in the briefs. The combined marks for the projects will form 100% of the overall mark.

 

Feedback is written and delivered via tutorial review and via eLearning portal (eLP) after the submission at the end of each block (module).

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In this module, you will learn to use 2-dimensional and 3-dimensioal processes to help explore and communicate your design intent to others. Learning how to develop your product design sketching ability and explore these in simple 3-dimensional sketch models to help explore form, structure and detail. This module will build your dexterity, fluency and attention to detail in how you communicate your concepts. You will also learn how to use industry-standard computer applications, developing techniques and practices to apply as part of your design process in other modules, building competencies and confidence in your design making and design communication skills.