DE7044 - Smart Product Design and Practice (Studio)

In Smart Product Design and Practice, you will learn through a combination of tutorials, seminars, workshop practice and directed and independent study. Through tutorial support and studio-based feedback, you will be expected to take responsibility for your own creative development and learning for this self-directed practice.



You will practice smart product inquiry, planning, action design, prototyping (from 2D to 3D, virtual to physical), and evaluation to iteratively improve your smart product design and understanding from the human, technology and organisation (HTO) system perspective, by applying research-through design approach you learnt in DE7038 module. The prototyping learning and practice will be supported by zeroonetwo Creative Technology Hub with 3D printing, Open Hardware/IoT building such as ESP32 arduino connected chip, and 3D CAD Lab and model making workshops.



A supportive Experimental Generative Design module (DE7043) will aid your research and design activities for this module. A live industrial project will be shared between DE7043 and DE7044. You will learn to build a connected product in this module (using Arduino or even Raspberry PI) and then populate it with AI through what you are learning on the Experimental Generative Design module (DE7043)



This learning will not only aid you in developing a clear view of your own professional aims and motivation but will also help to contextualise your contribution to business and society and to articulate the value you have to offer. This will form the basis for your study in your MSc major product design project/thesis module (DE7061)

This module begins with a comprehensive briefing that outlines the expected learning outcomes, module requirements, and a detailed schedule.



You will be part of a community of practice that will provide a topic ‘hub’ for cross-organisational collaboration and peer discussion.



You will be involved in reflective practice, which is inherent to the practice of the School.



The Masters programme curriculum has been developed to capitalise on the extensive, active and well-defined research emphasis of the School and channel this expertise to support your development in line with your PDP.



During core working hours for the Design School but outside your timetabled sessions, you will have access to a wide range of technician-supported workshop environments. These will support all your making requirements including specialist model-making materials, laser-cutting, 3D CAD, 3D-printing, creating sewn soft-products, sensors and electronics, photography and videography, Open Hardware/IoT building such as ESP32 arduino connected chips.



Further formal academic support is provided via information posted on E-Learning Portal.



Where appropriate, you may also be directed to engage with Study Skills +, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support.



The library is open 24 hours a day and E-Learning Portal houses all your module documents including your timetable. These services can be accessed on a range of devices.

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 (K&U):

Critically evaluate smart product design, principles and methods.

Evaluate experimental digital technology in smart product design.



Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):

Apply smart product design principles to self-motivated smart product design practice.

Manage your individual and teamwork responsibilities effectively.



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

Reflect on the sustainability, social, and ethical implications of smart product design.

This is a Pass/Fail module.



Summative assessment will take place at the end of the set project through:

A team presentation of portfolio-ready presentation boards based on the live industrial project.

An optional individual viva based on the student's project of block 3 to demonstrate the interpretation of smart product design process evidencing the student’s reflections and project outputs. It will also include the individual choice and justification of the proposed study for the Major product design Project / Thesis in block 4.



Specific submission requirements will be available on the module brief.



The module will be marked as Pass/Fail based on your overall assessment result.



At this summative stage you will receive initial feedback during a verbal team presentation of your work, with additional written feedback on your reflective process viva to follow.



You will benefit from verbal formative feedback during weekly timetabled sessions and at key stages of the design development process.



This module is exempt from the Anonymous Marking Policy. The nature of working closely and directly with the students in teams makes anonymity unfeasible.

DE7037, DE7038, DE7039, DE7040

DE7043

Smart products are the future! Smart product design involves creating products that leverage digital technology such as AI and Digital twins, connectivity, and intelligent features to enhance functionality, user experience, and overall value. This module will first introduce smart product design principles, methodologies and processes across product (ordinary) lifecycle, and then it will introduce how to build up a connected device (product) with Arduino or even Raspberry PI.