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BA/BSc (Honours) Design and Innovation - Learning outcomes

Educational aims

The aim of this degree is to broaden your design and innovation thinking around your own particular interests by allowing you to:

  • develop understanding of the processes, principles and issues involved in designing and producing new products
  • understand the issues and challenges associated with innovation and its implementation
  • gain basic skills in applying and managing design processes
  • understand the role of design, innovation and creativity in a contemporary context
  • generate design ideas, concepts, proposals or solutions independently and/or collaboratively in response to set briefs and/or as self-initiated activity.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • theories and models of design and innovation processes
  • design and innovation in a social and global context
  • the fundamental characteristics of design thinking
  • the historical, cultural, and technical foundations of design and innovation in a range of discipline areas.

Cognitive skills

On completion of the degree, you will be able to:

  • recognise various aspects of the design and innovation process using relevant concepts
  • appraise and evaluate design solutions in their context of use and production
  • think in creative, analytic, and reflective ways in articulating reasoned arguments
  • explore and critique the work of other practitioners
  • appreciate the aesthetic and ethical impacts of design.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of the degree, you will be able to:

  • take a creative and informed approach to the design and innovation process
  • use appropriate media, tools, techniques, and methods to produce and communicate designs
  • be able to engage in solution-oriented debate
  • understand how to produce a balanced portfolio of work.

Key skills

On completion of the degree, you will be able to:

  • communicate design outputs using appropriate forms of representation
  • recognise and integrate the expertise of others when designing
  • be independent and self-motivated, and manage your workload to meet deadlines
  • make use of appropriate online environments for the purpose of research, communication, and learning, both individually and collaboratively.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

Knowledge and understanding

  • printed and online materials
  • guided exploration of case study material involving selected products, companies and people
  • guided development of skills (e.g. drawing skills) through printed and video resources
  • guided participatory exercises conducted individually and with peers
  • engagement in studies of potential users and consumers of design
  • focused design activities
  • tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) involving written and graphic communication
  • end-of-module assessments.

Cognitive skills

  • engagement in practical design activity
  • the creation of 2D and 3D representations
  • study of best practice drawn from various design contexts
  • product analysis using selected examples of design outputs
  • tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and project involving written and graphic communication
  • end-of-module assessments.

Key skills

  • exposure to design problems of increasing complexity
  • engagement with various stakeholders in design where communication is required
  • comparisons of strategies with peers and selected examples drawn from professional practice
  • end-of-module assessments.

Practical and/or professional skills

  • self-assessed skills exercises
  • use of design projects
  • integration of research and investigation with practical designing
  • providing opportunities to manage extended design tasks and projects
  • the construction and compilation of various forms of design portfolio.