The world is full of designed objects, from skyscrapers to products that fit into the palm of your hand. Designers have used their skills to translate ideas and needs into all the manufactured things you see. In this module, you’ll learn about the essential skills and practices designers use to create detailed design solutions. You’ll develop your ability to identify design opportunities, meet potential users’ needs and create and communicate design solutions. The knowledge and skills you’ll gain are relevant in design domains and many industries.
What you will study
The module is presented in five blocks. Each block focuses on a different phase in developing a designed product. The first three blocks will give you the skills and tools necessary for the research, planning and development of a design project by looking at various products such as chairs, bicycles, mobile phones, kitchen gadgets, buildings and many others. The last two blocks will give you the skills and tools to translate your design ideas into well-specified products by focusing on the configuration, form, material and manufacturing processes.
Block 1 – Exploring designs and designing
The first block sets the scene for the whole module. It examines the relationship between people and products and discusses the human, cultural, and engineering factors that influence the creation of designs. Block 1 will help you develop critical and inquisitive thinking skills when you observe designs around you.
Block 2 – Designing for people
In this block, you’ll focus on designing for people and the research carried out in the early stages of the design process. You will learn to find out about people’s needs, preferences and behaviours to specify new products. Block 2 will help you develop user research and planning skills.
Block 3 – Creative designing
The third block focuses on the creative strategies designers employ to address design problems – particularly strategies for idea generation in the early concept design phases. It also teaches some of the core theories of creativity. Block 3 will help you develop your creative thinking skills.
Block 4 – Embodying designs
This looks at the configuration and form of designs, aiming to teach you how to turn design concepts into a well-defined design description (layout design). Block 4 will help you develop your visual and spatial thinking skills.
Block 5 – Design for making
The final block examines material and manufacturing processes and how design ideas are developed into detailed designs for manufacturing. It will help you integrate the skills you have developed throughout the module.
All five blocks will contribute to developing your ability to think and communicate ideas through modelling and drawings.
You will spend time working both online and offline. The core materials for the module are printed books supported by online multimedia resources and practical design activities (offline and online). You will use SketchUp to develop your computer-aided design skills. Central to the module is an online virtual design studio, where you will upload images of your practical work to discuss online with other students and your tutor.
Entry requirements
You need to have the study skills obtained either through OU level 1 study or by doing equivalent work at another university.
Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101) would be ideal preparation, but is not essential.
Beyond basic study skills, nothing more specific is expected other than a curiosity about objects, why they are as they are, and how they might be different and better. We don't assume that you can already design, or even draw competently. We'll teach you the concepts and skills you need, but if you already have some skills, you'll develop them further.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
marking your assignments and offering detailed feedback to help you improve
providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
guiding you to additional learning resources
facilitating online discussions between your fellow students in the dedicated forums.
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Assessment
Course work includes:
5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
Examination
What's included
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
a week-by-week study planner
course-specific module materials
audio and video content
assessment details and submission section
online tutorial access
access to student forums.
Additionally, the website includes:
access to our OpenDesignStudio, an online platform for sharing your work and viewing and commenting on the work of others
software downloads.
We also provide physical:
module books
a modelling workbook
a paper pack.
You will need
a device to take digital images of your work (e.g. a phone/digital camera or scanner)
access to a printer
a device to take digital videos of your work (desirable, but not essential).
Computing requirements
Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer with at least 8 GB of RAM and a quad-core processor (2.4 GHz minimum speed). It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
Operating systems – Windows 11 or the latest supported macOS.
Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended; Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.
Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
Software – Any additional software will be provided or is generally available for free.
If you have a disability
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying T217 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Future availability
Design essentials (T217) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2025.
Our new module, Design for impact (T240), will replace this module from October 2026.