Learning Outcomes

Educational aims

The CertHE in Design provides a solid foundation for building design knowledge, skills and competencies to prepare you for the many opportunities available in today’s design and creative industries and beyond. You’ll study the principles and concepts that underpin design and understand how design can respond to some of the complex challenges we face as a society today. You’ll apply your design knowledge through a range of design activities and project work. You’ll explore and try different design skills to build your toolkit, representing your interests and developing competencies. You’ll bring your learning together in a design portfolio, demonstrating your overall design ability as well as your values and identity as a designer.

The CertHE in Design offers a clear pathway to qualification: two modules provide a useful grounding in design thinking and design skills. Your tutor, the wider teaching team and design community will support you on this journey. The design work you produce during your study is evidence of your learning and development as a designer, and you can reflect and develop this work to use as part of your professional portfolio.

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this qualification, you’ll have knowledge and understanding of:

the role and value of design in different contexts at a foundation level
the technological, ecological, and social aspects of design at a foundation level
theories, approaches, and histories of design at a foundation level.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this qualification, you’ll be able to:

connect and integrate knowledge from diverse sources, cultures and disciplines in given design contexts
identify and create opportunities to integrate social and ecological challenges
begin to reflect and think about design in creative, critical and analytical ways in particular design contexts.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this qualification, you’ll be able to:

understand how design can create real-world value
engage in the initial creation and development of your personal and professional identity and practice
understand what's required to organise, manage and progress your design practice.

Key skills

On completion of this qualification, you’ll be able to:

begin to select and shape digital and physical materials to mobilise and connect people and ideas to deliver design outcomes
begin to select and use appropriate tools, techniques and methods to produce design ideas and outcomes
make use appropriate basic language, media, and argument to communicate design ideas.