We offer two main design degrees at The Open University.
- BSc / BA (Hons) in Design and Innovation
- BDes Bachelor of Design
Which qualification to choose depends on what you are interested in and what you plans are once you complete your study.
In general, the BDes focuses on design practice and those who want to be designers in the creative industries. The BSc/BA route offers a more open approach for those wishing to study design with another subject area (such as Engineering, Business, Computing, and so on).
If you’re unsure, start with U101: Design Thinking and use what you learn in that module to help make your decision. U101 contributes to both qualifications and offers a fantastic introduction to making use of creative thinking in any subject.
You can see the different qualification pathways below.
A few key differences are outlined below. If you’re not sure which of these might be best for you then you can speak to a study adviser to discuss your options.
Q61 – BA / BSc (Hons) Design and Innovation
For students who:
- Want a career in a related design or creative industry
- Have a strong interest in a secondary subject, such as: Engineering, Business, Computing, Arts, and other pathways offered)
- Have an interest in an academic approach to design, especially if this intersects with another subject (such as sustainability, social studies, etc.)
- Want a specific qualification – a BSc or BA.
R63 – BDes (Hons) Bachelor of Design.
For students who:
- Are sure they want a career in design and creative industries
- Have little interest in a secondary subject and want to study ‘design-design’.
- Are very interested in a practice-based and hands-on approaches to learning – i.e. a practitioner’s course
- Want a creative qualification (BDes is increasingly recognised in the UK and internationally)