Design@Open

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Choosing a design qualification or pathway

We offer two main design degrees at The Open University.

  • BSc / BA (Hons) in Design and Innovation
  • BDes Bachelor of Design

The choice of which qualification to choose depends on what you are interested in and what you plans are once you complete your study.

As a general guide, 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).

And, if you’re unsure, start with U101 and can 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 map showing the different design modules you can study at the OU and the qualifications they lead to.

A few further differences are outlined in the table 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

50% design and 50% another subject area: Engineering, Computing, Business, Systems, etc.

 R63 – BDes (Hons) Bachelor of Design

Qualification is 100% design subjects to develop both design knowledge and practice
For students who: For students who:
Want a career in a related design or creative industry

 

 Are sure they want a career in design and creative industries
Have a strong interest in a secondary subject, such as: Engineering, Business, Computing, Arts, and other pathways offered)

 

 Have little interest in a secondary subject and want to study ‘design-design’.
Have a strong interest in an academic approach to design, especially if this intersects with another subject (such as sustainability, social studies, etc.)

 

 Are very interested in a practice-based and hands-on approaches to learning – i.e. a practitioner’s course
Are very interested in a BSc or BA as a qualification Are very interested in a BDes as a qualification (this is becoming popular in the UK andinternationally)