The module is presented in three blocks. Each block focuses on a different phase in developing a designed product.
Block 1 – Exploring designs and designing
The first block provides a general introduction to design. You’ll look at the relationship between people and products and explore the human, cultural and engineering factors that influence the creation of designs. Block 1 will help you develop critical and inquisitive thinking skills when, as an engineer, you observe designs around you.
Block 2 – Design for people
Next, Block 2 focuses on the early stages of the design process and how research and evaluation of user and market requirements inform it. You’ll learn how to discover people’s capabilities, preferences, and behaviours to shape new products. This block will help you develop user research and planning skills.
Block 3 – Creative designing
The final block focuses on the creative strategies designers use to address design problems – particularly strategies for idea generation in the early design phases. It also teaches some of the core theories of creativity. Block 3 will help you develop your creative thinking skills.
All three blocks will contribute to developing your ability to think and communicate engineering ideas through drawing and modelling. They will also give you the skills necessary for researching, planning, and developing a design project by examining various products such as chairs, bikes, music players, kitchen gadgets, and buildings.
The spine of the module is the module website. The core module materials include three printed books (one per block), a modelling workbook, and several audiovisual materials and resources on the module website. Reading is accompanied by practical activities online and offline. Central to the module is an online virtual design studio, where you will upload images of your practical work for discussion with your tutor and fellow students. You will also be able to view and discuss your fellow students' design and engineering work.
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
The knowledge and skills developed in this module apply to engineers' various roles.
The module will help you gain knowledge and skills essential for the practising engineer. It can help you creatively engage with any situation that requires identifying problems, researching and developing ideas, and translating ideas into detailed plans. The module develops general scholarship on design and design processes applicable across engineering domains. The module will enhance your engineering abilities and help towards preparation for working as a design engineer or in teams, including designers.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
Additionally, the website includes:
We also provide physical:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
T218 is an option module in our:
Design for engineers (T218) starts once a year – in October.
It will next start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2026.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
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There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your personal income is £25,000 or less, or you’re on certain benefits, you could qualify for a grant and OU top-up funding to cover 100% of your course fees. Apply online at the same time as you register on your module.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
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Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
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We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
