BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design

Program Overview

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), based in the United Kingdom, offers a dynamic BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design program, designed to cultivate intellectually capable and creatively skilled designers. This comprehensive degree explores the entire design production process, with a strong emphasis on aesthetics, social relevance, and the practical application of design principles. The program encourages students to challenge conventions, think dynamically, and tackle complex design challenges, ultimately preparing them to create innovative and meaningful products and furniture that respond to evolving human needs and a changing environment. It balances rigorous technical skill development with the exploration of ethical and sustainable design practices, fostering a user-centred design philosophy.

Curriculum: The BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design curriculum at UWTSD is a three-year full-time program structured to progressively build core design competencies. In the first year (Level 4), students are introduced to fundamental design skills, including sketching, 3D modelling, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and prototyping, alongside developing safe studio and workshop practices. Modules such as "Introduction to Design," "Design Context, Identity and Sustainable Responsibility," and "Exploring Materials and Processes" establish a foundational understanding of design principles, historical contexts, and material properties. The second year (Level 5) delves deeper into design techniques and processes, with modules like "Design Exploration," "Design for Manufacture," "Design Realisation – CAD," and "Design Simulation – Virtual." This year focuses on refining creative approaches, building confidence in production techniques, and developing professional skills for portfolio, CV, and industry communication. The final year (Level 6) culminates in significant self-directed projects, including an "Individual Major Project" and "Advanced Creative Enquiry," where students explore, research, and create their own design concepts, demonstrating their independence and innovative thinking. The program is assessed entirely through coursework, including studio projects, portfolios, sketchbooks, presentations, and written assignments, without formal examinations.

Research Focus: The BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design program at UWTSD places a strong emphasis on insightful research and critical inquiry as integral to the design process. Students are encouraged to develop a user-centred design philosophy, beginning with a deep understanding of human needs and desires through empathy. This involves researching changing lifestyles, consumer choices, and their impact on design. Projects often require students to engage in material exploration and prototyping as forms of research, iteratively refining their solutions. The curriculum fosters critical thinking and reflection on their work, enabling students to tackle modern and complex design challenges through problem-solving. In the final year, the "Advanced Creative Enquiry" module encourages in-depth research to underpin and drive individual design projects, allowing students to make a personal impact on contemporary design through self-regulated, innovative work.

Industry Engagement: UWTSD prioritizes robust industry engagement within its BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design program to ensure graduates are industry-ready and possess practical experience. The course collaborates closely with industry at all levels, incorporating "live" industry briefs, masterclasses, and talks by industry professionals into the curriculum. Students are tasked with competition and industry-led collaborative projects, providing them with opportunities to engage with client and commercial needs. This exposure helps students develop a deeper understanding of sustainable practices and diverse design models, including freelancing and activism. The program also focuses on enhancing students' portfolios, CVs, and industry communication skills, preparing them to confidently enter the professional design landscape. Graduates have found employment with major companies and design consultancies, demonstrating the effectiveness of this industry-focused approach.

Global Perspective: The BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design program at UWTSD inherently integrates a global perspective by addressing universal human issues, ethically responsible design, and the evolving nature of consumer behaviour across different cultures. The curriculum looks at how global lifestyles are changing and influencing consumer choice, prompting students to consider the broader societal and environmental impact of their designs. Students experiment with innovative means of production and explore the role of designers in addressing global challenges, such as sustainability. By fostering a user-centred design approach that emphasizes empathy and understanding diverse human needs, the program prepares graduates to create products and furniture relevant to a global market and to engage with an international design community, promoting adaptability and a forward-thinking mindset.