Best University courses for a career in Product Design

[Productdesigncareer]

DD is studying A-levels in Product Design, Physics and Maths (not further maths). She would like to pursue a career in Product Design ie designing products to fit the brief of a client/stakeholder, just like in GCSE/A-level Product Design.

She does not want to do Engineering.

Which courses/universities are best for a career in Product Design? She is likely to get excellent A-level grades so is looking for the best options in this field.

Thanks

Loughborough university?

Deleted as just read not engineering

Agree Loughborough and then also Strathclyde I have heard very good things about. I think there is a similar course at Lancaster too? It's not offered by masses of unis tbh and you are likely to be looking more at post-92 institutions like UWE and Cardiff Met – not that there is anything wrong with that.

Would Materials Science be a compromise on the engineering aspect?

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Loughborough, Northumbria (Jonny Ive is an alumnus), and Brunel are the top undergrad courses. I know a few people in the field who went to those unis and are now at Dyson, McLaren, and Apple.

Strathclyde in the city of Glasgow. I know someone who went on to a stellar career with Dyson after a masters there.

It’s quite niche specialism. She’s not going to have tons of options with it as most businesses will combine this with a more graphical or a more technical role. As PP said it’s going to be a few more design driven large companies, or automotive. Not so much working to customer briefs.

If she doesn’t want to do engineering she might want to think about what she can offer technically, or graphically, alongside product design to keep her options open.

My DH is a product designer. He hires from Loughborough and Brunel primarily and visits their degree shows. His main tip is that you must have a BSc and not a BA.

DH has a consultancy business. There are lots of those small and large in this area as well as jobs in manufacturing companies. It is competitive and not particularly well paid but he loves it.

Cambridge now offers a degree in Design. I don't know anything about it but you may want to check it out.

If she likes technology as part of design, I wouldn't dismiss Design Engineering. Imperial offers a great MEng in Design Engineering. It is accredited as well, so gives her more options than just design. Do check it out, I think the modules look great.

Imperial if they don’t require FM. Also one of Bath or Bristol, I forget which one tho sorry!

Bath is architecture, not product design. And Bristol is really only noteworthy for engineering.

I thought one of the two had a partnership with Dyson for product design, but perhaps im
misremembering - it was a couple of years ago

My son had a fantastic experience at Nottingham Trent (10 years ago).
Graduated with a Bsc rather than the other course option of Ba. Third year spent in industry (where he was awarded a patent for some product design work).
Now specialises in designing automated factory systems as his day job but also undertakes small one off design contracts too.

Loughborough and Northumbria .

Thanks all. This has been really helpful. DD and I will research all the Unis and courses suggested.

Can I jump in here and ask anyone with some experience what the timetable for Product Design is like, especially at Loughborough? Is it pretty much time/9-5-all in person across the 3 years or does it vary across different modules/years?

Can anyone comment on the Product Design and Manufacture BEng at Nottingham University? Is this course well regarded in the industry? Thx

CSM

Thanks. Is CSM Central St Martins? That course is a BA rather than BSc/BEng. Does this mean that it is more art/design based rather than industry based? DD did Art GCSE but not A-level, so not sure if she can apply here?