Module finder

This module enables students to apply ethical, inclusive design principles through externally set projects with industry partners. Students will consider multiple stakeholders throughout the design process, testing concepts and strategies to deliver responsive, accessible, and sustainable solutions. Students develop designs that address diverse needs, taking into account factors such as age, ability, and cultural context.

Emphasising real-world collaboration, the module builds skills in research, communication, and professional practice while encouraging reflective design approaches. Technical workshops are provided to support students.

This module explores social sustainability, responsive design approaches, and meaningful engagement with society.

Students work on projects that address identified community needs, responding to feedback and change while developing sustainable, ethical, and socially responsible design solutions. Co-design approaches and design ethnography are introduced as key methods for understanding users and contexts.

Teaching methods include studio-based sessions and technical workshops and working ‘live’ on real-time issues. The module may include guest lecturers and study trips that provide immersive examples of co-design.

This module supports the development of advanced design and technological skills aligned with contemporary industry practice. Emphasis is placed on current production methods and emerging technologies, and on integrating ethical, sustainable, and inclusive considerations throughout the design process. You will learn to combine materials, manufacturing processes, and digital tools to produce innovative, feasible, and responsible design solutions.

You will explore the design of technology‑embedded products and systems thinking to address increasingly complex design challenges. The module encourages critical engagement with technology, enabling you to design intelligent and responsive products.

Building on knowledge gained in Year 1, the module deepens your understanding of innovative materials and advanced manufacturing processes. You will also strengthen your ergonomic approach by considering cognitive and perceptual aspects of user experience.

Technical workshops and lectures support learning in advanced CAD, prototyping, emerging technologies, and AI tools, while introducing key theories of technology and human–technology relationships to inform reflective and critically engaged design practice.

This module equips you with the knowledge and skills to creatively explore the role of immersive, smart, and mixed reality technologies in shaping future scenarios, products, services, and systems. A series of practical keystone projects offer you the opportunity to refine your design practice (concept, iteration, testing, and feedback) and build your portfolio. You will gain advanced skills in digital and physical prototyping, scenario planning, and critical storytelling.

Critical engagement with current global issues and creative exploration of future possibilities, will develop your understanding of the ethical implications and systemic impacts of design choices. Co-design practices, knowledge exchange, and industry insight are integral to this module. Collaboration with industry partners and peers, ensure you remain at the forefront of this fast-evolving sector and gain valuable professional experience in the creation of future-facing solutions.

In the Design Futures and Emerging Technologies module, you will gain in-depth expertise in applying smart and emerging technologies - including sensory processing, the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), artificial intelligence (AI), creative coding, and smart systems processing. The module investigates how these technologies can be applied to envision and shape sustainable, equitable, and ethical futures.

Through speculative design briefs, you'll engage with both creative and technical methods to conceptualise and prototype forward-thinking interventions. The module emphasises immersive experience design, human-computer interaction, and frameworks for responsible innovation, while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, industry engagement, and the use of future foresight tools to address complex societal challenges.

You’ll develop an understanding of how emerging technologies systems influence decision-making, systems and user behaviour. Emphasis is placed on designing for equity and accessibility, ensuring that future design solutions respond to diverse needs and cultural contexts. As you build advanced prototyping skills using digital and computational platforms, you’ll learn how to evaluate the broader implications of your design proposals within real-world socio-technical contexts.

This module builds on the Professional Planning module in Semester 1 and provides you with the opportunity to critically evaluate your practice in preparation for the transition into the creative industries. You will define your professional identity and values through industry and business research. The module encourages entrepreneurial thinking and strategic career planning, enabling students to critically evaluate global industry contexts and position their practice effectively.

You will produce self-promotional materials supported by an industry-facing report that demonstrates an informed understanding of professional contexts and opportunities.

The Final Project is a culmination of your studies on the PGT Design Management programme, preparing you for either further studies or a future career in Design Management. This module gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of ‘real world scenarios’ and consider progressive thinking in sustainable practice and design management theories, and how this informs design management & strategic planning in industry. It also gives you the opportunity to develop an extended focus on a single topic to advanced critical levels, with a focused portfolio of skills. You will be considering real world scenarios together with your progressive learning on Design Management, to apply to an independently constructed project demonstrating your deeper understanding of concepts and methodologies. This is an independent and self-directed project with the guidance of a supervisor.

On this module you will put into practice the research and analytical skills that you have learned on the programme. Focusing on a contemporary design management discussion, debate or issue, you will investigate this thoroughly to prepare a critical paper collating, critically analysing and commenting on the ideas and viewpoints of others, together with those of your own.

This enables you to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities and apply to . As well as improves your communication and presentation skills that are key for employability.

You will employ professional approaches to engage with relevant academic staff, and peers to explore and undertake an independent project. There will be flexibility to select a project . You will apply research and project management methods and techniques and demonstrate academic and professional ethical awareness. By your application of theory , your analysis and final output will engage with and extend your understanding of current issues and debates and industry and professional contexts.

The Final Project is a culmination of your studies on the PGT Design Management programme, preparing you for either further studies or a future career in Design Management. This module gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of ‘real world scenarios’ and consider progressive thinking in sustainable practice and design management theories, and how this informs design management & strategic planning in industry. It also gives you the opportunity to develop an extended focus on a single topic to advanced critical levels, with a focused portfolio of skills. You will be considering real world scenarios together with your progressive learning on Design Management, to apply to an independently constructed project demonstrating your deeper understanding of concepts and methodologies. This is an independent and self-directed project with the guidance of a supervisor.

On this module you will put into practice the research and analytical skills that you have learned on the programme. Focusing on a contemporary design management discussion, debate or issue, you will investigate this thoroughly to prepare a critical paper collating, critically analysing and commenting on the ideas and viewpoints of others, together with those of your own.

This enables you to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities and apply to . As well as improves your communication and presentation skills that are key for employability.

You will employ professional approaches to engage with relevant academic staff, and peers to explore and undertake an independent project. There will be flexibility to select a project . You will apply research and project management methods and techniques and demonstrate academic and professional ethical awareness. By your application of theory , your analysis and final output will engage with and extend your understanding of current issues and debates and industry and professional contexts.

Design as a function is the driver of change so therefore the role of the designer is demanding and dynamic, with an ever-changing landscape of economics, politics, society, culture and values. Designers are challenged to problem solve, working towards the United Nation Global Sustainable Goals (SDGs) to provide strategic plans for competitive advantage leading to global prosperity. We ask an overarching question of how can design enable industry, communities and society as a whole to create a more resilient future.

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests” (sdgs.un.org, 2023)

The Principles and Practices module explores the relevance and context of the role of a designer in relation to products and services. It explores the designer and their values, principles & processes in practice in relation to responsible design. It looks at different stakeholder perspectives involved in the design processes to examine the interaction and key values & principles a designer must hold to address progressive sustainable practice from a global perspective.

This would inform an approach to problem solving that takes a critical and purposeful direction that understands the human and the problem first. The module will delve into how a designer can harness these advanced skills to add value to the business environment and their own practice from a societal perspective. Decisions made in the design process towards this, advance the definition of sustainable practice to improve the three ‘Ps’ People, Planet and Profits (Tripe Bottom Line) .

You will be expected to develop and present constructive & critical thinking
in relation to your own direction and demonstrate understanding of the academic literature recommended on the module and beyond.

During the course of this module, you will explore the SDGs and delve into models of sustainable practice considering Triple Bottom Line, Circular economy and social practice. The module will cover advanced key concepts in design practices for Human centred design in industry and delve into depth on the theoretical literature related to Human Centre and inclusive practice. You will also be encouraged to discuss, engage and articulate on the wider political, social, environmental and technological shifts in society to position your ideas within your chosen sector in Design Management. This would inform an approach to problem solving that takes a critical and purposeful direction that understands the problem first.

Design as a function is the driver of change so therefore the role of the designer is demanding and dynamic, with an ever-changing landscape of economics, politics, society, culture and values. Designers are challenged to problem solve, working towards the United Nation Global Sustainable Goals (SDGs) to provide strategic plans for competitive advantage leading to global prosperity. We ask an overarching question of how can design enable industry, communities and society as a whole to create a more resilient future.

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests” (sdgs.un.org, 2023)

The Principles and Practices module explores the relevance and context of the role of a designer in relation to products and services. It explores the designer and their values, principles & processes in practice in relation to responsible design. It looks at different stakeholder perspectives involved in the design processes to examine the interaction and key values & principles a designer must hold to address progressive sustainable practice from a global perspective.

This would inform an approach to problem solving that takes a critical and purposeful direction that understands the human and the problem first. The module will delve into how a designer can harness these advanced skills to add value to the business environment and their own practice from a societal perspective. Decisions made in the design process towards this, advance the definition of sustainable practice to improve the three ‘Ps’ People, Planet and Profits (Tripe Bottom Line) .

You will be expected to develop and present constructive & critical thinking
in relation to your own direction and demonstrate understanding of the academic literature recommended on the module and beyond.

During the course of this module, you will explore the SDGs and delve into models of sustainable practice considering Triple Bottom Line, Circular economy and social practice. The module will cover advanced key concepts in design practices for Human centred design in industry and delve into depth on the theoretical literature related to Human Centre and inclusive practice. You will also be encouraged to discuss, engage and articulate on the wider political, social, environmental and technological shifts in society to position your ideas within your chosen sector in Design Management. This would inform an approach to problem solving that takes a critical and purposeful direction that understands the problem first.