COURSE CURRICULUM

The Product Design degree at Sussex provides a comprehensive foundation in creative, technical, and professional skills, preparing students to design innovative and sustainable products. In Year 1, students build core knowledge through modules such as Creative Research Methods for Design, Drawing for Design, Materials and Processes, and Mathematics for Product Design. They also gain practical experience in Applied Technology, Computer-Aided Visualisation, and Experience Prototyping, while exploring the cultural and historical context of design through The Narrative of Design in Modern Culture and hands-on projects like the Global Design Challenge. Year 2 focuses on applying design skills in real-world contexts, with modules including Design for Manufacture, Design Techniques in Practice, Human Factors and Ergonomics, Interaction Methods, and Toy and Game Design. Students also develop professional skills and engage with integrated product design projects that combine research, theory, and practical application. In Year 3, the course emphasizes advanced conceptual and strategic thinking through modules such as Business and Project Management, Design Philosophy, and The Role of Design in the Circular Economy. The year culminates in a major Design Project and Thinking Big: The 5 Senses, encouraging innovation and experimentation. Across all years, students learn to create user-focused, sustainable designs while gaining the expertise, creativity, and professional skills needed to succeed in diverse design careers or entrepreneurial ventures.