Global Design Engineering

User-centred design is designing things with human factors in mind, so that people and things can interact as safely and efficiently as possible, considering both form and function.

Gain the skills to identify the importance of user centred design and in product and workplace design, as well as the concepts of product visualisation.

Combining aesthetics (beauty of design) and ergonomics (science of design) you’ll work on the design of a consumer product. You’ll collect feedback from consumers and present your findings. You’ll create a concept, develop 3D visualisations, undertake research with focus groups or questionnaires, allowing you to modify and improve your concepts.

Understand and use industry standard systematic, design and manufacturing processes. You’ll create practical solutions to solve design problems and develop an awareness of commercial and sustainability issues and how they impact design.

Through masterclasses, workshops and self-directed learning, you’ll work on an industrial design project, usually related to the user-centred product design, considering factors like sustainability, materials and manufacturing methods.

Understand and apply the principles and applications of structural, mechanical, civil and smart technologies for the design of smart cities. Together, we’ll cover the fundamental principles of ground and structural engineering and their application in the analysis and design of buildings/built infrastructure. As part of your project, you may consider climate, heating, daylighting and security.

You’ll analyse the assumptions and limitations of structures, adhering to legal, regulations and professional codes. Culminating in a presentation to a technical and non-technical audience of your findings on a complex problem.

Appraise and apply ecologically responsible design principles to minimise the environmental impact of your ideas. Working on an eco-design product, process or construction, you’ll assess ecological considerations, whilst applying mathematical, scientific and engineering principles and modelling. Using an ecological approach to design, you’ll consider energy and carbon, the circular economy and materials, climate resilience, biodiversity and water as well as related aspects of well-being.

Collaborating in teams, you’ll evaluate the relationship between design, cost and the ethical and legal requirements in the design of buildings. Advancing your knowledge of the underlying engineering principles.

Undertake a project with social responsibility at the heart of it. Utilising innovative technologies, you’ll design a collaborative solution for the community, or groups of people within the community with specific needs. You’ll research your audience, and co-create your solution, through experimentation, testing and evaluation.

While working with your primary stakeholders, you’ll gain skills in real sustainability challenges, stakeholder partnerships, transdisciplinary formal participation, learning loops, co-creation and the use of virtual environments.

Supporting your project, you’ll create and develop a website to effectively communicate your user centred design solution.

Building on your personal and professional portfolio from Year 1. You’ll continue to map your progress against the Engineering Council framework to demonstrate how you are developing towards becoming a professional engineer. You’ll also consider how the projects you have undertaken relate to particular UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This will cover your development and advancement of a systematic approach to project management, solving complex problems, your skills in mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles, as well as reflecting on your personal and professional development.

As you progress into Year 3, you’ll be given more complex challenges and, here you’ll learn to apply systematic analysis to advanced engineering processes and quality management systems to design for a flexible, lean or agile environment.

In groups, you’ll look at the optimisation of products, to ensure optimal performance whilst seeking to reduce materials, time and/or cost. You’ll also develop your knowledge in areas such as quality and engineering management of the design and build processes.

Providing you with the knowledge and skills attributed to successful innovators, and entrepreneurs. Discover the modern drivers of successful innovation, and the various models that have proven ongoing success. Producing an original design, you’ll have the opportunity to innovate and apply your entrepreneurial skills to design engineering. In facilitated workshops, together we’ll examine innovation and entrepreneurial case studies. Through collaboration with an external organisation, you’ll develop your design project along with a business plan, with a managerial, entrepreneurial and design mindset.

Reflecting on all your projects, skills gained, and methods used throughout your degree, you’ll continue to work on your personal and professional portfolio. Underpinned by the Engineering Council’s framework, you’ll demonstrate your progress towards becoming a professional engineer. In particular, you’ll be reflecting upon how your recent experiences relate to the UK-SPEC (UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment) areas of competence. You’ll consider your career trajectory and plan for your specialisation, further study or career prospects.

Integrate all your knowledge from your previous learning to complete a major individual project. You’ll be expected to use an analytical and methodological approach involving elements such as project planning, designing, implementation, testing, quality assurance and evaluation and you’ll present your findings in a formal setting. Your project will be a significant piece of work, possibly related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, smart cities, big data or informed by an industry need.

When you enter Year 4, you’ll develop your skills for designing innovative solutions to complex global challenges.  Here, you’ll advance your expertise in utilising cutting-edge engineering principles, methods and tools to address diverse socio-technical problems in engineering. You’ll research real world case studies, showcasing pioneering projects in subject areas such as civil electrical/electronic, materials, and mechanical engineering, demonstrating the application of advanced engineering principles in diverse design contexts.

Effective leadership is the ability to successfully influence and support a team to deliver a shared goal. Here, you’ll learn what it means to be a good leader. You’ll look at the difference between management and leadership, what leadership is, various leadership styles and theories, how to plan strategically, recognising leadership traits, how to develop effective leadership skills, how to create a vision, set the tone, listen effectively, handle conflict, overcome challenges, and address ethics in leadership.
You’ll understand, reflect and improve your own leadership performance. By exploring theories, applying them practically, and reflecting on your experiences, you’ll develop the skills necessary to lead diverse teams, manage complex projects, and drive innovation in a globalised engineering environment.

Leverage digital tools and methodologies to enhance your engineering designs, analyses and implementations. Evaluate the potential of emerging digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the context of Design Engineering projects. You’ll integrate some of these digital technologies into your design process to improve efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, whilst considering the diverse cultural and contextual factors inherent in engineering projects. You’ll critically assess the security, ethical, legal, and socio-economic implications of using digital technologies in engineering, demonstrating an understanding of responsible invention and the promotion of societal well-being.

Explore the principles of Design for Excellence (DfX) and its diverse applications in the field of design engineering. We’ll equip you with the capabilities and proficiency for applying design principles to achieve excellence across various dimensions. Emphasis will be placed on fostering a holistic understanding of design considerations and may include performance, sustainability, usability, manufacturability/buildability and repairability amongst other factors. You’ll look at emerging trends and multi-criteria for analysing design decisions for Design Excellence, resulting in persuasively communicating your solutions and design decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Apply your project management, commercial and business skills in your Global Design Group Project. Working in teams, you’ll develop a working prototype, technical specification, supply chain analysis, manufacturing plan, a five-year business plan, marketing strategy and identification of sources of start-up funds. You’ll critically review new and emerging technologies and use this information to create innovative designs for products, systems, components or processes to fulfil new needs. You’ll also consider business practices within the commercial, economic, legal and social context of engineering processes, evaluating customer and user needs, and being mindful of the need to promote sustainable development.