Course overview

This course has been accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and also has been accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED).

If you've ever admired the classic inventions that make our lives easier and the products that combine elegance and beauty with functionality and performance, then this is the course for you. This established course is one of our most popular ones, successfully combining technology topics with those of art and design.

Product design is a truly exciting discipline. It is about assessing or interpreting a need and using creative and practical thought processes and skills to produce a product. The computer plays an important part in that design process. By using advanced computer visualisation techniques we can formulate possible solutions in front of our eyes.

This course has been developed by the School of Engineering in close cooperation with the School of Art, Design and Media. It will enable you to develop the thought processes behind innovation and design and develop the necessary computing skills that can help bring new products to life.

The course shares its first year with the BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation course, so you don't actually have to commit to one or the other until your second year.

Everything in life starts with an idea. If you are an ‘ideas’ person then this is the course for you. If you are interested in using new technologies and find computers stimulating and fun, then you are even better suited to a career in computer aided product design. An artistic eye is always a bonus and if you can see the beauty in shape and form or can be inspired by subtle blends of curves, complex surfaces, texture or colour, then you have the right outlook and ability to become a good modern-day designer.

Course content

As a student in Computer Aided Product Design, you will generally work from a technology basis; however, you will also spend some time in a studio environment making models to gain a 'real' appreciation of shape and form. You will use sophisticated industry standard computer software and rapid prototyping equipment to check and evaluate final designs.

First year

You will be introduced to the concept of product design and innovation as well as computer aided product design. This period bridges any gaps in your artistic and technical knowledge, providing an all round basis for further study. By the end of the first year you will have a good working knowledge of computer aided design (CAD), a good grounding in the technical fundamentals and enhanced illustrative techniques, and better communication skills.

Second year

You will have the opportunity to choose your preferred design path: Computer Aided Product Design, Product Design and Innovation or Product Design and Modern Materials. As the title implies, computer aided product design makes more use of high performance rendering computer software to generate images, while product design and innovation continues in more depth with art work development and physical 3D modelling. Product design and modern materials examines relevant materials in more depth. All courses have a unit that develops student enterprise to enhance employability.

Sandwich year (optional year in industry)

This involves a placement within industry/commerce. It is not a requirement of the course, but is strongly recommended and often makes a substantial difference to what you get out of the course and what you can offer when you first embark on your career. The sandwich year is taken in the third year and aims to enhance employment prospects.

Final year

The emphasis is on computer-based project work (group and individual) and provides a wonderful opportunity to put into practice all your knowledge and new skills. For this important period of your studies, the University of Portsmouth makes use of its exceptionally strong links within industry and various design centres. Many projects in the final year are linked with local industry via the school's regional computer network. Forming business relationships at this early stage and using these opportunities often paves the way for very promising careers.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials (personal and academic), laboratory and project work, art studio practicals, CAD system activity and open access study. Practical experience is emphasised throughout the course and you will be encouraged to put your ideas into practice, experience application software relating to the area of study, apply software packages and solve problems.

Grades are allocated largely on a continual assessment basis through a mix of coursework, mini-projects and presentations. Assessment is geared towards the subject matter in a way that encourages a deeper understanding and allows you to develop your skills. It takes many forms, from examinations, multiple choice tests, essays and portfolio work to mini-projects, seminars, presentations and case studies.

Career prospects

In our high tech world there is still a shortage of people who are skilled in the use of CAD software. Therefore, the prospect of gaining yourself a well-paid job at the end of this course is more attainable than most. Computer aided product designers are the key to success and profit, especially in mass domestic markets.

They work in key roles within every type of manufacturing business, working on and improving many of the products we all take for granted including cars, computers, furniture and household appliances. Graduates from this course can expect to find careers as design professionals in the fields of computer simulation, visualisation, product data management and other related fields.

Facilities and features

Over 1.5 million has been invested in design, manufacturing, software and equipment for the school and a new 120-seat computer network (Windows 2000) is available for students. The school is also home to the Regional Centre for Manufacturing Industry, which recently gained a grade 4 in the last Research Assessment Exercise.

We work very closely with the School of Art, Design and Media which mean that we can put together a balanced mix of studies that embrace an appreciation and use of technology and artistic skills. A good designer has to package a product in its entirety, not only taking into account its function but what it looks like and also how much it costs. Key to the design process is the ability to have a feel for physical scale combined with an understanding of technological factors and an understanding of how things work and are made.

Maths Café

The Maths Café is a daily drop-in facility, where ANY student of the University can receive help on any maths or statistics problem they encounter in their studies. We operate in a friendly, informal location which we hope will encourage students to visit us. Handouts on key topics are available to take away. Students can be shown how to use computer aided learning packages, which can be accessed from any computer attached to the University's computer network.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BSc (Hons) Computer Aided Product Design for the academic year 2012/13 (opens in new window).