Course overview

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

The life of a product starts with an idea to solve a particular need. 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.

Career focused

The entrance criteria of this degree have been designed to comply with the requirements of the major engineering graduate programmes. Competent students can have the opportunity to apply their skills to real-life practical problems as part of the department’s partnership scheme with charities, local and global organisations. Please view the 'Career prospects' section for further details.

To find out more about placement opportunities in the Faculty of Technology, please visit our Placements Office pages.

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. Units taken are:

• Introduction to Design (20 credits): the more formal language of engineering drawing is introduced using pencil, paper and 2D CAD. A ‘design/make/test’ project is also carried out as part of this unit.
• Introduction to Technology Concepts (20 credits): knowledge of the physical laws of nature is crucial for designers. These are introduced and reinforced by means of tutorials and practical sessions.
• Introduction to Materials and Manufacture (PD) (20 credits): you will explore the types of materials and how they are used by designers.
• Communication and IT (20 credits): an introduction to the processes and the language of the business world. This unit also addresses use of information technology and here valuable transferable skills are developed.
• Introduction to Illustration Techniques 1 (20 credits): your graphic communications skills will be enhanced by working to design briefs to develop your designs.
• Computer Aided Product Analysis and Illustration (20 credits): the industry standard software package, Photoshop, is used to show how computers can contribute to the creative process. Also within this unit, you will study the design of existing artefacts, which will be completely dismantled in the quest to discover how they came to be as they are. This involves some lectures, group work and practical laboratory sessions.

Second year

You will have the opportunity to choose your preferred design path: Computer Aided Product Design or Product Design and Innovation. 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. Units taken are:

• Technology Concepts (20 credits): the unit builds on previous topics and introduces a few more in preparation for the final year work in the final year (eg Advanced Modelling and Product Electro-Mechanics).
• Materials and Manufacture (20 credits): the materials available to designers and how they are fashioned into useful artefacts is explored further, building on year one work.
• Computer Aided Visualisation (20 credits): you will be introduced to solid modelling and the associated benefits for the designer through the industry standard software CAE package ProE (Creo Elements).
• Conceptual Design (20 credits): the process of design, right from the very start, will be studied. This will include the identification of the need, product design specification, idea generation process, problem solving strategies and evaluation techniques.
• Product Analysis (20 credits): the design of artefacts is studied in order to determine why they were designed as they were. These artefacts are slightly more complex than those looked at in year one and some alternative design philosophies are explored.

Students also choose one of the following options:

• Illustration Techniques (20 credits): building on skills gained in year one, you will translate your designs into 3D models and respond to an industry-standard design brief.
• Research Methods for Product Designers (20 credits): in order to develop your design into a user-based product you will establish a user need based on observations and interviews.

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. Units taken are:

• Individual Project (40 credits): this project brings together the work of previous years and focuses on the design of something that is of particular interest to you. The scope for project work is vast.
• Advanced Modelling (20 credits): you will study further computer modelling techniques that will include complex surfacing, behavioural modelling and plastic mould design.
• Integrated Engineering Business Project (20 credits): working as part of a team, students work on broad based design problems. The unit addresses the formation of a company; the allocation of tasks and responsibilities; the winning, financing and operating of commercial contracts and builds on project management skills.
• Product Electro-Mechanics (20 credits): this unit enables you to make critical judgements on the application of technical principles by developing knowledge of electronic devices, circuit analysis and the analysis of feedback systems.
• Product Modelling for Manufacture (20 credits): using the ProE (Creo Elements) CAE system, the capabilities and economics of manufacture and its relation to product design are investigated. This includes introducing state-of-the-art simulation techniques used in manufacturing.

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

Placement opportunities

In the Faculty of Technology we feel that students should be given as many opportunities as possible to gain meaningful work experience and build employability skills throughout their studies to make them more attractive to future employers.

Working with other University services, the Faculty’s Student Placement and Employability Centre (SPEC) ensure students have access to a range of volunteering and work experience opportunities, including year-long industrial placements (either in the UK or your home country), and provide support for the different types of application processes.

Examples of roles our students have taken up as placement roles include:

• CAD Designer at Paradigm
• AutoCAD Assistant at Celab
• Designer at Pall Europe

The type of placement role that could be relevant to this course includes:

• CAD Designer
• Production Drawing Assistant
• Design Engineer in Aerospace
• Undergraduate Engineer

To find out more about how you can gain work experience whilst studying BSc (Hons) Computer Aided Product Design, please visit our Placements Office pages.

Graduate roles

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 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.

A good designer has to envisage a product in its entirety, not just taking into account its primary function, but what it looks like, its environmental impact 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 2013/14 (opens in new window).