Product Design, BA (Hons)

At Manchester Metropolitan University, product designers investigate why, how, and what if, responding critically to human and global needs with innovative, design-led solutions that enhance consumer experiences of products, systems, and services. Students develop purposeful creativity, gaining insight into societal design issues and skills in creative methods, research, design thinking, prototyping, and strategy. They learn to create products blending traditional and contemporary production, using materials, processes, and technologies to boost functionality, interactions, and sustainability—building on the acclaimed BA Three Dimensional Design, whose alumni include Thomas Heatherwick, Ruth Tomlinson, and Joe Hartley.Product Design emphasizes human-centered approaches to user needs and market opportunities, unlike the designer/maker focus of Product Design & Craft, which explores experimental responses to social, political, and environmental issues. The course offers workshops in ceramics, glass, metal, wood, plastics, and digital tools like CNC, 3D printing, and laser cutting, taught by practicing School of Art experts.