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Product and Furniture Design

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - single honours

Award
BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design
School/s
Bath School of Design
Campus or location
Locksbrook Campus
Course length
Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
UCAS codes
Institution Code: B20
Course Code: TT18; or TT19; or TT20
Campus Code: A,BSU

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk with your specific details.

Address the future needs and challenges of sustainable production through materials, making and innovation on this contemporary Product and Furniture Design degree.

  • Develop the practical and critical design skills you need to flourish in the global workplace through interdisciplinary, project focused study.
  • Learn principles of sustainability and explore materials through traditional and digital processes in our excellent workshops.
  • Taught by design and industry experts, you’ll become a confident, creative, digitally-literate and critical designer.

#2 in the South West and #21 in the UK

for Graduate Prospects "On Track" in Art and Design (Complete University Guide, 2024)

#2 in the South West and #14 in the UK

for Continuation in Art and Design (Complete University Guide, 2024)

University of the Year for Social Inclusion

Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024

Want a career in design? If you're motivated by making, this innovative product and furniture design course is for you.

Taught by industry professionals, our Product and Furniture Design degree enables you to build a foundation of technical and practical design skills and explore manufacturing processes, from traditional techniques to computer-aided design (CAD) and digital fabrication. You’ll work with a wide range of materials and develop your unique creative vision through practical, project-based briefs.

Essential professional skills and entrepreneurship are at the heart of the course. You’ll become a flexible problem-solver and expert collaborator, providing you with new opportunities as a designer in a sustainable, digital and global economy.


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What you'll learn

Overview

As a student on our Product and Furniture Design course you’ll become a creative and versatile designer, able to develop your ideas into high quality products.

You’ll learn to think critically about end-use and construction, and experiment with various materials to come up with innovative designs. As well as working in more traditional 3D design processes in wood, metal, plastic and ceramics, you’ll learn and use digital making and CAD design, and develop a strong foundation of experience and knowledge as a maker.

We’ll provide excellent technical support and equip you with the necessary production knowledge, contextual understanding, research, communication and problem-solving skills for your emerging career.

This hands-on degree addresses the future of design and manufacturing, with a focus on sustainable design, production and materials.

Course structure

Year one
You’ll develop a foundation of core design skills from sketching and model-making to digital and analogue making processes, material knowledge and experimentation. You’ll acquire skills in design communication, visualisation, research and prototyping, and develop your understanding of small to large-scale production.

You’ll get access to all the technical workshops, enabling you to progress confidently into year two.

In addition, you’ll be introduced to our excellent library staff and the extensive design reference and research resources and learn about critical issues in contemporary design, such as the circular economy, distributed manufacturing and experiential design.

Year two
In the second year, you’ll deepen your understanding of design practice and the opportunities available, and start to identify your personal direction in design. You’ll apply more focused design principles around sustainability and human-centred design.

External briefs and study visits provide direct engagement with the design industry, and ensure you explore design innovation with a global outlook. Entrepreneurial approaches to design will be supported, and you’ll gain valuable experience of collaboration and project management.

Year three
You’ll further develop, challenge and explore design and your understanding of your field of practice in preparation for establishing your career. Your final research and contextual study project will underpin your practice and critical thinking as you expand your industry awareness and produce product solutions and design proposals.

Part-way through the year, you’ll have the opportunity to present your work through a public platform, gaining essential feedback and experience to confidently progress your final project and develop an outstanding portfolio of work to be able to promote yourself to your industry networks.

Your final project challenges you to create a professional level of design work to present to an external audience, showing at the end of year degree show and often in an external show such as New Designers.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is 100% based on coursework, presented at the end of each module. You’ll receive formal feedback so you’ll know how to improve or develop your work, as well as feedback from tutors and peers throughout the course.

How will I be taught?

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

See what we're making on Instagram: @product_bathschoolofdesign and @bathschoolofdesign

Course modules

This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.

Modules for the integrated Foundation year option are listed on the Integrated Foundation Year for Art and Design page.

Year one (Level 4) modules
  • Material Processes and Workshops
  • Communications: Sketching and Drawing in 3 Dimensions
  • Digital Making and CAD
  • Production in Furniture and Product Design
  • History and Context: Introduction to Material and Visual Culture
  • Communicating and Externalising
Year two (Level 5) modules
  • Sustainability
  • Human Centred Design
  • Industry Live
  • Professional Practice
  • Independent Project
  • Furniture and Product Design: Contemporary Issues and Practice
  • Professional Placement Year
Year three (Level 6) modules
  • Defining Your Practice
  • Public Platform
  • Visual and Material Culture: Final Study
  • Final Project

Opportunities

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Work placements, industry links and internships

We emphasise engagement with industry throughout the course. International design-led companies such as Herman Miller and Dyson, as well as small enterprises and designer-makers, have a strong presence in the region. We run regular live industry projects, and previous clients have included:

  • Dyson
  • ASOS
  • Morey Smith
  • Hakwood
  • The Holburne Museum
  • Herman Miller
  • Creative Bath (Creative Bath Awards)
  • Hay
  • KWMC - The Factory

You'll also have the option to undertake a one-year Professional Placement Year, and you'll graduate with a strong portfolio of projects and experience.

Careers

Many of our graduates have worked for a range of national and global design and manufacturing companies, contemporary designers and design marketing agencies, such as:

  • Disney
  • Modus
  • Matter
  • Unto This Last
  • Dyson
  • KWMC-The Factory
  • Benchmark
  • Herman Miller

Others have freelanced, put their own designs into production, and exhibited internationally.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Study options

Integrated Foundation Year (UCAS code: TT20)

The preliminary and intensive Integrated Foundation in Art and Design is designed to develop your ideas, skills and confidence in readiness for progressing to year one of your degree programme.

Professional Placement Year (UCAS code: TT19)

This year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement, for assessment.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

As a BA Product and Furniture Design student, you’ll benefit from access to comprehensive digital workshops and specialist art and design facilities, including:

  • Our student service point at Locksbrook where you can purchase subsidised art and design materials, hire out equipment for free and collect Library resources
  • Access to our well-stocked Library at Newton Park
  • Specialist technical workshops across all of art and design
  • Access to studio space where you can work on projects and refine your practice

Locksbrook campus

Locksbrook Campus is a Grade II listed building designed by Nicholas Grimshaw in 1976. It has now been transformed into an innovative, open plan space, redesigned to meet 21st century environmental standards, with technical workshops surrounded by flexible studio spaces and large social areas.

Locksbrook has received both a RIBA South West Award 2021 and RIBA National Award 2021, recognising and celebrating what an amazingly inspirational space it is to come together to design, make, do, create and learn in.

Fees

2024 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,250
UK part time £4,625
International full time £17,585

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.

  • UK: £1,850
  • International: £3,517

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We look for applicants who are energetic, committed and passionate about design, making and material. You will be curious about the made world and how design can influence the ways we live.

Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

  • A Level - grades BBB-BCC including a Grade B in Product Design or other Art and Design subject.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject, or evidence of experience in Art and Design.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
  • International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required with a minimum of grade 5 in an Art subject at Higher Level.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher) together with evidence of experience in Art and Design.

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries

For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the "apply now" button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.

Portfolio and interviews

Applicants will be invited to an informal interview at our Locksbrook campus and will be required to submit a portfolio in support of their application. More details will be supplied to applicants who meet the entry criteria for the course.

Course leader: Erin Deighton

Email: e.deighton@bathspa.ac.uk

"BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design" is a name revision to the programme currently running as BA (Hons) "Furniture and Product Design."

Three year course
With placement year
With foundation year
Masthead image: Stool by Ryan Biscoe

Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk