Product, Furniture, Ceramics BA (Hons) at Staffordshire University

About

Become a creator of the future. Design and make innovative, contemporary products to high levels of craftsmanship using a diverse range of materials, processes and practical skills. Focus on user experience and explore sustainable design, new technology and smart materials on our unique Product, Furniture, Ceramics course

Youâll develop a broad set of design and making skills, learning from our team of expert academics in our dedicated design studio. Youâll apply your skills through live projects with world-renowned brands, building a portfolio of innovative and exciting work. You can choose to specialise in the third year, tailoring your projects to your target career, whether you want to be a Product Designer, Ceramicist, Furniture Maker or Entrepreneurial Designer-Maker.

Our course is taught by academics with real-world experience in design and manufacturing, who will be at your side throughout your journey to provide you with the knowledge, skills and support you need to take the first step to a successful career in Product, Furniture, Ceramics.

Students have won prestigious National and International awards including:

New Designers Best Stand
The M&S Homeware Award
Pentland Brands Award
Sainsburyâs Homeware Award
Formica Award for Excellence and consecutive year on year 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize for excellence from Valentine Clays.

Students have also won multiple Keith Brymer Jones â€˜promising young designerâ awards, FRANZ Rising Star Global Scholarships, and the GNCCF â€˜Best Makerâ awards.

Students have had their work realised by KEF, Royal Doulton and Wedgwood, as well as being BCB Show â€˜Highlightsâ at the British Ceramics Biennials.

Youâll get the chance to visit leading Design Studios, Manufacturers and Exhibitions both in the UK and internationally on our vibrant Educational Visits, to places like New York, Copenhagen, Milan and London.

A number of modules are Industry Sponsored, with free materials for students, prizes and placement opportunities

Youâll develop a broad set of design and making skills, learning from our team of expert academics in our dedicated design studio. Youâll apply your skills through live projects with world-renowned brands, building a portfolio of innovative and exciting work. You can choose to specialise in the third year, tailoring your projects to your target career, whether you want to be a Product Designer, Ceramicist, Furniture Maker or Entrepreneurial Designer-Maker.

Our course is taught by academics with real-world experience in design and manufacturing, who will be at your side throughout your journey to provide you with the knowledge, skills and support you need to take the first step to a successful career in Product, Furniture, Ceramics.

Students have won prestigious National and International awards including:

New Designers Best Stand
The M&S Homeware Award
Pentland Brands Award
Sainsburyâs Homeware Award
Formica Award for Excellence and consecutive year on year 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize for excellence from Valentine Clays.

Students have also won multiple Keith Brymer Jones â€˜promising young designerâ awards, FRANZ Rising Star Global Scholarships, and the GNCCF â€˜Best Makerâ awards.

Students have had their work realised by KEF, Royal Doulton and Wedgwood, as well as being BCB Show â€˜Highlightsâ at the British Ceramics Biennials.

Youâll get the chance to visit leading Design Studios, Manufacturers and Exhibitions both in the UK and internationally on our vibrant Educational Visits, to places like New York, Copenhagen, Milan and London.

A number of modules are Industry Sponsored, with free materials for students, prizes and placement opportunities

Youâll develop a broad set of design and making skills, learning from our team of expert academics in our dedicated design studio. Youâll apply your skills through live projects with world-renowned brands, building a portfolio of innovative and exciting work. You can choose to specialise in the third year, tailoring your projects to your target career, whether you want to be a Product Designer, Ceramicist, Furniture Maker or Entrepreneurial Designer-Maker.

Our course is taught by academics with real-world experience in design and manufacturing, who will be at your side throughout your journey to provide you with the knowledge, skills and support you need to take the first step to a successful career in Product, Furniture, Ceramics.

Students have won prestigious National and International awards including:

New Designers Best Stand
The M&S Homeware Award
Pentland Brands Award
Sainsburyâs Homeware Award
Formica Award for Excellence and consecutive year on year 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize for excellence from Valentine Clays.

Students have also won multiple Keith Brymer Jones â€˜promising young designerâ awards, FRANZ Rising Star Global Scholarships, and the GNCCF â€˜Best Makerâ awards.

Students have had their work realised by KEF, Royal Doulton and Wedgwood, as well as being BCB Show â€˜Highlightsâ at the British Ceramics Biennials.

Youâll get the chance to visit leading Design Studios, Manufacturers and Exhibitions both in the UK and internationally on our vibrant Educational Visits, to places like New York, Copenhagen, Milan and London.

A number of modules are Industry Sponsored, with free materials for students, prizes and placement opportunities

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BA (Hons) Product, Furniture, Ceramics

Work placements

By choosing the placement route, you will have the opportunity to spend a year in industry working at a selected company. You will be able to develop your skills, knowledge and experience as part of your degree and return to the third year feeling even more confident about tackling your negotiated major project.

Previous students have completed placements at companies across the UK and internationally.

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The first year of the course is designed to provide you with solid foundations in becoming a designer/ maker, focusing on core design skills, material exploration and making, and the role of CAD as a visualisation tool. Real Live projects with Industry give you the opportunity to put these skills into practice and get your first taste of working with clients.

In the second year, youll focus on developing an identity as a designer whilst learning more about design for manufacture and advanced digital techniques. Youll work collaboratively through live projects with industry that will develop your independence, focusing on driving factors like consumer behaviour, emotional design and sustainability.

The third year allows you to specialise, tailoring your Major Project to your target career, putting all the skills developed into practice. Youll consider the contextualisation of your work, including branding, costings and intellectual property. Further live projects with industry and competition briefs provide opportunities to produce stand out portfolio projects. The third-year culminates in an end-of-year Degree Show, as well as the opportunity to exhibit your work at a national design show.

The first year of the course is designed to provide you with solid foundations in becoming a designer/ maker, focusing on core design skills, material exploration and making, and the role of CAD as a visualisation tool. Real Live projects with Industry give you the opportunity to put these skills into practice and get your first taste of working with clients.

In the second year, youll focus on developing an identity as a designer whilst learning more about design for manufacture and advanced digital techniques. Youll work collaboratively through live projects with industry that will develop your independence, focusing on driving factors like consumer behaviour, emotional design and sustainability.

The third year allows you to specialise, tailoring your Major Project to your target career, putting all the skills developed into practice. Youll consider the contextualisation of your work, including branding, costings and intellectual property. Further live projects with industry and competition briefs provide opportunities to produce stand out portfolio projects. The third-year culminates in an end-of-year Degree Show, as well as the opportunity to exhibit your work at a national design show.

The first year of the course is designed to provide you with solid foundations in becoming a designer/ maker, focusing on core design skills, material exploration and making, and the role of CAD as a visualisation tool. Real Live projects with Industry give you the opportunity to put these skills into practice and get your first taste of working with clients.

In the second year, youll focus on developing an identity as a designer whilst learning more about design for manufacture and advanced digital techniques. Youll work collaboratively through live projects with industry that will develop your independence, focusing on driving factors like consumer behaviour, emotional design and sustainability.

The third year allows you to specialise, tailoring your Major Project to your target career, putting all the skills developed into practice. Youll consider the contextualisation of your work, including branding, costings and intellectual property. Further live projects with industry and competition briefs provide opportunities to produce stand out portfolio projects. The third-year culminates in an end-of-year Degree Show, as well as the opportunity to exhibit your work at a national design show.

Professional body accreditation

Accredited by the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) the professional body for design with free student membership and leading to Associate Membership (Assoc. CSD).

Professional body accreditation

Accredited by the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) the professional body for design with free student membership and leading to Associate Membership (Assoc. CSD).

Professional body accreditation

Accredited by the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) the professional body for design with free student membership and leading to Associate Membership (Assoc. CSD).

Teaching

The teaching on this course largely takes place in our dedicated studio and 3D workshops. Youll work on a variety of live industry projects that aim to develop a broad skill set that you can apply in a range of careers. Youll work both independently and in teams, with great opportunities to learn from other students and our expert teaching team. A typical week on the course will include tutorials, seminars, technical demonstrations,thinking through making in our 3D workshops and software tutorials.

Assessment

All assessment takes place through the submission of coursework. This will include sketch work, models, presentation material, digital modelling files and written work.

There are no exams on this course.

All assessment takes place through the submission of coursework. This will include sketch work, models, presentation material, digital modelling files and written work.

There are no exams on this course.

All assessment takes place through the submission of coursework. This will include sketch work, models, presentation material, digital modelling files and written work.

There are no exams on this course.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You will receive regular feedback from our expert teaching team, both verbally in our studio and workshops, and more formally in writing at the end of each module.

Disciplines

School of Digital

Technologies and Arts

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Undergraduate

Undergraduate (bachelors) degrees

To apply for an undergraduate (bachelors) degree you need one of the following qualifications:

Community College Diploma / Associate Degree with a minimum grade GPA of 2.5

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with 28 points overall
Successful completion of a relevant International Foundation Year from a recognised UK Institution
For A-Level requirements, please see the ‘entry requirements’ section on the relevant course page

Integrated masters and two-year accelerated degrees

To apply for an integrated masters or two-year accelerated degree you need one of the following qualifications:

Community College Diploma / Associate Degree with a minimum grade of 2.8

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with 30 points overall
Successful completion of a relevant International Foundation Year from a recognised UK Institution
For A-Level requirements, please see the ‘entry requirements’ section on the relevant course page

English Program Requirements

The majority of our undergraduate bachelor degree courses require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0, with 5.5 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. However, we also accept a wide range of qualifications from around the world. The following qualifications are acceptable for most of our Bachelor degree courses.

Career

Careers

Graduates from our design degrees are highly sought after, securing careers worldwide and working on a wide variety of projects. They work for companies including:

Habitat
M&S Home
Wedgwood
Westbridge Furniture
Evoke Creative
GoldenBear Toys
1882

Some graduates are also running their own businesses, teaching, and studying at postgraduate level.

Staff work 1-1 with students and graduates to identify job, placement and internship opportunities. The professional network of our teaching team is invaluable in placing our talented graduates in industry

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Wedgwood Re-imagined and interesting interiors - Degree Show 2022

Video

Ceramicist, Serim takes you on a tour of the 3D Designer Maker Degree Show including industrial briefs for Wedgwood and Duchess China and some inventive interiors using cardboard.

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Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 16,750

How to Apply

Contact one of our approved overseas education representatives in your country
Use the ‘apply now’ button on the undergraduate course pages to apply through UCAS. (Visit the UCAS website for more information). To do this, you'll need:
- UCAS course code - you’ll find the four-digit code (e.g. P500) in our prospectus, on the course page or on the UCAS website.
- An institution code for the university – it's S72 for Staffordshire University.

Product, Furniture, Ceramics BA (Hons)

Staffordshire University

Staffordshire University

Key Facts

Start & Deadlines