People encounter designed products every day: chairs, buildings, medicines, appliances, clothes, vehicles, robots and much else – just look around you. Design is central to the creation of all these products. Designers and engineers often work closely in teams to translate ideas into useful and required products. Knowledge of the design process is essential for successful engineering. The module combines academic study with practical work online and offline and aims to introduce you to the essential skills, knowledge and practices of design.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | T218 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| No residential school | |
The module is presented in three blocks. Each block focuses on a different phase in the development of a designed product.
Block 1 – Exploring designs and designing
The first block provides a general introduction on design. You'll look at the relationship between people and products and explore the human, cultural and engineering factors that influence the creation of designs. Block 1 will help you develop critical and inquisitive thinking skills when, as an engineer, you observe designs around you.
Block 2 – Design for people
Next, Block 2 focuses on the early stages of the design process and how research and evaluation of user and market requirements inform the process. You'll learn how to find out about people's capabilities, preferences and behaviours in order to shape new products. This block will help you develop user research and planning skills.
Block 3 – Creative designing
The final block focuses on the creative strategies that designers use to address design problems – particularly strategies for idea generation in the early design phases. It also teaches some of the core theories of creativity. Block 3 will help you develop your creative thinking skills.
All three blocks will contribute in the development of your ability to think and communicate engineering ideas through drawing and modelling. They will give you the skills that are necessary for the research, planning and development of a design project by looking at various products such as chairs, bikes, music players, kitchen gadgets, and buildings.
The spine of the module is the module website. The core module materials include three printed books (one per block) and a modelling workbook as well as a number of audiovisual material and resources found on the module website. Reading is accompanied by practical activities online and offline. Central to the module is an online virtual design studio, where you will upload images of your practical work for discussion with your tutor and fellow students. You will also be able to view and discuss the design and engineering work of your fellow students.
At the end of this module you will be able to:
The knowledge and skills developed in this module are applicable in various roles played by engineers.
The module will help you to gain knowledge and skills that are essential for the practising engineer. It can help you creatively engage with any situation that requires the identification of problems, research and development of ideas but also the translation of ideas into detailed plans. The module develops general scholarship on the subject of design and design processes which is applicable across engineering domains. The module will enhance your engineering abilities, and help towards preparation for working as a design engineer or in teams including designers.
This is an OU level 2 module and you need to have the study skills required for this level, obtained either through OU level 1 study, or by doing equivalent work at another university.
Beyond basic literacy skills, nothing more specific is expected other than a curiosity about objects, why they are as they are, and how they might be different and better. It is not assumed that you can already design, or even draw competently. You will be taught all the concepts and skills that you need, but if you already have some skills you will be able to develop them further.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
You'll also receive three printed books, a modelling workbook and a paper pack.
Although not essential, you might also find it desirable to have access to the following:
You'll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Monterey or higher.
Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.
Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It's not available on Kindle.
It's also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you'll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.
Throughout your module studies, you'll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They'll help you by:
Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won't be compulsory for you to complete the module, you're strongly encouraged to take part.
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone. The Accessibility Statement below outlines what studying this module involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
This module uses a mixture of online and printed materials. Online materials are composed of pages of text with images, audio/video clips of up to 25 minutes long (all with transcripts/subtitles), diagrams, interactive media, and some multiple-choice self-assessed quizzes. Online materials also include links to external resources, online forums and online tutorial rooms. The module also includes online activities using OpenDesignStudio, a social network site developed at the Open University for sharing and discussing module work. Printed materials consist of three printed books and a modelling workbook.
This module has online tutorials. Although not compulsory, tutorials will help you consolidate your learning.
You will not be required to work with other students on a project/task. However, you will be required to look at, and comment on, other student's work on OpenDesignStudio, as well as reflect on others' comments on your work and this is assessed in Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs).
This module includes practical work throughout. It makes extensive use of tools such as pencils, pens and paper, and asks you to sketch and make physical models using materials such as card and sticky tape. You will also be required to use a digital camera or phone camera to record your work and communicate it with others. Some students who are blind/partially sighted or have mobility or manual dexterity difficulties may need assistance with the practical work. Additionally, some activities and sections within the assessments require you to carry out user research. User research will include observing users and understanding their needs by using techniques such as interviewing.
The study materials contain a considerable number of diagrams and photographs. Reading and producing examples of these is an important part of the study of this module and is assessed. Figure descriptions are provided for all figures.
You will be required to search for, and make use of, third-party material online and in print, and this is assessed. Alternatives for required/assessed research material can be provided to enable you to meet the Learning Outcomes of the module.
This module has Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs), which must be submitted online via the OU electronic TMA system, and an End-of-Module Assessment (EMA) submitted online.
You will receive feedback from your tutor on your submitted Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs). This will help you to reflect on your TMA performance. You should refer to it to help you prepare for your next assignment.
All University modules are structured according to a set timetable and you will need time-management skills to keep your studies on track. You will be supported in developing these skills.
As part of this module you have access to a professional database: the 'CES materials and processes' database. Its use is not a requirement and is not assessed. CES is third-party software and may not be fully accessible as a result. The database must be downloaded and installed on a Windows PC. It can run on Apple Mac if an emulator such as VM Fusion or Parallel Desktop is first downloaded. It does not run on an iPad or Android tablet. A web-based alternative is available from a link on the module website.
Design for engineers (T218) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2024.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2026.
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2026.