Practical courses for the artists, designers and writers of the future who wish to develop a competitive portfolio and experience university life. Book your place on a Summer School course today!
Ready to embark on a journey into the future of design? Join us and let's shape the world — one innovative idea at a time!
This course is a week of creative exploration, with a focus on sustainability and the cutting-edge techniques utilised by product designers and design students today.
You'll be motivated to view products through the lens of a designer, analysing how functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability intersect to enhance user experience and minimise environmental impact.
The future possibilities are endless – let's design them together.
What You'll Study:
Immerse yourself in a design challenge and project brief devised to tackle real-world design problems, and master the essential skills utilised by designers to create innovative solutions.
Before taking on the big design challenge, you'll participate in smaller preparation sessions carefully curated to equip you with the tools and techniques needed to complete the project. These sessions will provide valuable context, helping you understand the relevance and importance of each approach to the overarching project.
Through hands-on activities, you'll experiment with diverse creative approaches and mindsets, empowering you to identify, question, critique, and navigate design challenges effectively. From sketching the seeds of an idea to bringing it to life through model making, you’ll explore the world of product design in a dynamic and hands-on environment.
You'll refine your observational skills and develop a keen understanding of how to visually communicate your ideas collaboratively with continuous evaluation and constructive feedback from your tutor and fellow students
With expert guidance and hands-on support, you'll gain the confidence and proficiency required to tackle the design challenge with passion, turning ideas into reality and leaving a lasting mark on the design landscape.
Get ready to unleash your creativity and shape the future of design!
During this course, you will:
- explore how to develop your innovation skills and provide solutions to design problems
- investigate how to create new concepts that appeal to audiences that might have differing needs and abilities
- use sketching and modelling techniques to develop tangible concepts
- develop your ideas into models using everyday materials to convey design ideas
- explore the intersection of creativity, technology, and innovation in product design
- cultivate a forward-thinking mindset and embrace the spirit of exploration
- develop design and interpersonal skills essential for successful product design
- learn how to present your work both verbally and in a portfolio.
Throughout the course, you'll delve into the fascinating realm of product design, mastering essential skills and techniques that will empower you to thrive in this dynamic field. From exploring design thinking principles to honing your prototyping abilities and delving into sustainable design practices, each day will offer a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge and push the boundaries of your creativity. The project you complete will put your newfound skills to the test and empower you to make a meaningful impact in the world of design.
By the end of the course, you'll emerge with a comprehensive understanding of the design process and its impact on shaping the world around us. Armed with a robust toolkit of design skills, critical thinking abilities, collaboration and presentation skills, you'll be ready to tackle any design challenge with confidence and ingenuity.
Whether you're aspiring to pursue a career in product design or simply eager to explore your creative potential, this course will leave you inspired, empowered, and equipped to design a brighter future and is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in a studio environment and create new work for your portfolio.
Social Events:
We appoint NTU Student Ambassadors who host social events on Monday and Wednesday evening to help you make friends across the whole of our summer school programme for 15 – 17 year olds, which are free to attend.
Duke of Edinburgh:
This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential Award and is an amazing opportunity to make new friends and memories. It will be fun and gently challenging, allowing you to follow your passion and discover talents you never knew you had.
DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.
You must also attend the social events that are planned on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and you must plan and attend your own social activities with other participants on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Prices:
Course: £525.00 + (optional) Accommodation: £259.00
You can find out more about our facilities, tutors and how to book your place on the NTU website.