Module Code - Title:
PD4018
-
DESIGN PROJECT 2
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
PD4017
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module is the final in a series of design studio modules, where the student focuses on refining design skills through the Final Year Design project. This project is a continuation of the self-directed project from module PD4017 (semester 1). In this semester, students will have an opportunity to realise their project to a professional level of development, detailing and presentation.
For this phase of the project students can choose to focus on 1 or more project emphasis: industrial design, product service system, design for manufacture and disassembly. This module is the culmination of 8 semesters of product design education and an opportunity to showcase the students design skills.
Syllabus:
- Concept Development: design validation & user testing
- Design refinement: detailing of project emphasis
- Design presentation
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- To bring design ideas to a high level of professional execution.
- Use detailed functioning prototypes to assess the viability of design ideas during the design process.
- To develop design ideas to a high level of manufacturing and material specification as well fully detailing product functionality and interface features.
- Produce appropriate communication media, design record and final evaluation of the project.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Conduct user testing in an ethical and responsible manner.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Develop prototypes suitable for user testing.
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module is taught in a design studio environment, where students complete a self-directed design project. During this time feedback and support is offered through; design critiques, peer to peer group sessions, one-one tutor sessions, and specialist workshops. The studio environment provides students with a space and resources that support exploration and iteration of student work.
Prime Texts:
LEFTERI, Chris (2019)
Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design (3rd Edition)
, Laurence King.
MCCANDLESS, David (2009)
Information is Beautiful
, London: Collins Press.
THOMPSON, Rob (2007)
Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals
, London,
Thames & Hudson.
LEFTERI, C. (2014)
Materials for Design
, Laurence King
EISSEN, K. & STEUR, R (2014)
Sketching, Product Design Presentation
, BIS Publishers
HALLGRIMSSON, B (2019)
Prototyping and Modelmaking for Product Designers
, Laurence King Publishing
ASHBY, M.F. & JOHNSON, K. (2014)
Materials and Design: the art and science of material selection in product design (3rd Edition)
, Oxford Elsevier Science
THOMPSON, R. (2011)
Prototyping and Low-volume Production (The Manufacturing
Guides)
, Thames & Hudson
STICKDORN, M., HORMESS, M.E., LAWRENCE, A. & SCHNEIDER, J. (2016)
This is Service Design Doing
, O'Reilly Media
STOPHER, B. (2021)
Design and Digital Interfaces
, Bloomsbury Publishing
HANINGTON, B. (2012)
Universal Methods of Design
, Quarto Publishing Group
CHIVUKULA, S.S. (2025)
Universal Methods of Ethical Design
, Rockport Publishing
Other Relevant Texts:
MORRIDGE, Bill (2006)
Designing Interactions
, Cambridge, MIT Press
LEFTERI, Chris (2006)
Materials for Inspirational Design
, Rotovision.
GALLO, Carmine (2009)
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience
, McGraw-Hill Professional.
DAVIES, Graham (2010)
The Presentation Coach: Bare Knuckle Brilliance For Every
Presenter
, Capstone.
HUDSON, Jennifer (2008)
Process: 50 Product Designs from Concept to Manufacture
, Laurence King.
HARA, Kenya (2007)
Designing Design
, Lars Muller Publishers.
DUARTE, Nancy (2010)
Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences
, John
Wiley & Sons
CULLEN, Kristin (2007)
Layout Workbook: A Real-world Guide to Building Pages in
Graphic Design
, Rockport Publishers Inc.
LAUREL, B. (2003)
Design Research: Methods and Perspectives
, Cambridge, MIT PRESS
BUXTON, Bill (2007)
Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design (Interactive Technologies)
, Morgan Kaufmann.
SAFFER, Dan (2009)
Designing for Interaction: Creating Innovative Applications and Devices (Voices That Matter) 2nd edition
, New Riders.
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PRODUCT DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
muireann.mcmahon@ul.ie