Design School
Ranked 7th for Art and Design in the UK
The Times Good University Guide 2012
The School
The Design School represents a significant and thriving body of activity at Loughborough, and brings together 42 academic staff; 35 researchers; 50 PhD students; 13 technical staff; and 12 administrative support staff.
Design activity is undertaken beneath an umbrella of interdisciplinary provision which does not recognise particular disciplines as boundaries but seamlessly links them to provide teaching, solutions and research already recognised as world-leading by governments, industrialists and employers.
Loughborough Design School provides a challenging education in industrial/product design and technology, and ergonomics. Its courses offer you the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and knowledge that will enable you to be involved in integrated design, making key decisions on functionality, usability, appearance and manufacture.
The courses are not only suitable for those wishing to work in the areas of design and ergonomics but they also provide the skills and knowledge that can lead to a wide range of careers.
Specialist Facilities
The School relocated to a new state of the art building in 2011 which is equipped with interconnecting workshops, studios, specialist laboratories, display areas, and computer facilities. For example, a special CAD/CAM facility includes several rapid prototyping machines, water jet cutting and vacuum casting.
A distinctive feature of the Industrial/Product Design and Technology courses is the requirement for students to produce fully working prototypes of their major project in the final year. This can include electronic/mechanical systems, innovative manufacturing techniques or product innovation.
The outcome is always user-focused, being realised as a working prototype that demonstrates the underlying technology and functionality in addition to proposals for the product’s appearance.
Degree Show and Exhibition
The School’s annual public exhibition of finalist Industrial Design and Technology and Product Design and Technology students’ work (known as the Degree Show) is well known for the innovation, variety and the quality of the designs.
It is held in early June and details are available on request or from the School’s website. Work is also exhibited at the Design and Technology with ICT Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, in November, and at the New Designers Exhibition in London in July.
Ergonomics at Loughborough
Our well established Ergonomics (Human Factors) degree course is recognised by The Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (the professional body of ergonomics in the UK) to which the students are entitled to apply for membership.
Active Research
All academic staff are involved in research and this ensures you receive up to date teaching. Current research groups in the School are Design Practice, Design Ergonomics, Design Education, Sustainable Design, Environmental Ergonomics and the Vehicle Safety Research Centre.
The UK’s 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) reflected the International standing and esteem of our research. The majority of staff were acknowledged as producing research that was ‘world-leading’.
The score was the highest for all Art and Design departments in the UK. This research expertise ensures that our teaching features relevant, cutting edge knowledge of the latest advances in the fields of design and ergonomics.