Design, Innovation and Creative Engineering

Future design graduates will need to be both artists and engineers, combining the latest technology with creative thinking.

Engineering alone can’t solve the complex challenges of the 21st century - and design can only go so far without the right technology to bring ideas to life. That’s where this course comes in.

Our hands-on programme blends creative design thinking with cutting-edge engineering expertise, equipping you with the skills to innovate beyond conventional solutions. You won’t just apply existing knowledge to solve problems - you’ll rethink the problem itself, uncovering overlooked users and challenging assumptions to design more effective, human-centred solutions.

From pitches to portfolios

In tutorial-style sessions, we’ll encourage you to think and develop as an independent designer, with pitches, presentations and portfolios to put your skills to the test. You’ll explore material properties of artefacts as well as looking at their environmental impact and manufacturing. All with support from academics and technical staff, as well as visiting design consultants.

In your final year, you’ll identify and explore a design problem that interests you. Past students have designed kit for the London Air Ambulance, tools to help patients communicate pain more effectively and solutions to avoid single-use containers in the cosmetic industry.

Many students progress to postgraduate study in design and innovation. Some find their first product design role. Others work in technology, strategy or marketing. Whatever you do next, you could be the person who solves problems faced by communities around the globe.

The BEng (Hons) Design, Innovation and Creative Engineering programmes are accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers as partially meeting the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), and fully meeting the academic requirements for registration as a Registered Product Designer.

Year 1

You'll study a range of core principles including:

EMS403U - Studio Practice Year 1 (30 credits)
EMS402U - Engineering Design
EMS412U - Computational and Mathematical Modelling 1
EMS430U – Materials Engineering
EMS406U - Data and Design
EMS450U - Exploring Design, Innovation and Creative Engineering
EMS418U - Computational and Mathematical Modelling 2
EMS499U - Skills for Engineers

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Assessment typically includes a combination of coursework, written reports, projects, presentations, group work and exams in the summer.