Design (Placement Year) BA (Hons)

Lancaster University

Why Lancaster?

• Develop a broad range of physical and digital creative design skills and learn how to apply these skills to a diverse range of important, contemporary issues
• Learn how to visualise your ideas to a professional level using a range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional industry standard design software as well learn processes such as 3D printing and laser-cutting.
• Add real world experience to your portfolio and CV by working on live briefs, including a design consultancy project
• Become a graduate in demand from a top university, capable of pursuing both traditional design jobs and exciting new and emerging roles
• Be taught by staff from ImaginationLancaster, our globally renowned design research lab where your tutors push the boundaries of design via cutting-edge design research and practice.

Question what design actually is in our rapidly changing world - and what your ideas can contribute to help build a better world. Studying at Lancaster, you’ll search for ways design can solve complex social, technological, business and environmental problems.

Our distinctive degree provides you with a broad grounding in creative design practice as well as robust design research skills due to staff expertise at ImaginationLancaster. You will graduate with a keen understanding of how different types of design can be applied across varied contexts to create positive change. Moreover, the broad set of skills you acquire in design research and design practice enable you to operate with agility and flexibility in an industry increasingly characterised by fast-paced change.

We think of design as a way of seeing the world and you will develop this kind of thinking as you progress through your degree. You’ll learn about the many different ways in which design can contribute to a healthier, more prosperous and sustainable world and you will conceptualise, develop and visualise both physical and digital solutions accordingly. You’ll also learn to generate innovative ideas and be confident to communicate and iterate these ideas until you reach the best solution for the problem you are addressing. Furthermore, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with design professionals as we organise for them to come and talk about design and design careers so that you can keep up to date with where the industry is and where it is going.

You will be taught by staff from ImaginationLancaster, a globally renowned design research lab – and one of the largest in the world. Our teaching staff work on a diverse array of design projects and are at the cutting edge of advancing the theory and practice of design. You will have plenty opportunities to engage with staff from ImaginationLancaster and learn from their varied specialisms, especially as you develop your own design direction and interests – which we encourage you to do from the beginning of your degree.

Your Placement Year

On your Placement Year you'll spend your third year in a paid, graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate. Our Careers and Placements Team will help you to secure a suitable placement with expert advice and resources, such as creating an effective CV, and tips for applications and interviews.

The university will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.