Designing our futures

Product Design students were able to meet with industry partners, engineering and design companies while showcasing their work at the end of year product design engineering show.

As well as bringing the work of students into the public eye, and highlighting the design and engineering skills developed during their course, the event was an opportunity to celebrate the news that the programme has reached the top ten in its subject in the latest Guardian University league tables.

For the show, Level 4 students presented work following a brief to create an innovative children’s scooter for an internationally recognised toy brand. They also presented models from their Modelling Workshop module focusing on aesthetic form and workshop skills. They finally had the opportunity to present their best digital sketches of products produced in Photoshop through the Visualising Design module. 

A variety of posters and models from the Design Project module were displayed by the Level 5 students. The students presented their work for the Advanced CAD module which required them to design an innovative audio speaker based on the work of Dali. They also presented posters and process books for their Design Presentation module, the focus of which was to produce high quality renders of “Objects of Desire.” eg. perfume and aftershave bottles, kettles, etc.

Final year students displayed a variety of work in the form of posters, models, process books and their project dissertations. They also presented work from their User Centred Design module which was to develop a conceptual design solution for a wheelchair rain / sun canopy. There was also an Enterprise module section in which two group projects were presented with posters and complete business plans. Finally there was a Work Placement section displaying posters that students had created whilst out on placement in which described their experience. 

Course Leader Adam Papworth said: "I am delighted with this year’s Product Design Engineering show. It is an excellent way of generating collaborations, placements and graduate employment opportunities. It allows our students to showcase their abilities and meet professionals from a wide variety of industries. It was also a fantastic opportunity for everyone to celebrate the success of the course and the fact that the programme is now ranked 9th in its subject in this years Guardian university league tables."

LJMU’s Product Design programme has for the last two years seen up to 80% of its students gain employment in design functions within a  wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, maritime, medical, structural and general engineering. They have included companies such as GEC, Bentley, Alexander Dennis, Owen Mumford, Lefroy Brooks and Glasdons. A small number have also recently set up their own design firm - Juvo Designs.

Prize-winners:

Level 4 Student of the Show - Sen Perez-Corral - Design Project (Scooter); Design Visualisation (Digital Sketching); Modelling Workshop (Lamp and scooter models)

Level 5 Student of the Show - Jaime Mora Fernandez - Design Project (Camera ); Design Presentation (Object of Desire - Kettle); Advanced CAD (Dali Speaker Design); Product Analysis (FEA Infographic of a Bicycle Crank)

Level 6 Student of the Show - Ifan Mitchell-Starr - Final Year Project (Bicycle Street Lamp Lock)