University
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To cut a long story short, i'm currently looking at unversities and i was wondering if anyone could offer any advice.
I'm looking to do a course in product design, and so far ive found 3 unis im interested in, loughborough, brunel and sheffield hallam. Anyone got any experiences of the unis in question? not neccesarily experience of the courses, but experience of the uni as a whole, night life etc.
Any help greatly appreciated
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Dear Remus,
This is a tough one to answer as very few courses meet expectations. Perhaps print out the course outlines for all three Universities, and for all 3/4 years, and then delete what they have in common. Look at what is left and perhaps decide on that. Location is also quite important as you might as well enjoy your time there, wherever there might be.
There is another approach, and one that should seriously be considered, and that is getting a job with a company that offers product design, even if it is only working as a design dogsbody. A few years working in that environment will point you in the right direction. The company might even sponsor you to go to University, and you would have a job when you left. Going to University as a mature student is no bad thing, particularly if you put money aside for fees and maintenance. If the idea appeals then put together a portfolio of your work and go find that placement.
Regards,
Bob -
Cheers for the ideas bob. Im hopefully going to be doing some work experience with a small design firm over the summer hols, so that might help wit the whole being sponsored thing.
As for location, i definetly prefer loughborough because of its proximity to the peak district and wales, im a bit of an outdoors fan
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Dear Remus,
Have you decided on which aspect of product design interests you most? I note that Brunel offer a course entitled Product Design Engineering. Combining product design with engineering would be my choice.
Regards,
Bob -
I prefer the early stages of pd, researching thigns, making intial prototypes etc. I dont find the enginerring and later stages quite as interesting.
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Visit the schools if you can. Keep your eyes open and ask questions. Ask questions not just of the instructors you meet but also any students you can. Get a feel for which suits you.
All schools associated with design fields have their own characteristics & culture. You could get straight A's at one that suits you and flunk out at the one where you just can't fit in. It is very important to try for the one that you feel will suit you best. Have the time of your life!
Regards, Ross
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Um, I see you've selected only the new "universities", no "old" ones. Is that a good idea? What are their drop-out rates? What are the post university employment statistics? Times is hard, you'll get into debt, you'll need a decent job after graduating. Are you going to get one with the degree you end up with. It's not a popular thing to say with the education authorities but there is little future in a Mickey Mouse degree from the University of the Watford Gap Service Station. In engineering you should make sure your course is accredited { http://www.intstudy.com/articles/ec185a15.htm }.
http://www.unofficial-guides.com/guides/brunel-comments.html
http://www.unofficial-guides.com/guides/shefhal-comments.html
http://www.unofficial-guides.com/guides/loughboro-comments.html -
Dear Peter,
I agree with what you wrote, and that is why I encouraged Remus to take a few years out and get a job doing what he 'thinks' he would like to do after graduating. You don't have to go to university to be successful, and it shouldn't automatically be what one does next after getting a few A-Levels. Yes, it is fun, and yes, it does put off that dreadful day when one has to get a job, but life is tough out there and getting tougher.
Regards,
Bob -
Peter, i dont really want to do engineering if i'm honest, so hopefully i wont have to worry about makign sure my course is accredited.
The reason i chose those courses was because i've heard good things about them form other people who have done the courses. If you know of any other unis that run good design courses, id be very happy to hear about them! Most of the old unis dont do product design courses, thats why there arent any on my current list
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cheers ross, that might well be something to consider, i'll have to do a bit more research into the course itself, but going to canada would be wicked! Entry requirements arent too bad either.
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Remus - If you'd consider a Canadian university, Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario (Our nations capital) has a very good undergraduate program in 'Industrial Design'. (Here in North America we tend to call such programs 'Industrial Design' rather than 'Product Design'). Carleton has students from 147 countries. Here is their admissions booklet for international students. Check out the page on 'Tuition, Bursaries, and Scholarships'. Carleton is known for having relatively generous support for international students.
Carleton has a beautiful campus in a beautiful city (1.2 million people). I went there for two years prior to moving to Nova Scotia to study architecture. At Carlton I was studying urban geography not Industrial Design so I don't have first-hand knowledge of that program. The program is a Co-Op one meaning that it incorporates mandatory work placements as part of the program. This is a VERY desirable feature that can help jump start your eventual career by giving you high-quality work experience before graduating. Chances are you could get work placements in the UK so you'd be closer to home at least part of the year.
Perhaps it is something to consider? The Canadian girls will love your accent too. Canadian girls are also very pretty.
Regards, Ross
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I just edited my post to add the line about Canadian girls.
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Hope your not suggesting i choose my uni based on the women, ross
that would be very irresponsible 
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Oh, if you are on the other side of the fence then be advised that Canadian men are handsome.
Sorry for getting off-topic. One of the neat things about Carleton is most of the buildings are joined by tunnels. Many of the students who live on-campus will show up to class in winter wearing sandals, shorts and hawaiian shirts.
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Oh product design, as in the "arty" type of design. Here's two tales -
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My son in secondary school had to design a kite which included a graphic design to be printed on the sail. He got only average marks. I queried this with the teacher who was lukewarm about his artwork. "But it flies beautifully" I said, the teachers response being "we're not interested in if the kite flies"!
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A college lecturer in engineering I was in conversation with had been asked to judge the designs produced by a group of design students because he would be independent. The design was for a teapot and a wide range of models had been produced. But none would pour properly as not one student had considered that a teapot needs to pour tea.
To me form follows function, if a kite doesn't fly, or a teapot doesn't pour, the rest is irrelevant (unless you're just producing a piece of art).
Was this a rant? If so I'm sorry
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Peter Charles,
That was not a rant, it was plain common sense.
Alan -
Peter, to me it was a rant of sorts, but one hat i agree with totally. To me a design should have both form and function (if that makes sense), if either is missing, it is lacking.
And back to the original topic...
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I am a Student at Sheffield Hallam University (part-time) and I find it very good.
I cannot tell you about the social side though. Being a more mature student and having a family I leave that to you younger guys
One bonus for yourself if you enjoy the outdoors is you cannot get a City any closer to the Peak District. A big part of Sheffield is in it! -
Which course are you studying there dylan? Id be interested to find out aobut the quality of the lecturing.
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