Product Design - Student Profiles

Nikki Ferguson

As a result of the unique education I received at DJCAD, University of Dundee in the Product Design undergraduate program I find myself in an interesting place, not seeing myself as a traditional Industrial Designer or as a Digital Interaction Designer, but somewhere in between. In an increasingly digital world I am excited to see how I can be a part of the generation that explore the role that Product Design can have in it, and I believe the Product Design program has helped prepare me for the future in industry that I aspire to.

During my time at the university I worked on live briefs, including the NCR design competition, which allowed me to brush shoulders with industry experts from the beginning of my university career. Through considered investigation, development and realisation students are taught to produce meaningful objects, designed with a clear consideration of social and ethical issues that will affect and benefit the people that use them.

Students are given the opportunity, during their final year, to exhibit their honours projects at New Designers in London. This event brings industry face to face with the next generation of design leaders and allowed me to gain experience presenting my ideas to key trade professionals. I exhibited my project, The Heirloom, and received the New Designers Virgin Atlantic Award for Product Design and the customer experience, winning an Internship with Virgin Atlantic.

Nikki Ferguson
www.nikkigeorgeferguson.com

Chris McNicholl

 Product Design at Dundee is still a relatively young course, and for this reason it is incredibly exciting to be a part off. Whilst holding strong principles and objectives, the content is constantly shifting and moulding to match today’s every-changing design industry.

During my time in Dundee, I learnt and developed a broad range of the fundamental skills of a product designer, from research and sketching to electronics and prototyping. But where the course stands out from others is in the emphasis on ‘design thinking’. Whilst giving me necessary practical skills, enabling me to think like a designer and therefore approach tasks creatively is by far the most valuable asset I attained from the course and its staff.

The Product Design programme at DJCAD is at the forefront of design, and it offers its students a variety of highly valuable opportunities. In my time on the course I was part of a team of students who represented the university and UK at Microsoft’s headquarters in Seattle (USA), I took part in and won the Scottish Universities Design Competition, earned an internship as a designer with global corporation NCR and as a result of one of my projects established a connection with design company, Suck UK, who now produce and retail one of my designs.

I have since returned home to Northern Ireland and I am now working as a product designer with James Leckey Design, one of the world leaders in the design and production of products for children with special needs. I also intend to continue utilising the broad range of skills I developed at DJCAD through individual projects and freelance work.  

Chris McNicholl
Product Designer, James Leckey Design
www.chrismcnicholl.com

To apply to study Product Design at DJCAD, University of Dundee, submit your application to UCAS using Institution Code D65 and Course Code W240.