...

Product Innovation BA(Hons)

Select the year

Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

4 years full-time 4 years inc. placement year

UCAS Tariff

120-104


Recent Awards For Excellence

Ofsted outstanding provider logo
Find out more about these awards
About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Develop industry-ready design skills through hands-on projects, prototyping and studio experimentation.
  • Explore contemporary design thinking and collaborate across disciplines while building a creative, diverse portfolio.
  • Access specialist workshops, digital labs and professional equipment to support your ideas from concept to completion.

Product Innovation at Huddersfield is a future-focused course designed for creative thinkers who want to shape the products, systems and experiences of tomorrow. You’ll explore the full design journey—from idea generation and prototyping to testing, refinement and final output—while working across a range of design disciplines.

As part of our professionally focused Design suite, you’ll benefit from industry-standard facilities, technical support, and a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach modelled on contemporary design practice. Throughout your studies, you’ll be encouraged to experiment, explore emerging design methodologies, and push creative boundaries to transform ideas into meaningful solutions.

You’ll work on hands-on projects across multiple typologies, gaining a strong foundation in both creative and technical design. From materials testing and manufacturing processes to concept development and user-focused design thinking, the course helps you build a versatile, future-ready portfolio tailored to your interests and career ambitions.

A degree in Product Innovation opens the door to a wide range of creative industries, including product design, interior design, UX design, illustration, graphic design, and more.

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

BBB-BCC at A Level or equivalent.
120-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.
Merit at T Level.
DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Merit in UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Merit in RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Pass in Diploma Foundation Studies in Art and Design combined with A Level or BTEC qualifications, to total an equivalent of 120-104 UCAS tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
120-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.


If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Art, Design and Architecture Foundation Pathway Degree.

What will you learn?

Course Details

This module introduces and develops your awareness and understanding of 2D and 3D visual language relating to research, analysis, evaluation and synthesis through exploration of the creative process of design. The module comprises three components: visual enquiry, design interpretation and communicative processes. Your knowledge and understanding of these principles will be demonstrated through a portfolio containing visual exploration and development, 2D/3D proposals and design experimentation.

The module will provide an opportunity for you to develop an understanding and explorative approach to the consideration and production of design proposals and to further utilise a range of design methods and digital/analogue techniques in the application and practice of design and project work. Design work will be undertaken to enable you to integrate design process, creative experimentation and visual communication techniques while encouraging the acquisition and development of organisational, creative, technical computing and CAD skills to further enhance the appreciation of the knowledge expected of a designer. Design projects and assignments will be used to provide a framework for you to demonstrate an awareness and understanding of human factors in the design of objects and environments, while developing an appreciation of industry standard digital presentation techniques.

This module will introduce you to a range of relevant theories for and about design. It will introduce you to discourses and debates relating to the history, influences, production and critical reception of design. It will contextualise these aspects in terms of your discipline providing an overarching understanding of design in general as well as more focused elements pertinent to your design field.

This module will contain a number of projects from which to choose and will include a focus towards audience and client expectations and needs, competitiveness, social and ethical considerations and the identification of design criteria. Design work will continue to develop design exploration studies, in both 2D and 3D, encouragement will be made towards understanding the importance of digital presentation and modelling techniques and related issues in the design process. You will identify an appropriate context for your project and undertake appropriate research studies to support initial concept proposals, followed by a digital design package of information. Work undertaken in this module will require presentations to be made digitally, verbally and visually.

The module develops your practical and design methodology skills in preparation for your final year study. It uses industry level projects to improve creativity and problem solving capabilities. It also establishes a professional approach to your design work and presentations. The module will develop your conceptual, cultural, technical, specification, design and aesthetic resolution skills.

This module is divided into 2 parts, a theoretical component and a practical component. The practical component will present approaches that encourage personal development and reflection while developing an appreciation and understanding of strategies and methodologies related to employability and work placement. There will be guidance in the preparation of an individual Curriculum Vitae, letters of application and an understanding of the role and nature of self-promotion. There will be an emphasis on developing an enhanced ability to reflect upon your personal design engagement and own learning across the year. Theory is explored through the field of expansion of applicable design practices. It focuses on the theorisation of professional practices, cultural practices and histories relevant to the study of design. It encourages you to explore ideas and concepts through research of theory and practice.

The placement year is your chance to gain hands-on experience and build on the skills you’ve developed in your first two years of study. You’ll spend up to 48 weeks (minimum 36 weeks) in a graduate-level role, sharpening your professional skills, exploring career options, and boosting your future job prospects. During your placement, you'll reflect on your performance, develop real-world skills, and learn to approach your role with a critical eye. Your placement will be monitored, and you’ll be assessed on your achievements, setting you up for success in your final year and beyond.

The Portfolio Sandwich Year module provides a flexible and tailored approach to professional development. It allows you to create a customised portfolio of graduate-level opportunities if your career aspirations don’t align with a traditional sandwich year placement. This module will help you develop a diverse and adaptable skillset, build professional networks, and enhance your career readiness through a mix of structured and self-directed activities.

This module enables you to complement your major project by undertaking an-depth market/technical analysis and evaluation of your finalised design. You will extend and apply your knowledge of manufacturing, production and specification design to your design practice: products, environments, buildings, materials etc. You will demonstrate critical analysis and evaluation of market, technical, manufacturing and economic aspects relating to your design solution(s).

You will build upon and test research developed in your Research Proposal. You will channel your creative and intellectual skills, either as an individual, or as part of a collaboration or interdisciplinary team, to create innovative, original or highly professional proposition(s) appropriate to your discipline through, for example, sketchbooks, worksheets and creative outputs. You will realise the potential of your major project in a form appropriate to your intentions. Your artefacts will act as a group of coherent summative statements.

This module will establish and inform your major project. Within it you will identify a theme/subject/issue relevant to your practice. The module will re-emphasise the importance of in-depth research, within which you will demonstrate originality, pro-activity and innovation. The context and parameters of this module will be defined by you through negotiation and ongoing dialogue with your tutors.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you’ll study the award-winning Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* — so you’re ready for the career you want, whatever subject you choose.

Interested in a placement?

Placements

The course offers an optional one-year (36 weeks minimum) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

The course aims to help you develop the creative, technical, and professional skills needed to work across a wide range of design roles, from product development and user-centred design to broader innovation-focused industries. You’ll be encouraged to take part in workshops, live briefs, and design competitions, all structured to prepare you for employment once you graduate. Many graduates from our design degrees go on to work in leading studios, start their own creative businesses, or progress into specialist areas such as product design, prototyping, digital fabrication, and design consultancy.

81%
Percent of graduates from this subject area were in work or further study 15 months after graduation

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 22/23, UK Domiciled

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£9,790 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£17,600 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Home

The tuition fee for a placement year is £1000. If you go on work experience or work placement, you will need to fund your own travel and/or accommodation costs to and from the placement.  Please be aware that if your placement is outside of the UK, you will still be responsible for your travel and living expenses and may need to consider issues like health care and insurance costs.

International

The tuition fee for a placement year is £3,300. If you go on work experience or work placement, you will need to fund your own travel and/or accommodation costs to and from the placement.  Please be aware that if your placement is outside of the UK, you will still be responsible for your travel and living expenses and may need to consider issues like health care and insurance costs.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible undergraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

Explore More

Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

Need more details?

More Info

Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

Find out more about careers support

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

See our support services

Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

Find out more

Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Design and Architecture may teach you on this course.

Find out more about our staff

Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

Find out more

Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

Take a look at your options

Further Study

If you want to continue your learning beyond your undergraduate degree, there is a range of financial support available for postgraduate study, including discounts for Huddersfield graduates.

Discover postgraduate courses
Ask us a question