Design and Innovation
School of Engineering and Materials Science FAQs What is design and innovation at Queen Mary?
Why study design and innovation at Queen Mary?
The study of design and innovation at Queen Mary involves an exploration of the process of inventing products that improve our lives.
In the most recent National Student Survey (NSS 2011), 88 per cent of our engineering students were satisfied with the quality of their course. The quality of research taking place in the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary was also rated highly in the Government’s most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008). This feeds directly into your experience, meaning that you will be taught by people who are making significant contributions in their field, who will be able to pass on their knowledge and enthusiasm to you.
An important part of design in this context is problem solving. Designers aim to find the optimum solution to meet as many of the user’s needs as possible. There will never be one conclusive solution to a design problem: it is a case of finding the ‘best fit’ after considering the budget, aesthetics, and any practical constraints, while of course, always keeping in mind the person who will eventually be using the product. Design is a creative and thinking process, usually centred on ideas rather than technology. However, students of design and innovation benefit from technical and materials knowledge; you will use not only creative processes, but also mathematical analysis. A unique element of our design and innovation programmes is that you will be equipped with the necessary technical skills to take design to the next level, off the page and into production. Designers must also have excellent communication skills, which may include the ability to sketch an initial idea, present a product to a client or simply explain a concept to an engineer who will take the design forward.
Why study design and innovation? What can I do afterwards? Design and innovation is a field that lies between art and science, combining creative and logical thinking. Our graduates are both engineering professionals who can understand and apply the latest technologies, and designers who understand creative design processes, design principles and their applications. Recent graduates have gone on to find work as project managers and interior designers among other careers. The transferable skills you gain will make you attractive to a wide range of employers. These skills include:
The School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary has come together with Goldsmiths, University of London to create our unique design and innovation programmes. You will benefit from the strengths of each university: Queen Mary for the technical aspects and Goldsmiths for the more creative elements. Transport links between the two colleges are excellent – there is a direct train from Whitechapel to New Cross (where Goldsmiths is based) on the newly refurbished London Overground line. At Queen Mary, students will benefit from: • The School’s strong links with design in the engineering industry • Our location in a vibrant area of east London, with its flourishing art and design community • Gaining a unique qualification that combines the development of design creativity and knowledge of technology • Excellent workshop facilities available for exclusive use of design students.
• Numeracy • Teamwork • Project management • Presentation skills • Analytical thinking • Creativity.
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