I should of gone to uni this year but I didn't want to, I wanted to skip it and go to work as I hate education of a structured type like uni, college etc.. but I've realized it's a necessary evil! I've been working for a HiFi company called Cambridge audio for a couple of months as an electronic engineer but I'm not happy with a career in electronics based on this experience. Luckily through the two months I have found out what I want to do which is what I have loved all along. I want to be a designer! Vague I know but what I love is creating beautiful technology that works with the user seamlessly (cough Apple), I love Apple products for this reason as they are just levels above any PC manufacturer. Apples brilliance isn't based on a PCs hardware level and what clock speed you get for your money, it's far more than that. Anyway back to the original question. I love designing technlogy and I have expressed this for the last five years since I was thirteen through my hifi and electronics, although I haven't got to create that much due to lack of money and time. What course should I take? I feel like product design is a bit beneath what I want to do, I don't want to just design boxes I want something like product design with art combo! Also I want to stick to the best unis in England if possible. Thanks for sticking with me! Boscoe
Why don't you have a wander down to the design office at work and ask how they got started? A friend of mine did Engineering Design at Loughborough and now works at Bosch and makes various bits of mowers etc. He loved his course and now quite enjoys his job... At least most of the time anyway! If you already have experience working with electronics etc, once a course like that is finished you shouldn't have many problems finding work again.
If you're looking to go into any form of Engeering then I'd recommend Loughborough, currently on the Electronic and Computer Systems course and loving it And so is it purely the physical look of things? Or the user experience you're interested in?
How good are your maths and programming? Any elec eng course has a lot of the former and most have a fair bit of the latter. If you can't get on with either, I wouldn't recommend it. I was poor in both and ended up changing course.
Was in a lecture last year with some Elec. Engineering students and a housemate does instrument and control and as said your maths skills have to be top notch to be fair. As for uni's it depends I can't make recommendations as I'm not doing an engineering degree.
The only designer I've met who was any good had done this masters course http://www.rca.ac.uk/Default.aspx?ContentID=161712&CategoryID=36692
Product designer reporting for duty sir! Go the route of getting a BSc not a BA as most BA courses taught miss out the vital teachings of taking concept to production. It staggers me to this day at how many BA graduates don't know how to convert a concept for a specific manufacturing process. Its this knowledge that is vital for anyone seeking to work in design, as production engineers who once did the conversion are now in decline as BSc taught designers can do both job roles. Whilst you dream of slick Apple products, give Dieter Rams a google and see what a big con apple really are. If there getting pissing over patents regarding their products maybe Braun should step up and have a say.. You've missed the boat this year, so I suggest you find the degree show dates this coming May/June and have a good look around at what the students created. Its a good reflection on the quality of education provided. I went to Nottingham Trent University and back in 2006 it was rated to be one of the best in the country for the course with good post graduate employment statistics. I've not looked around recently but it doesn't take much to find the information. I also suggest you spend the next few months, finding a CAD package you get comfortable with, start learning various techniques and READ! Get ahead of the curve in order to stand out. Sites I visit Daily http://www.yankodesign.com/ http://www.gizmag.com/ http://www.core77.com/ http://www.designbuzz.com/ Useful sites http://www.idsketching.com/ http://productdesignhub.com/ http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/ Also books worth reading Total Design (Integrated methods for successful product engineering) ISBN 0-201-41639-5 Bodyspace (Anthropometry, Ergonomics and Design) ISBN 0-85066-352-0 Materials and Design (The art and science of material selection in product design) ISBN 0-7506-5554-2 Sketching (drawing techniques for product designers) ISBN978-90-6369-171-4 Any more questions, shoot me a PM if needed be
