Program Overview

Design and develop performance sports equipment and apparel for the sports and leisure market.

• Develop skills and knowledge to become a versatile, industry-focused designer.
• Gain experience from live projects and links with the sports and outdoor industries.
• Form ties with design, sport, health, wellbeing, manufacturing and lifestyle sectors.
• Engage with physiological, psychological and ergonomic factors to propose solutions that deliver performance benefits.

The course is for students who’ve previously studied Fashion Design or Product/Industrial Design at undergraduate level. You’ll learn about the main business, ethical and technical contexts for developing innovative products and services. You’ll also have opportunities to experience real-world projects, gaining the specialist knowledge and skills required to work in this sector.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Through a series of creative research and design projects, you’ll develop your individual practice – in a framework of manufacturing, production, cultural, ethical and environmental contexts.

You learn through

• immersive studio environments
• Practice-based research
• Project work
• Individual and group tutorials
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Constructive critical debates

During the early stages of the course, you’ll cover the key concepts, theories and debates in both contemporary and future sports-industry practice. By utilising the expertise of specialist academic staff and industry specialists, you’ll build your knowledge through a series of lectures, seminars and workshops.

You’ll also have specialist staff support to build on the skills and knowledge you gain from the initial modules. You’ll then apply your learning in an independently-planned research project – positioning your professional, creative practice within the design-for-sports industry.