Product Design

1. Major introduction

The Product Design program (Sino-foreign cooperative education) is jointly offered by Tianjin University of Technology and Bournemouth University in the UK, following a "4+0" joint training model and is affiliated with the proposed Tianjin University of Technology Bournemouth College.This program fully integrates the superior educational resources of both China and the UK, implements bilingual teaching, and students study throughout their course at Tianjin University of Technology. Students who complete the curriculum requirements of both universities and meet the graduation criteria will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tianjin University of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree from Bournemouth University.

Relying on the foundation of Tianjin University of Technology as a national first-class undergraduate major construction point and a Tianjin industry-education integration brand major, this program combines Bournemouth University's international teaching advantages in creative design, user experience, and sustainable innovation to build a dual-track training system of "international standards + local practice".The curriculum incorporates the certification standards of the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) in the UK and includes modules such as product planning, interaction design, sustainable design, and lifestyle product design, strengthening students' cross-cultural design understanding and innovation practice abilities.

During the teaching process, emphasis is placed on the integration of design thinking guidance and engineering practice, highlighting key aspects such as prototype development, user research, and collaborative innovation with enterprises, to facilitate students' completion of the entire design process training from creative conception to physical realization.Through participation in Sino-foreign joint projects, all-English teaching, and international design competitions, students' international perspectives and industrial adaptability are cultivated.

This program closely aligns with the demand for high-quality design talents in the intelligent equipment and green consumer goods sectors within Tianjin's "1+3+4" modern industrial system, aiming to cultivate compound product design talents with artistic aesthetic literacy, engineering thinking abilities, and industrial insight, serving the transformation and upgrading of regional manufacturing and the design-driven innovation development strategy.

2. Cultivation objectives and degree requirements

2.1 Cultivation objectives

This program is aimed at modern industries, especially industrial design, high-end manufacturing, intelligent hardware, and related service sectors, addressing the development needs of 'Artificial Intelligence and Low-Altitude Equipment Innovation.' It cultivates applied senior professionals with a solid foundation in humanities, strong professional skills in product design, AI-driven innovative design thinking, advanced design concepts, and practical capabilities in low-altitude equipment design technology. Graduates can engage in product development, design management, user research, and low-altitude equipment design, undertaking tasks such as creative design of low-altitude intelligent equipment, project management of low-altitude terminal products, and user demand analysis in the low-altitude field.

Within approximately five years of graduation and professional practice, students are expected to have reached the following technical and professional standards:

1) Possess innovative and critical thinking empowered by AI, capable of independently carrying out design innovation and making key decisions, efficiently solving complex design problems.

2) Master cross-disciplinary communication and teamwork skills, able to take a core role in low-altitude multidisciplinary design teams (mechanical engineering, information security, environmental science, data science, and big data technology), coordinating across disciplines to advance industrial engineering projects in the low-altitude sector from design concepts to technical implementation.

3) Proficient in design expression, engineering technology, and AI-driven digital design tools, able to transform design ideas into concrete products that meet low-altitude market demands and user experience requirements, balancing aesthetics, functionality, manufacturing cost control, and adaptability to low-altitude scenarios.

4) Possess an international perspective and sense of social responsibility, capable of conducting design activities in a global context, emphasizing the impact of design on low-altitude industry safety and environmental sustainability, aligning with the goals of ecological governance and green development of the low-altitude industry in a beautiful China.

5) Have the ability to self-learn and update knowledge, able to adapt to technology iterations in the low-altitude sector (AI-assisted design, AR/VR applications) and the integration trend of AI with the low-altitude industry, proactively keeping up with new materials, processes, and technologies in low-altitude equipment design, continuously enhancing professional capabilities and overall competence in product design for the low-altitude sector.

The program focuses on deeply integrating professional education with ideological and political education, aesthetic education, and labor education, aiming to cultivate students' patriotism, moral and competency values, and a pragmatic and innovative attitude. By combining traditional Chinese culture with modern design, it enhances students' national pride and cultural confidence, and fosters their professional ethics and dedication to practice, applying their knowledge, and serving the upgrade of the low-altitude industry and the national design-driven innovation strategy.

2.2 Degree requirements

A. Ideological and Moral Cultivation: Uphold a correct view of art and creation, possess professional recognition and literacy, and inherit the spirit of Chinese aesthetic education; maintain firm political beliefs and ideals; respect multiculturalism and possess innovative awareness, sustainable development concepts, and environmental responsibility.

B. Creativity and Design Ability: Master the basic theories and knowledge of product design; proficiently apply product design methods and techniques; possess strong design expression skills (hand drawing, digital modeling), hands-on ability, aesthetic appreciation, and creative thinking.

C. Academic and Professional Skills: Centered on the integration of art and engineering, with an emphasis on art, and the interdisciplinary fusion of science, art, and technology, requiring mastery of the principles, tools, and technical methods for product design in specific industries (such as high-end equipment and smart hardware); capable of efficiently transforming creative ideas into practical product solutions while balancing functionality, aesthetics, and manufacturing feasibility.

D. Use of Modern Technology: Master digital tools and techniques relevant to product design and be able to develop, select, and apply tools for complex design problems: ① Proficient in design software (CAD, Rhino, Keyshot, XD (interaction design), Figma); ② Understand and apply emerging technologies (AR/VR, 3D printing, IoT); ③ Keep up with the latest materials (such as biodegradable plastics, lightweight alloys) and manufacturing processes (such as injection molding, rapid prototyping) to efficiently execute design projects.

E. Team Collaboration Ability: Possess efficient teamwork skills, able to listen to others' opinions, respect differing views, and resolve design disputes through negotiation and compromise; clearly define roles within the team and cooperate to complete complex design projects and achieve common goals.

F. Communication and Expression Ability: Possess strong communication and expression skills, able to effectively communicate complex product design issues with industry peers, the public, and cross-disciplinary teams, including visual presentation of design solutions (portfolio), design documentation, presentations, and responding to changes in requirements.

G. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Able to break professional barriers, collaborate with experts in engineering, materials, marketing, psychology, and other fields, jointly solving complex design problems and producing comprehensive outcomes that are both innovative and practical.

H. Professional Quality and Work Ethic: Possess innovative thinking, advanced aesthetic ability, mastery of systematic design methods and processes, and the ability to independently solve complex design problems; also proficient in teamwork, communication, project management (such as scheduling and resource allocation), and time management, meeting industry professional standards.

I. Lifelong Learning and Design Management Ability: Possess proactive exploration skills for new knowledge and technologies, able to adapt to industry developments (such as iterations of AI design tools); master core design management skills, including project planning, team collaboration, resource allocation, and problem-solving, ensuring an efficient and goal-oriented design process.