BASc Design for Sustainable Innovation is an interdisciplinary degree that explores methods of creating positive change through the practice and theory of design. Students will learn about the expanded field of design from the construction of individual objects and spaces to the generation and planning of systems and will experience different types of practices from their own observational fieldwork to development of products and processes, problem-solving and small, medium and large-scale project development. At the basis of the degree is the development of students’ own understanding of themselves as designers of positive change whose practice is driven by synthesis and sense-making.

You will work with design industry experts and regional communities to co-design products, processes and solutions. You will have the opportunity to enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.

Our first year modules are designed to introduce students to a broad array of design disciplines. Taking these modules gives students an opportunity to experiment as they gain a broad understanding of design disciplines: 

• Design in Context 
• Introduction to Design Practice 
• UX with Service Design  
• Visual Practice and Curiosity 

Modules in the second year expose students to different areas of design. These modules provide the ideal testing ground for students to explore and reflect on the values that guide them, the topics that interest them, and the issues that they might want to tackle with their design practice: 

• Systemic Design
• Social Design
• Living with Materials
• Future Labs
• Spatial Agency 

You will also choose optional modules within or outside the School for Cross-faculty Studies. 

The final year is all about students focusing on specialising their practice as versatile designers who can navigate and communicate across various disciplines.

• Design Research
• The Business of Design
• Major Project

You will also study optional modules from within or outside the School for Cross-faculty Studies. 

Your Design Studies modules will be taught by our expert staff in our dedicated Design Studio which provides facilities and materials to enable to you develop and hone your creative design skills. You will learn to work through practical, project-based design assignments that will range in their nature from working with hand constructed materials, plans and curation to digitally developed designs that simulate physical and virtual environments. Throughout your course you will work with live briefs from communities and employers in preparation for a successful career in the design industry. 

Class sizes

Seminar and studio practice groups consist between 15-25 students.

Typical contact hours

First-year core modules have between 20 and 25 hours of contact time. Each module consists of lectures, workshops, practical classes and fieldwork. The core modules in Design Studies which include a significant proportion of practice-based teaching have up to 60 hours of contact time.  

Second-year core and optional core modules typically have between 30 and 40 contact hours. 

The final-year cores modules involve lectures, tutorials and supervision sessions. 

Optional modules: Depending on the module. Some modules have lectures, workshops, film screenings and research supervision, whereas others only have lectures and workshops.

The course uses a variety of assessment methods which are intended to reflect the types of outputs required in the professional environment. In this way, the course prepare you for the working world. Across the course, you will produce practical work that is both material and digital in nature, sketchbooks and visual research, research papers, reports, policy briefings, posters, portfolios, critical commentaries, presentations in public fora, EPortfolios; blog posts; design dialogues (viva voce); video presentations, pitches, manifestos and you will also write traditional academic essays.

Although it is not compulsory, we encourage you to study abroad during your degree.

Option 1: Part of your studies abroad

We have several international partners, through which various opportunities become available. Some of these partner institutions are available for a study year abroad, depending on the course you are taking.

Find out more about studying abroad.

Option 2: Intercalated year abroad

You may choose to apply for an intercalated year spent either studying abroad or on a work placement (subject to you meeting departmental academic requirements). This will mean extending your course to four years. 

Warwick has partnerships with universities across the world. You will spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year before returning for final year. 

Your year abroad will not count towards your overall final mark, giving you the freedom to choose modules outside of your comfort zone. 

Learn more about spending a year abroad.

We encourage you to undertake a work placement as part of your degree. 

You will have the opportunity to take part in short and long work placements. These support you in developing your employability skills and prepare you for future employment. 

• Apply theory to practice 

• Explore a future career path 
• Learn about the professional environment 
• Learn from industry professionals 

We will also support you in sourcing your own work placements outside of the options below. 

Year-long work placement

You can complete a four-year degree and your work placement will take place in your third year. The work placement can take place inside or outside the UK. 

Short work placement

As part of the Link opens in a new windowCertificate of Professional Communication, you will undertake a four-week work placement during the summer. 

Transferable skills

You will learn valuable transferable skills that will help you with your employment prospects, including: 

• Analysing and problem solving: Through your study of various design practices and sustainability challenges, you will learn how to extract the essential features of complex systems, providing useable frameworks for evaluation 
• Systems thinking and application: You will learn how to investigate and assess systems and apply this in practice  
• Critical thinking: You will assess arguments, make judgements, formulate reasoned debates and generate feasible solutions 
• Communication: You will develop advanced visual, textual and verbal communication skills that enable you to communicate with a variety of audiences and in different settings 

• Research: You will undertake an integrated programme of research skills training, teaching you how to source, evaluate and use different forms of information and data 
• Organisation: Through a rigorous assessment schedule and a compulsory dissertation module in your final year, you will learn the essentials of time management, prioritisation and how to be well organised 
• Collaboration: You will have plenty of opportunities to work with others and nurture your emotional intelligence, developing a professional attitude 
• IT: You will have received foundational software training 
• Design Skills: You will have acquired creative design skills in a range of areas 

Helping you find the right career

We have a dedicated Employability and Placement Manager who will provide you with one-to-one careers guidance. They work in collaboration with employers, so you will be supported in securing appropriate work placements. You will have access to specialist pre-placement advice, guidance and preparation, as well as on-going support during your placement.

You will also have access to the University’s Student Opportunity resources (including careers counselling, employment advice, and job fairs).

Find out more about careers support at Warwick.