BA (Hons) Design (Study Abroad) Bachelor's degree at Lancaster University

Design is a dynamic and creative problem-solving process with distinct stages. In this module you’ll immerse yourself in this process and engage with it in a hands-on way. You will develop essential creative and analytical skills and build your confidence in: Conducting research Generating insights Exploring possibilities Prototyping Testing Refining ideas into innovative solutions Observation and documentation are key to good design, so you will learn methods such as: User shadowing Fly-on-the-wall observation Journey mapping to uncover behaviours, needs and opportunities This module encourages experimentation, iteration and critical thinking, fostering adaptability and resilience, key attri

This enlightening module explores how design both shapes and is shaped by the world. You will examine key moments in modern design history, considering the historical, social, political, cultural and technological forces that influence design as a discipline and practice. Through interactive lectures, practical activities and critical discussions, you will investigate how design responds to global challenges, drives innovation and reflects societal change. From the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Age, this module deepens your understanding of design’s evolving role in society, the economy and the environment. This essential knowledge forms a foundation for thoughtful, critical, informed

The ability to effectively convey ideas through visual means is a fundamental skill for any design career and in this module, you will learn the skills to do this. This module focuses on key forms of visual communication, such as the photograph, the diagram and the page, encouraging you to explore such mediums both conceptually and practically. Through engaging lectures, practical studio activities and video tutorials, you will develop the ability to translate complex ideas into clear and compelling visuals. You will engage in collaborative learning with peers, as well as independent practice, responding to structured tasks that will strengthen your technical and creative abilities. Regular

This highly practical module puts experimentation, materials and physical creation at the heart of the design process. Using our well-equipped workshop, you will explore a range of techniques including laser cutting, 3D printing and traditional fabrication methods, helping you bring your ideas to life. Developing your skills through practice, you will test, refine and iterate your designs, discovering the value of failure as an essential part of innovation. By working with different materials and processes, you will develop a deeper understanding of how design translates from concept to reality. With making at the core, you’ll gain practical skills while developing a more intuitive, hands-on

Discover a fast-paced, highly creative module that challenges you to generate ideas quickly, experiment fearlessly and explore your creative voice through practical design. Working on a series of intensive one-week projects, you will explore different ways to develop and present your ideas, helping you to build confidence in your own creative process. You will learn to embrace failure as part of innovation, using feedback and testing to improve your concepts. Each sprint pushes you to think critically, adapt to new challenges and communicate your ideas effectively in weekly exhibitions and design reviews. Through momentum and experimentation, you will learn to overcome creative blocks and de

Every piece of performance, big or small, uses the same foundational ‘raw materials’. Explore these and more as you develop your critical, aesthetic and theatrical vocabulary by examining the formal building blocks of performance, such as the body, space, time, text and media. Through a combination of practical workshops and seminars, you will learn how these building blocks are used to construct a variety of performance forms including: Traditional stage plays Live art Performance art Physical theatre Site-specific or immersive theatre By analysing specific examples of these performance forms, your studies in this module will complement the projects undertaken in Making Theatre I, helping y

What does it mean to study media today? In this module, you’ll be introduced to major debates, theories and thinkers in studying media and culture. You will encounter a diverse range of material from different media, including: television, film, news, advertisements, social media, video games and more. You will explore the intersections between our cultural environment and our identities, aspirations, beliefs and value systems, to develop essential skills in critical thinking and analysis.

This module explores the role of the arts in building community, identity and confidence. You will engage with a variety of different art forms (such as painting, theatre, fiction, designed artefacts and film) and develop your own voice via collaborative projects such as a podcasts, video essay or presentation. You will also engage in individual critical reflection for example via a blog, journal or research project. This module fosters co-operation, intellectual experimentation and self-assurance.

A fascinating introduction to the principles and practices of design, you will create meaningful interactions between people and digital or physical products, services, and systems. Developing both theoretical and practical skills, you will learn to design intuitive, engaging, and effective interactive experiences. Through creative exercises, you will explore design methods including wireframing, prototyping (both paper-based and digital), and iterative testing. You will learn to identify interaction strengths and weaknesses to continuously improve your designs. Emphasising responsible design practices, we will teach you to craft interactions that not only meet functional requirements but al

Focusing on the generation of insights through engagement with people, data and desk research, this module will strengthen your ability to apply creative methods and tools to develop impactful design solutions rooted in real-world contexts. You will explore participatory methods, such as workshop design for gathering and interpreting insights, alongside data-led processes and research. Emerging technologies, including AI, will be introduced as tools to enhance insight generation. You will learn how to transform data into meaningful concepts, strategies, and design narratives, ensuring your ideas are both informed and innovative. Practical, studio-based projects will foster playful, creative

Investigate how designers use visualisation to develop ideas, explore interventions and communicate possible futures. This innovative module will build on your previous knowledge gained from the Visual Communication module and enhance your skillset further with a range of technical and conceptual tools. Practical techniques for creating visualisations will include 3D modelling, rendering, generative AI, and data visualisations. You will also engage with contemporary issues in design visualisation, such as the ethical implications of using Generative AI in design practice. Featuring a dynamic blend of lectures, studio sessions, and video tutorials, this module promotes both collaborative and

Join us as we challenge you to rethink how design can address urgent global challenges across both the physical and digital worlds. Businesses, policymakers and communities are increasingly looking for designers who can develop ethical, responsible, and future-proof solutions that reduce environmental and social impacts. This module equips you with the skills and knowledge to meet this demand, exploring how design can drive positive environmental, economic and social change. You will engage with sustainability frameworks and ethical design principles to develop creative, impactful solutions. Whether designing tangible products, services or digital experiences, you will explore strategies lik

Take on the challenge to explore possible futures and their societal implications by creating radical products and services that question the status quo. In this studio-based module, you will critically and creatively examine emerging innovations such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and biomaterials. Through doing this, you will be able to anticipate their long-term consequences and propose thoughtful, forward-thinking, creative responses. You will develop skills that enable you to envision future scenarios through creating 2D and 3D prototypes that make speculative futures feel real and relatable. With businesses, governments and NGOs increasingly looking for future-focused designers

Hone a strong sense of purpose and gain the satisfaction of applying your skills and knowledge to a community, charity or student-led initiative. Your challenge will be to take responsibility for arranging and completing a voluntary or fundraising activity, locally, virtually or during vacation periods at home. You will need to show that you have made a positive difference through this activity. In class, you will be asked to reflect on this experience and explore the wider social impact of the work. In doing so you will build your confidence in your ability to contribute meaningfully to society through your future personal and professional path.

You are invited to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team with other students as you explore major global challenges such as climate change, inequality or emerging technologies. Throughout the module you will examine how the humanities, arts and social sciences contribute to understanding and addressing complex issues. Classroom discussions and activities focus on the process of identifying problems and considering innovative, ethical responses, while helping you to consider and articulate the relevance of this work to your personal and professional development.

Our everyday lives are saturated by images of all kinds. This module will introduce you to some key ‘ways of seeing’ our world of images. We will explore questions such as: How are images made, who gets to produce them and, importantly, from whose point of view? How do pictures circulate? How do viewers read and interpret images? Who gets to look and through whose eyes? How do these processes and practices relate to power? We’ll consider these questions in relation to a range of media texts, from photographs and advertisements to television and film.

Explore how ideas can be developed into real-world projects with lasting value. Through hands-on collaboration and problem-solving, you will develop innovative projects, learn how to bring ideas to life and explore ways to sustain them. Whether you are working in a team or individually, you will be encouraged to experiment with different approaches to making a difference in artistic, cultural, social and community spaces.

In your third year you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to expand your global outlook and professional network, as well as developing your cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your subject through studying it in another country. You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially modules from other subjects offered by the host university that are specific to that university and country. The availability of places at overseas partners varies each year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences have included Austral

Helping you gain essential industry experience, this module allows you to work on a live project with a real client, providing valuable insight into the role of a design consultant. In a team, you will tackle real business challenges, delivering creative solutions grounded in robust design research. Each project is unique, shaped through collaboration with your client to meet their specific needs, while aligning with your team’s strengths. Your brief could cover: Product Design Brand Design User Experience Design Design Strategy Throughout the module, you will refine your skills in data gathering and analysis, idea generation, conceptualisation and visual communication. You will also develop

This is your chance to take full creative control and develop an independent, self-directed project that reflects your personal interests and career goals. It is an opportunity to dive deep into a topic you are passionate about; push your creative boundaries and refine the skills you have developed throughout your studies. You will shape every aspect of your project, from concept to execution, with guidance from tutors who will support your creative and professional growth. This project will showcase your unique approach to design and your readiness for the next step in your career. Additionally, it is your chance to build a portfolio-defining piece that highlights your creativity, problem-s

Creatively blending design, leadership and innovation, this module will explore design and systems thinking to help you become an agent of change. As you prepare to graduate, this module will enable you to develop your unique design leadership approach and communicate your design vision and values. You will learn key principles of design management, design and product development processes and tools for designing sustainable business models, to help you transform creative ideas into impactful solutions. With a forward-thinking approach, you will explore the diverse future roles of designers as well as learn to create and communicate a strong value proposition, positioning design as a key dri

How might we engage with the implications of environmental transformation locally, nationally and globally? Where do we have agency and capacity to intervene? This module brings together a range of perspectives, historical, political, philosophical and cultural, to explore the nature and severity of the effects of the climate crisis on our world.

What are the possibilities and pitfalls of community and citizen action, voice and agency? This module uses interdisciplinary case-studies to critically examine collaboration with communities. You will participate in activities such as a mock citizens' assembly, visit local community groups and hear different points of view from a range of guest speakers on concepts like power, race, gender, class, affect and justice.

What do we understand by queerness? Looking back at earlier interpretations, we imagine how queerness might evolve, how it might be lived, felt and understood in the future. You will explore queer futures from a range of perspectives and viewpoints, while examining both feminist and queer theory, as well as queer media and cultural texts and material relating to areas such as activism, politics and healthcare.

How has the experience of being part of a media audience transformed in recent years? How do we make sense of being a fan nowadays? In what ways do fan culture and audience community manifest social transformations on both local and global scales? This module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of fandom and audiences in a global and transnational context. The module will focus on issues such as participation, pleasure, performance, and power by investigating fan culture and audience communities of a wide range of transmedia texts in a global perspective. You are encouraged to analyse the multi-layered dynamics between individual fan, fan community, audience participation, medi