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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Sculptural ceramic work by BA Product Furniture Design student.

BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL
College
Chelsea College of Arts
UCAS code
W248
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years

BA Product and Furniture Design at Chelsea College of Arts offers you the chance to explore our social, physical and emotional connection to objects.

Subject to re-approval

This course is undergoing re-approval. This is the process by which we ensure the course continues to provide a high-quality academic experience. During re-approval there may be some changes to the course content displayed on this page. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course.

Course overview

BA Product and Furniture Design puts making at the centre of design production. This ensures you develop your practical skills. You’ll combine these with a critical and investigative approach to objects. 

What to expect

  • A diverse approach: Develop a flexible and open-minded approach to materials and practice.
  • User-centred design: Study people’s interaction with objects and gain insights by exploring the social sciences.
  • Opportunities: Work with our museum, heritage and experience design sector partners to design objects and explore human interaction. 
  • Understanding audiences: Take part in projects that consider curatorial, community, diversity and access issues. 
  • Experimentation: Use new and existing technologies and materials.
  • Current ideas: Gain an understanding the ethical, critical, technical and theoretical debates within product and furniture design. 
  • Research and analysis: Develop your critical reflection, risk- taking and communication skills. 
  • Collaboration: Gain experience and knowledge of collaborative co-creative methodologies.
  • Skills: By the end of the course, you’ll have a range of creative, technical and professional skills relevant to employment in product design, furniture and related areas.
  • Access to Chelsea's shared workshops: View the Chelsea facilities

Industry experience and opportunities 

You’ll have the optional opportunity through the Diploma in Professional Studies to undertake work placements during the course. Previous organisations and designers have included The Natural History Museum, McCollin Bryan, Richard Fox, Studio Swine and Tatty Devine. 
 
You’ll be able to take part in the college’s international exchange scheme to study abroad for a term in the second year of your degree.

Mode of study

BA Product and Furniture Design is offered in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage consists of 30 teaching weeks. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.
 

Course units

Unit 1: Introduction to Product and Furniture Design

This unit is an introduction to your course, the College and the University.

Unit 2: Product and furniture design methods and processes

Unit 2 aims to establish a practice-based approach to the designing and making of objects. You’ll have an introduction to the tools and techniques of making processes in wood, metal, plastic, ceramic and digital. You’ll develop your drawing and modelmaking skills as well as your own visual language.

Unit 3: The anthropology of the object

Unit 3 introduces you to the relationship between users, objects and environments. You’ll consider how objects are constructed and how users interact with them. Through observation you’ll explore and evaluate their existence, meanings and purposes. You’ll also develop and make a series of material prototypes that test use and user understanding.   

Unit 4: Form, function and ornament

In this unit you’ll investigate the relationship between your personal identity as a design practitioner and objects. You’ll design and make a series of objects. Your work will include 2D/3D visualisations, technical notes, sample materials tests, models, prototypes, finished objects and a final report. 

Year 2

Unit 5: Design proposals 1

In this unit you will work with external partners. You’ll develop concepts for a design object for a domestic, commercial or community setting. Your project might be a competition brief, for industry, or for a charitable organisation or social services. You will consider function, sustainability and activity.

Unit 6: Collaborative and collective practices

You will be introduced to different ways in which collaborative working can help you to focus and enhance your own creative strengths. You’ll have the chance to work with fellow students and creative communities.

Unit 7: Design proposals 2

This unit looks at the way in which a site-specific design proposal can be conceived, developed and adapted. You’ll examine issues of scale, function, narrative and location. You’ll consider audience engagement, interaction, social conduct as well as client needs. 

Unit 8: Ecologies of action

The unit will include an external group project. You will work collaboratively on an event or exhibition.

Year 3

Unit 9: Critical practice 1 - The reflective practitioner

This unit aims to encourage a critical understanding of the historical, cultural and global contexts within which design practice operates.

Unit 10: Critical practice 2 - Design futures

Unit 10 brings together your practical, professional and critical skills. You’ll develop an awareness of the range of career and postgraduate opportunities available. You'll produce of a substantial body of work presented to a professional standard, which will form part of the College degree show.

Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3

Between Years 2 and 3 of the course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional UAL qualifications:

Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS)

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.

Diploma in Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate course, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design (with Creative Computing).
 

Learning and teaching methods

  • Access to digital design archives and databases
  • All year projects
  • Cross discipline projects
  • Digital studio tours
  • Drawing workshops
  • Group crits
  • Group and collaborative projects
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Live projects with course partners and competitions
  • Model making workshops
  • Technical inductions, demonstrations and workshops
  • Tutorials
  • Visiting lecturers

Student work

  • Chelsea-College-of-Arts-BA-Furniture-and-Product-Design-Josephine-Bourdariat-2000.jpg
    Josephine Bourdariat
    BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL
  • Chelsea-College-of-Arts-BA-Product-and-Furniture-Design-Eliot-Everton.jpg
    Eliot Everton
    BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL
  • Chelsea-College-of-Arts-BA-Product-and-Furniture-Design-Luana-Meneux.jpg
    Luana Meneux
    BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL
  • Chelsea-College-of-Arts-BA-Product-and-Furniture-Design-Wanpeng-Xu-2000.jpg
    Wanpeng Xu
    BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL

Film

Designing Interpretation project

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • 2 A Levels at grade C or above
  • Merit, Pass, Pass (MPP) at BTEC Extended Diploma
  • Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma
  • Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 24 points minimum
  • And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C)

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • An ability to explore, articulate and develop ideas
  • An ability to research information and visual material to support your ideas
  • Your portfolio to demonstrate a range of appropriate skills and technical abilities
  • An ability to communicate your ideas visually, verbally and in writing
  • An ability to self-direct and evaluate your own work

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W248

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W248

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages
  • include 3D objects, models and any other types of work that demonstrates your ability to question, solve problems and work sensitively with materials
  • include work in progress as well as final outcomes to demonstrate your creative and developmental processes
  • include any supporting research, inspirations and influences

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

Graduating students will have an interdisciplinary approach to design. You will have gained critical and professional skills. These will enable you to work as studio based designer makers, project consultants, curators and commission-based designers. Our graduates have found jobs within a variety of fields. These include product design, craft production, interior design, architecture and fine art. Many others have also gone on to postgraduate study.

Alumni

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.