Materials Science for Design

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain and classify materials and manufacturing processes using established materials science frameworks, including families, classes, and subclasses. (Understand)

2. Describe and compare the major classes of materials (e.g., metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and natural materials) in terms of their structure, characteristics, and typical design applications. (Understand / Analyse)

3. Demonstrate knowledge of polymer materials, including polymer chemistry, polymer key properties and common processing methods, and explain how processing influences material performance in design applications. (Understand / Apply)

4. Analyse material properties, including mechanical, thermal, chemical, and aesthetic attributes, and interpret basic testing methods used to evaluate these properties. (Analyse)

5. Apply material selection principles to design problems, identifying relevant material and manufacturing information to support informed design decisions. (Apply / Analyse)

6. Evaluate the environmental implications of material choices, including life-cycle considerations, recyclability, and end-of-life strategies in the context of sustainable design. (Evaluate)

For further information see School of Product Design on the departments and faculties page .