Generative Design

Expand your skill set by creating, simulating and optimising your designs on this short course
Generative Design
Whether you are a product designer, fabricator, engineer, technician or architect looking to improve your ideation and productivity or want to advance your modelling skills, this Generative Design short course will ensure you can effectively create, simulate and optimise your designs.
As part of your learning, you’ll be shown how to leverage cutting-edge parametric and generative design methods to automate aspects of your design, facilitating technology to achieve effective design-for-fabrication prototypes and solutions.
You’ll be taught by leading experts in this field as part of a fully immersive experience allowing you to access our Digital Fabrication and Immersive Media Laboratories, and install the latest software on your devices so you can continue to build on your skills from home.
This course introduces emerging technology which can be used across many industries, including architecture, engineering, product and industrial design, visual arts, e-health and digital media.

Course details

Start dates 

3 July 2023

Duration 

2 weeks (full-time) or 
8 weeks blended (2 weeks full-time, 6 weeks' independent study with access to facilities)

Location

University of Plymouth City Centre Campus

<p>3D printer, digital fabrication laboratory</p>

How to apply

Join this programme by completing our online application form.

Two-week bootcamp

Boost your skill set with this unique ‘bootcamp’ two-week version of the course. 
You will be based in the University’s Digital Fabrication Laboratory for two weeks, giving you full access to cutting-edge facilities. You’ll be taken through hands-on instructions on how to create your own generative designs by combining accessible, cloud-based software with high-performing design principles – you'll be introduced to the tools and software you'll need to start integrating generative design into your everyday workflows.
This short practical course will be useful in developing your knowledge and understanding of generative design for both personal interest and professional development. It is not formally assessed, and you will not have to complete coursework or exams. However, if you attend and meet the requirements, you will receive a 'digital badge' on completion.
Course fee: £1,000
<p>3D scanning</p>

Eight-week course

Level 5: 40 credit module
Learn new design and technical skills and develop your own project via an accredited, 40-credit Level 5 course which will see you join our community for eight weeks. You'll be shown simulation, optimisation, prototype development and generative modelling techniques, providing you with a practical introduction to ground-breaking design and modelling workflows – the power to explore every aspect of a design. 
As part of this course, you'll be able to develop your own project supported by academic and technical staff. You'll have access to our facilities for your independent work, and you can use this time to prototype a new product idea, explore new business opportunities or grow your own creative practice, giving you the perfect opportunity to learn and develop your business needs at the same time.
This is a credit-bearing course which has a formal assessment to complete. Completing the assessment satisfactorily will mean that you will be awarded 40 credits of formal study at university level. Because any credit you achieve is linked to a nationally recognised system of university credits, this will help to demonstrate your ability and knowledge in a framework that can be transferred. 
Degrees operate on a modular system of credits and you may put these credits towards a degree in the future if you wish to continue your studies.
Course fees are £3,080 and all applicants will be eligible to apply for a Higher Education Short Course Loan from the Student Loans Company.
You could also qualify for a non-repayable bursary grant to help with study-related costs. Anyone applying for a loan for one of these short courses who also faces financial barriers to their learning could be eligible for the bursary, which would cover the cost of learning materials such as books, childcare fees and learning support for disabled students. 
<p>3D design and digital fabrication</p>

Entry requirements

We are happy to take applications from graduates and people with relevant industry experience. We will also consider those employed or those planning to enter the workforce in areas related to: 
  • digital design and fabrication 
  • art and animation 
  • manufacturing 
  • industrial and product design 
  • craft and making  
  • architecture  
  • digital media  
  • mechanical engineering  
  • digital entrepreneurship  
  • e-health 

Have a question?

For questions regarding the application or enrolment process, email the Arts, Humanities and Business Administration team at shortcoursesarts@plymouth.ac.uk
For questions regarding course content or attendance options, please contact a member of the course team, below.