Influential Design and Creative Engineering

Influential Design and Creative Engineering

Exchange programme

Master product design by bringing your own dream project to life and collaborating on real client assignments. Improve your skills, gain knowledge and work with innovative technology to create meaningful impact.

What do a home fermentation appliance, an electric drift trike, a bicycle airbag, an induction thermal cup, and an ink-removing machine have in common?

They all began as student project proposals at the start of this minor. Through cycles of research, design, prototyping, and testing, students pushed their boundaries, experimenting with new techniques and technologies to bring their ideas to life.

With weekly group coaching from experienced product designers, guest lectures , and hands-on workshops , you'll learn by doing. Plus, the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences provides access to academic resources and cutting-edge workshop facilities for prototyping and product development.

Your project will align with key themes, allowing you to:

• Bring your dream project to life in ART & ENGINEERING
• Collaborate with engineers to explore MIXED TECHNOLOGY
• Create the ultimate instrument or vehicle in DESIGN FOR ONE
• Develop and test your own business idea in START-UP
• Design a product with meaningful impact in IMPACT

Want to see what past students have created? Check out this playlist for a selection of inspiring projects!

Facts and figures

The programme at a glance

number of ECTS

30

period

September - Early February

tuition fee

No tuition fee

Part of School

• School of Engineering and Applied Science

Programme information

What to expect

About the programme

The Influential Design & Creative Engineering minor provides a dynamic and challenging learning environment where you will:

• Take full ownership of your project-deciding what to create and how to bring it to life.
• Critically reflect on your influence as a product engineer.
• Develop creative problem-solving skills and execute the design process with confidence.
• Acquire new knowledge and skills, often beyond the classroom.
• Research, develop, and test innovative technologies.
• Strive to create a positive impact, using the Sustainable Development Goals as a foundation.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams during intensive pressure-cooker weeks.

Method

This exchange programme offers a rich learning community which includes instructions, workshops, pitches, expos, guest lectures and coaching by experienced designers. As such, it does not follow the traditional lecture-test type of format. Professional prototyping facilities and academic knowledge sources of Rotterdam UAS can be used.

Type of assessment

The assessment consists of formative (peer) feedback, expos, and a summative assessment of:

• a journal showing weekly progress and feedback;
• a final reflection on the learning outcomes;
• a presentation with poster, prototype and video.

Learning outcomes

Upon successfully completing this exchange program, you will be able to:

• Proactively explore and apply new activities, methodologies, and strategies to advance and complete a product design.
• Engage stakeholders, including end users and experts, incorporating their insights to refine your product.
• Assess your product's impact, maximizing its benefits while minimizing any negative effects.
• Identify, evaluate, and integrate new knowledge and skills from various sources.
• Share your expertise to support and collaborate with others.

Calendar

The exchange program is structured around five key design phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Each phase begins with masterclasses, guest lectures, and student workshops, and concludes with an exhibition where students present their posters and prototypes.

A typical week starts with a kick-off and lecture, followed by coaching or design sessions in the middle of the week, and finishes with a concluding activity. Throughout the program, students also participate in two intense Pressure Cooker weeks, where they work together on a client assignment. Most activities are held offline, encouraging hands-on collaboration and engagement

Awarding

After completing your exchange programme at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, you will receive a:

• Transcript of Records

Projects

An indication of the projects you can expect

Block 1

• Project Creative Engineering (15 ECTS)

  Topics

  • Product design methodology like Design Thinking
  • Subjects such as brainstorming techniques, impact design, customer Journey, Design for all senses, etc.

  Learning outcomes

  At the end of this project you are able to:

  • actively search and attempt new activities, methodologies and strategies to advance and complete a product design;
  • involve stakeholders such as end users and experts in your project and use their insights to improve your product;
  • research the impact your product makes, improve its positive impact and minimise its negative impact.

  Type of assessment

  Criteria based interview: based on a weekly journal, final reflection and final presentation.

  Module code

  EASPCRE01

Block 2

• Innovative Exploration (15 ECTS)

  Topics

  • Product engineering in general
  • Just-in-time subjects such as circular design, patents, business

  Learning outcomes

  At the end of this course you are able to:

  • find, critically assess, learn and implement new knowledge and skills from others;
  • share your knowledge and skills with others.

  Type of assessment

  Criteria based interview: based on a weekly journal, final reflection and final presentation.

  Module code

  EASCEIX01

Academieplein

G.J. de Jonghweg 4 - 6 3015 GG Rotterdam

1. Influential Design and Creative Engineering