At The Open University we believe that all design disciplines share a set of very powerful core skills and competencies. Our teaching focuses on developing these skills and how you can apply these in many different design settings.

This flexibility and adaptability makes OU design graduates highly valued in workplaces and as creative practitioners.

We offer two degrees and exactly what you will study will depend on which one you choose and what you your goals are:

Bachelor of Design (BDes)

Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Arts (BSc / BA) in Design and Innovation

If you want to study design with another subject, like engineering or business, then you should think about the BSc / BA in Design and Innovation. 

Alternatively, if you are interested in design on its own then the Bachelor of Design is probably for you. 

And, if you're unsure, or you just want to get started, then you can start with the course U101: Design Thinking and then make a decision later.

Find out about the differences between the two main Qualifications and other degree options

The best way to start to find out what it's like to be an OU student is to give it a try for yourself.

You can do this by trying one of our free online courses below. Both are extracts from Stage 1 modules you will study and you can try them in your own time without committing to anything. Look at the descriptions of both and try one that interests you now. 

Algorithmic design is all about using code to design - without knowing anything about programming at all! Instead, you approach it like a designer and learn enough to get you going and create outputs that you can use to think creatively.

Design Thinking is a more traditional short course that introduces the ideas behind design as special type of thinking and methods that designer use to respond to problems in the world. Find out how anyone can develop general design skills.

You can find other short design courses you can try on the OpenLearn Design Hub

When you're ready to begin you design journey:

More on our Bachelor of Design (Honours)

Explore our other design degrees, funding, and OU study.