Loughborough University

What you'll study

The programme integrates design thinking, prototyping and user research with applied artificial intelligence techniques. Teaching covers core topics in machine learning and data handling alongside modules focused on interaction design, product systems and ethical implications of intelligent technologies. You will work on studio-based projects, workshops and a substantial individual or group masters project that demonstrates the application of AI methods to a design challenge.

• Core technical modules: supervised and unsupervised learning basics, deep learning fundamentals, data engineering for design, model evaluation and interpretability.
• Design and practice modules: human-centred design methods, computational design and fabrication, interaction design for intelligent systems, prototyping with sensors and embedded devices.
• Context and responsible AI: ethics, regulation and social impact of AI, user privacy, inclusive design, and critical perspectives on automation.
• Project work: studio projects that iterate from research and concept through prototyping to evaluation, and a final major project (design-led, AI-intensive) examined by a report and practical demonstration.
• Optional/specialist topics: natural language interfaces, computer vision for design, reinforcement learning for interactive products, creative AI for media and aesthetics.

Delivery combines lectures, hands-on labs, design studios and industry-led briefs. Assessment methods include practical prototypes, technical reports, reflective design journals, presentations and the dissertation or capstone project.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as design, product or industrial design, computer science, interaction design, engineering, or a closely related discipline. Professional experience in design or development may be considered where applicants can demonstrate strong design skills and an aptitude for computational methods.

• Technical background: some programming experience (for example Python) and familiarity with basic statistics or data concepts is typically required or expected to be learned prior to or early in the course.
• Portfolio: applicants should submit a portfolio showing design work, creative projects or technical prototypes; portfolios should emphasise process, problem framing and outcomes.
• English language: non-native speakers will need to meet the university's English language requirements.

Applicants with relevant industrial experience but without a traditional academic background are encouraged to contact the programme team to discuss suitability and any preparatory work that may be recommended.

Career prospects

Graduates move into roles that bridge design and AI, such as intelligent product designer, UX researcher for AI systems, interaction designer for voice or vision interfaces, AI product manager, design technologist, and roles within innovation or R&D teams. The programme also provides a pathway into specialist technical roles where design-led thinking is valued, or further study (PhD) in areas such as human–computer interaction, computational design or responsible AI.

Employers include design agencies, technology companies, consumer electronics firms, automotive and mobility companies, start-ups developing intelligent devices and services, and public-sector organisations implementing data-driven services. The combination of practical prototyping, project experience and an emphasis on ethical deployment helps graduates take on positions that require both creative judgement and technical understanding.

Why study at Loughborough University

Loughborough has a strong reputation for design, engineering and applied research, with dedicated facilities for prototyping, fabrication and user testing. The programme is taught by staff with expertise spanning design practice, human–computer interaction and machine learning, and benefits from interdisciplinary links across the university's design, engineering and computer science groups.

Students gain hands-on access to workshops, digital fabrication labs, electronics and sensor suites, and user research facilities, enabling rapid iteration from concept to working prototype. Loughborough's industry links and enterprise support also provide opportunities for live briefs, placements and collaboration with commercial partners and research projects.

The department emphasises responsible, human-centred approaches to technology: coursework and projects foreground accessibility, ethics and societal impact alongside technical competence, preparing graduates to design intelligent systems that are usable, inclusive and trustworthy.