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 Diploma in Product Design & Innovation (PDI) 


Introduction

Apple Inc. is behind the global phenomenon – the iPod. The miniature mp3 player, iconic for its sleek casing and innovative touch screen function, continues to be a best seller today.

Our Diploma in Product Design & Innovation (PDI) is about designing functional and innovative products such as the iPod. The curriculum focuses on creating products that look good, work well and sell well. Thus, good design principles, a quality product, and a sound marketing and business strategy are what you will learn from the course.

The curriculum, with its emphasis on the Integral Design approach, addresses the entire life cycle of a product – how the product is designed, manufactured, marketed and sold, serviced and repaired, and eventually retired. It integrates three major aspects of product design, art, engineering and business, through modules on engineering design, industrial design, business and marketing. The balanced curriculum is a key advantage PDI has over conventional product design or industrial design courses.

In the final year, our practice-oriented and project-driven curriculum provides you with the opportunity to do an internship of up to three months in companies like Motorola Electronics, Singapore Mint, Aztech Systems and PSB Technologies. You also get to work on two major design projects. Upon graduation, you will have an innovative product design portfolio, complete with a working prototype or model and a business plan.

You can expect to enjoy a rich learning experience through participation in design competitions, seminars by product designers and visits to design companies and exhibitions.

Career Prospects

Singapore is increasingly the regional headquarters for many hightechnology product design and manufacturing supply chains. Companies like BMW have set up design, research & development and innovation centres here.

Upon graduation, you can work as a product designer, design consultant, engineering designer with product and design companies like BMW DesignWorks; Philips Design Singapore and OSIM International. With some years of experience, you might even start your own design consultancy company or design-and-manufacture company. Be ready to wow the world with your creativity, innovations and designs!

Accreditation for Further Studies

Your PDI diploma is accredited by established local and overseas universities. Choose to pursue further studies at universities that offer degree programmes in Product Design & Innovation, Product Design, Industrial Design, Product Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with design specialisation, Mechanical Engineering and many more.

Depending on the total duration of the course you choose, you can enjoy up to two years’ exemption at, for example, Loughborough University in UK or the University of Canberra, Monash University and University of Queensland in Australia.

 

Integrates various product design aspects from art and engineering to business
Graduate with your own design portfolio, complete with a working prototype model and business plan
Attachments with top organisations like Motorola Electronics, PSB Technologies and Aztech Systems
State-of-the-art facilities like rapid prototyping machines, and design and project studios

Contact Us

Lim Chiok Ngee Richard 
Mechanical Engineering Division
Product Design & Innovation course
Blk 44, #01-08A
Tel: 6460 6196
Fax : 6467 7384
Email: lcn@np.edu.sg

Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Toll free: 1800-4607333
(admission to full-time courses)
General enquiries: 6466 6555
Fax: 6468 3207
Website: www.np.edu.sg
Email: JoinNP@np.edu.sg

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, candidates must have the following GCE ‘O’ Level examinations (or equivalent) results:

Subject
'O' Level Grade             
English 1-7 **
Mathematics (Elementary/Additional) 1–6
Science (with Physics or Chemistry or Biology component) or Design & Technology 1–6

The aggregate computation for selection is based on grades obtained for English, Mathematics, Science or Design & Technology and two other subjects.

** Candidates with English as a second language (EL2) must have attained a minimum grade of 6.

Candidates with severe vision deficiency should not apply for the course.

First-Year ModulesSecond-Year ModulesFinal-Year Modules
^  For more details on Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) modules, please refer to the IS website http://www.np.edu.sg/is
¹  Students take two elective modules to complete their diploma. Electives are chosen and customised from a wide range of clusters under the Engineering and Non-Engineering categories.

School of Engineering Elective Modules and Diploma Plus Programme

Students take two modules from a wide range of clusters under the engineering and non-engineering categories to complete their diploma. Furthermore, students can qualify for a diploma plus by simply topping up with two additional modules from the same cluster as one of the electives. The Diploma Plus Certificate helps students if they wish to pursue a university degree or increase their employability in discipline specific areas. Students can choose electives from the range listed in the table below.

 

Engineering CategoryNon-Engineering CategoryOther Available Diploma Plus Certificates
Advanced Engineering Mathematics Cluster
Aerospace Design Cluster
Applied Physics Cluster
Applied Technology Cluster
Biomedical Engineering Cluster
Industrial Control Cluster
Industrial Electronics Cluster
Information Technology Cluster
Mechanical Technology Cluster
Telecommunication Distribution Technology Cluster
Workplace Safety & Health Cluster
·  Business 
·  Innovation Management 
·  Languages (Japanese) 

IS Modules

The School of Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) delivers the interdisciplinary curriculum under the Ngee Ann Learning Model (NLM). The NLM was introduced in 2001 to nurture a new generation of professionals with multidisciplinary skills to meet the challenges of a knowledge-based economy. The NLM incorporates core disciplines and Interdisciplinary Studies. It also nurtures innovative and entrepreneurial traits through the Innovation & Enterprise in Action (I & E in Action) module. IS modules challenge boundaries and offer insights into Communication, Entrepreneurship, Life Skills, Media & the Arts, and Science & Technology.