The Design School’s ESS scheme offers the Certificate in Innovation and Design, giving you the opportunity to explore how design, technology, creativity, and innovation can be used to understand and respond to real-world challenges. It is open to students from all disciplines, with no previous design experience required.
The certificate brings together modules from architecture, engineering, industrial design, and urban planning, offering different ways to explore design—from creative making and digital technologies to sustainability, culture, society, cities, and heritage.
To help you choose your modules, we have grouped the available modules into a number of suggested thematic sets. These sets highlight combinations of modules that work particularly well together and can help you develop a coherent area of interest alongside your main degree.
Each thematic set is a suggested 20-credit pathway, rather than a separate specialisation or additional qualification. You may follow a complete set or mix and match modules across sets according to your interests, background, and future plans.
Suggested thematic sets
Set
Suggested title
4 modules
Explore
1
Digital Design & AI
DES105, IND112, CEN108, DES407
AI, digital design, 3D modelling, digital technologies
2
Sustainable Built Environment
ARC103, ARC201, CEN401, CEN416
Sustainability, environmental design, materials and life-cycle assessment
3
Creative Design & Innovation
IND101, DES203, DES107, IND403
Creative practice, making, entrepreneurship, social innovation
4
Design, Culture & Research
ARC303, ARC307, ARC406, ARC409
Design theory, culture, history/theory, research
5
Architecture, Heritage & Place
ARC107, ARC203, UPD103, UPD404
Architectural history, Asian architecture, Chinese planning, heritage
AI in the built environment, users, sustainable design, field experience
Build your own pathway
The thematic sets are guides rather than fixed pathways. You can choose modules from one set or combine modules across different sets to create a certificate that reflects your own interests.
A total of 28 modules, each worth 5 credits, are available. To complete the Certificate in Innovation and Design, you need to successfully complete four modules (20 credits). Module availability varies by semester, with 19 modules offered in Semester 1 and 9 modules in Semester 2.
The certificate allows you to broaden your academic experience beyond your main degree, gain perspectives from other disciplines, and develop creative, critical, digital, and problem-solving skills that can complement your future study and career.
Available Modules:
ARC103 Introduction to Environmental Science
ARC107 History of Western Architecture
ARC201 Environmental Design and Sustainability
ARC203 History of Asian Architecture
ARC303 Architecture and Design Theory
ARC307 Digital Humanities: Design, Culture and Creativity
ARC406 Topics in Architectural History and Theory
ARC409 Design and Research Methods
CEN107 Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence in Built Environment
CEN108 Digital Engineering and Remote Sensing
CEN401 Sustainable Technology and Building Materials
CEN416 Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practices
DES105 Introduction to Design Languages and Artificial Intelligence
DES107 Entrepreneurialism in Design and Engineering
DES203 Creative Design and Making Studio
DES407 Digital Technologies for Process in the Built Environment
IND101 Studio 1 – Design Principles
IND112 Computer Aided Design and Modeling (3-D)
IND210 User-Focused Research
IND302 Design for Sustainability
IND403 Design for Social Innovation
UPD103 Issues and practice of planning in China
UPD109 History and Purpose of Planning
UPD203 Networks and Cities
UPD313 International Field Class
UPD314 Critical Debates in Contemporary Cities
UPD402 Sustainable Urban Planning Strategies
UPD404 Heritage, Historic Districts and Conservation
ESS Overview
CERTIFICATE IN INNOVATION AND DESIGN
Explore design beyond your own discipline.
The Design School’s ESS scheme offers the Certificate in Innovation and Design, giving you the opportunity to explore how design, technology, creativity, and innovation can be used to understand and respond to real-world challenges. It is open to students from all disciplines, with no previous design experience required.
The certificate brings together modules from architecture, engineering, industrial design, and urban planning, offering different ways to explore design—from creative making and digital technologies to sustainability, culture, society, cities, and heritage.
To help you choose your modules, we have grouped the available modules into a number of suggested thematic sets. These sets highlight combinations of modules that work particularly well together and can help you develop a coherent area of interest alongside your main degree.
Each thematic set is a suggested 20-credit pathway, rather than a separate specialisation or additional qualification. You may follow a complete set or mix and match modules across sets according to your interests, background, and future plans.
Suggested thematic sets
Build your own pathway
The thematic sets are guides rather than fixed pathways. You can choose modules from one set or combine modules across different sets to create a certificate that reflects your own interests.
A total of 28 modules, each worth 5 credits, are available. To complete the Certificate in Innovation and Design, you need to successfully complete four modules (20 credits). Module availability varies by semester, with 19 modules offered in Semester 1 and 9 modules in Semester 2.
The certificate allows you to broaden your academic experience beyond your main degree, gain perspectives from other disciplines, and develop creative, critical, digital, and problem-solving skills that can complement your future study and career.
Available Modules: