Hear from a current student
Hi, I'm Shamikha, I’m 21 years old and originally from Oldham, Lancashire. I am currently in my final year studying Product, Furniture and Ceramics. From a very young age, I’ve always been drawn to arts and crafts, constantly building, making, and experimenting with materials using anything I could get my hands on. Creativity has always been a core part of who I am.
Choosing a university course wasn’t an easy decision. Although I performed well in more traditional academic subjects and they were often seen as the “safer” option, I knew deep down that they wouldn’t bring me long-term fulfilment. Designing something and then physically bringing it to life has always given me genuine joy.
Product Design allows me to express my full potential and personality, while also giving me the opportunity to represent my heritage as a Bangladeshi woman. This course stood out to me because of its strong emphasis on making, materials and live industry briefs.
One of the strongest aspects of this course is access to a wide range of specialist workshops, including wood, metal, ceramics, resin and biocomposites. While students receive hands-on training across these areas, the course also encourages complete creative freedom. You are not limited to working with just one material, instead, you’re supported to experiment, combine processes and explore what best suit your design ideas and creative direction.
The moment I truly knew I had made the right choice was during our live client projects. Presenting my work to well-known companies and receiving such positive feedback was incredibly validating. It made me realise that this wasn’t just a passion, it was something I could genuinely build a future and career from.
This course has given me the confidence, skills and belief to turn my creativity, culture and passion into a meaningful future.
My advice to new students is simple: You are not alone. I started this course with no knowledge of how to design a product from concept to final outcome, or how to confidently present work to clients. There were moments where things went wrong and self-doubt crept in, moments where giving up felt easier. However, one thing I wish I’d known sooner is that you don’t need to arrive knowing everything and you don’t have to do it all by yourself. You may notice that some students come into the course with more experience than others, but this should never make you feel discouraged. Everyone’s journey is different. What truly matters is your willingness to learn, experiment and keep creating.