In this module you will identify and research a market context of your choice to help you investigate the relationship between design and marketing in your own design discipline. You will use a range of research methods to collect information about a market or product/service area. This will include substantial information about the needs of a particular user group. You may wish to design and produce a range of functional ware for a specific market or a series of work more appropriate for galleries. Or you may decide to investigate the socio-economic context for a particular product and produce in response an in -depth feasibility study and design brief. Which ever route you choose you will consider and show evidence of why, where and how your design solutions fit into your identified market with particular emphasis on the importance of global markets.
You will also undertake appropriate Health and Safety induction to prepare you for work undertaken in studios and workshops.
In addition Design Enterprise students will investigate the relationship between costs and prices by making comparisons between their own costs and the prices of similar products in retail outlets.

A REPORT length 6000 WORDS weighted at 100%

100% Written report of 6,000 words
To achieve a pass in this module the assessed work must demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes as listed above.

The main focus will be on self instruction, within a tightly structured framework and relying largely (but not exclusively) on materials supplied. Week by week you will work through self-instructional course material (delivered via Blackboard), which provides the framework and focus for reading key texts and papers and undertaking the specific tasks set. This work will be undertaken on an individual basis, but at various points you will be expected to interact and share material with other students in your learning group and your tutor.

Computer, access to Blackboard, course pack.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Birks, D. & Macer, T. (2008) Marketing Research. Routledge, London.
Grover, R. & Vriens, M. (2006) The Handbook of Marketing Research. Sage, London.
Kolb, B. (2008) Marketing Research. Sage, London.
Proctor, T. (2008) Strategic Marketing. Routledge, London.
Stevens, R., Loudon, D. & Wrenn, B. (2006) Marketing Research. Routledge, London.