51±¾É«

Maya Brennan

I chose to study at UL both for its amazing campus facilities and its unique selection of courses. UL is one of only a small handful of colleges in Ireland that offer my course (Product Design) and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

When I was deciding on a future career, I was torn between studying Art or Engineering. Then I discovered Product Design and Technology, the perfect mix of both! I was first drawn to the course’s hands-on approach to teaching, as there seemed to be a great balance of lectures, labs and workshops.

Product Design and Technology has a really great variety of modules. I especially enjoyed our Design Studio modules, where we learned about sketching, model making, graphics, problem solving and computer aided design. The best part is that we have our own studio space, workshop and computer lab open to all product designers.

Once of the best things about Product Design is that I was constantly pushed to learn different skills and explore new ideas. Each project allowed me to express my creativity, broaden my skillset and work with super talented people. The course also presented me with huge opportunities like winning the AutoCAD Design Student Award in first year, and the Johnson & Johnson’s Women in STEM2D Scholarship in second year.

I was lucky to go on Erasmus last year, to the world-famous TU Delft in Holland. Although my travels were cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was still an incredible experience. In the weeks I was there, I learned so much about design and dutch culture – I also made loads of new friends from all around Europe.

Outside of my studies, I have always enjoyed taken part in UL’s vibrant student life. The campus is fun and modern, with everything from restaurants, lecture halls and student villages all at walking distance from each other. When I first started out at UL, I made loads of friends by joining the Drama Society and becoming First Year Rep. After that, I joined the Dance Society which was a great way to meet new people and stay in shape during my studies.

Chris Barrett

My initial draw to UL was the intriguing product design studio. At the open day, I was enthralled by the exciting studio environment, with busy students sketching, prototyping and photographing concepts.

The practical elements of sketching, model-making and prototype testing are complimented by a learned ability to create digitally through apps like Photoshop or Illustrator to CAD modelling on Solidworks.  I thoroughly enjoy our Design Studio modules, where we, the students, have a large amount of creative control and can a guide a project in whatever direction we’re interested in. In terms of technology, we have 3D printers, CNC machines and a laser cutter at our disposal, which are working non-stop developing prototypes.

A hugely rewarding element of product design is that by your third year, you’ll have a portfolio of work to an industry standard. This is brilliant for students, as it differentiates us from other courses, where we have a physical, tangible output at the end of every project.

In second semester of third year, I did a four-month internship with Circular Design Europe in Barcelona. I worked on a team of students from all around the globe, creating sustainable solutions for international clients. I can safely say it was the best few months of my life, with some unforgettable experiences. We’re blessed in UL to have this opportunity to travel and it’s genuinely the most enriching thing you could do.

Grainne Tyrrell

 Gráinne grew up in East Cork and moved to 51±¾É« in 2018 to undertake her Bachelor’s degree. She graduated with an honours degree in Product Design and Technology in 2022. During her cooperative programme with Medtronic, she found her interest in biomedical design, and continued to pursue this field. Her Final Design Project was devised to meet procedural needs associated with an alternative approach to minimally invasive heart procedures for particularly vulnerable patients. The design output was a multistage access and closure device which leveraged ultrasonic cautery techniques. 

Upon graduation she was successful in acquiring funding from the Irish Research Council’s EPS Scheme to undertake a PhD within the School of Design. With the support of Medtronic as an Enterprise Partner, Gráinne’s research is focusing on the Usability and Ergonomics of cardiovascular devices, with the goal of optimising the user experience and improving patient outcomes. She enjoys climbing and mountaineering, and throughout her time in UL she has been highly involved in Clubs and Societies acting as President of the Outdoor Pursuits club in 2022.