Facilities and expertise in Art and Design

Undergraduate

Through a combination of the latest facilities and innovative teaching techniques, we’re expertly placed to help you take the next step in pushing the boundaries of your creativity.

Whether you’re designing and crafting products, patterns or ceramics in our spacious studio spaces and dedicated workshops, or taking tech to the next level in our extensive Mac suites or using our state-of-the-art digital printers, studying an art and design degree at Staffordshire University gives you access to all the industry-standard facilities you need to gain the relevant technical abilities for your future success. You’ll also be allocated your own personal workspace for use throughout your course, where you'll be able to develop and grow as an artist.

 

Facility Highlight - Make sure you check out our Smart Zone!

The Smart Zone is a bustling centre of invention, innovation and creation. The area spans over two floors and houses dedicated workshops, collaboration and maker spaces for our engineering and creative students, as well as high-end computing facilities and the latest in digital and immersive technologies.

The facilities are incredible. The kit, the studios, there are just so many features that stood out for me. The energy as well - when you come into the department, there’s always someone that wants to help. It’s just a really lovely atmosphere.

El Gabriel Brown

Photography

Facilities

Smart Zone

A bustling centre of invention, innovation and creation with two floors of dedicated workshop and collaboration spaces for engineering and creative students. Read more

The Smart Zone fuses state-of-the-art fabrication spaces with augmented and blended reality facilities, allowing you to bring your ideas to life using the latest digital and immersive technologies. Find out more about our Smart Zone.

3D Workshops

Get hands-on in our industry-standard workshops across wood, ceramics, heavy metal, fine metal, & composite materials. Equipped with everything from lathes, laser cutters, throwing wheels, glaze labs, arc welders, etching tanks and more. Read more

You'll learn traditional hand-making, machine manufacture and modern digital craft techniques. Find out more about our maker facilities

CAD Modelling Labs

Our dedicated CAD studios replicates real practice where you'll have access to excellent drawing and computer facilities including the latest industry-standard software. Read more

Software includes: Rhino, VRED, SolidWorks, Alias, Maya, KeyShot, and Adobe Creative Suite. Find out more about our computer workshops

Industry Design Software

From Letterpress and Flash to Adobe Creative Suite our excellent computer suites are fully equipped with the latest digital tools of the design trade. Read more

Find out more about our computer workshops

Art & Design Studio

You'll learn in a relaxed, supportive and professional workshop and studio environment, with plenty of practical, hands-on project work.

3D Printing Bureau

Book in jobs, pay for prints, collect work and get technical support using our collection of 3D printers. Read more

Available Printers include Mojo, Up Box, Markforged Onyx One, Formlab 3, and Stratasys J55. Print in various materials - resin, metal, carbon fibre and clay! Find out more about our Print Bureau and our 3D printing facilities

 

 

Photography Studios

Students across all our Art and Design courses can ‘snap', adjust and print. The shoot studios and imaging process are popular for students to capture the best image for both their course and publicity shots and is great for large scale printing. Read more

Find out more about Henrion Photography Studios

Expertise

As well as access to the latest facilities, you’ll learn from leading experts, from both our academic and technical teams, who’ll be on hand to guide you at every step of your higher education journey. Our staff are active professionals and specialists within the design industry, so you’ll be immersed in up-to-date thinking, real-world expertise and leading-edge innovation throughout your studies. You’ll also hear from frequent guest speakers and visiting fellows, who’ll give you a real first-hand account of working at the frontline.

Our staff

Adrian Tooth

Course Director

Creating things and bringing them to life has always been a passion of Adrian's. He's been an animator and freelance illustrator/cartoonist amongst a range of other jobs, which include the manager of a pottery decoration department.

Adrian's profile

Dan Lewis

Course Director

Dan is the Design Course Director and Course Leader for Automotive & Transport Design. Dan is also the Co-Course Leader for Product, Furniture, Ceramics. His Background in Product and Furniture Design feeds into his Emotional Design PhD and research.

Dan's profile

John Hudson

Course Director

John has worked as a Graphic Designer in a number of International studios with clients such as the BBC, Nike, Sony and The Design Council. He enjoys experimenting with ideas, mediums and processes and has created a broad portfolio of work.

John's profile

Michael Safaric Branthwaite

Associate Professor

I am a Contemporary Fine Artist as well as an active researcher in integrated practices. My main area of interest is the use of technology and the digitisation of History and Heritage

Michael's profile
The facilities are brilliant! You name it, they’ve got it - I can pretty much do anything that’s thrown at me.

The facilities are brilliant! There’s woodwork, 3D printing, modelmaking, I’ve worked with clay and foam. In terms of software, there’s access to Alias, Maya, Solid Works, Photoshop, Keyshot - you name it, they’ve got it! I can pretty much do anything that’s thrown at me.

Sam Pearce-Warrilow

Industrial Design

Our friendly enquiries team are on hand to answer any questions you may have about your course, life at University of Staffordshire and much more.

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021