Why did you choose to study at the Department of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management?
During school I was very interested in Maths and Physics, as well as more creative subjects such as Graphic Design. I initially struggled to find a course that would allow me to develop both my engineering and creative skills. However, after attending a University of Strathclyde Open Day, I realised DMEM would allow me to develop these skills and provide me with valuable engineering and manufacturing experience. By encouraging a pro-active approach to work, the course has prepared me for the challenges faced in real industry projects.
Why did you choose to study your course?
Sports Engineering allows me to explore my passion which is sport, in the context of design and engineering. By working on projects involving a range of sports, I can develop my knowledge of product design and maintain interest in every project. My career goal has always been to design and develop innovative sports products, and the MEng Sports Engineering course is the best way for me to achieve this.
Can you tell us about any opportunities or internships you have had during your studies?
As mentioned, my career goal has always been to work for innovative sports companies and for the past 15 months, I have been fortunate enough to make this happen.
During my 4th year I managed to complete two short-term internships; one with a local e-cigarette product design company and another with a heavy manufacturing firm. After finishing my 4th year of studies, I was fortunate enough to complete a 3 month summer internship with Nestle UK, based in Derby. This experience allowed me to develop my manufacturing skills, as well as learn what it is like to work for a global fast-moving consumer goods company. During this internship, I was lucky enough to be offered a 6 month internship with the Adidas FUTURE team, based in Germany.
Working specifically in the FUTURE Innovation Management team, I was required to assist the team in daily business; such as roadmap planning, technology research, template design, knowledge exchange preparation, and newsletter creation. I also pro-actively supported other engineering teams within FUTURE in projects involving colouration, outsole stiffness testing and innovative textile manufacturing. During my team’s offsite meeting, I was given the opportunity to work alongside the Inline Football team to support the development of new football boot upper technology.
In 2017, I then began a 6 month internship with PUMA in Germany. Here, I was employed as a footwear design intern within the Sportstyle Running team. My role was to support the team with colour and material selection and updates, design alterations, CAD formatting, 3D printing and trend scouting. As this was an inline team, the projects I was working on were real products, and will be manufactured and released in the next year. It is great to see your hard work materialise into actual products on the market, branded by one of the sporting goods giants: PUMA.
What have been the highlights of your course to date?
The highlight of the Sports Engineering course is the Industrial Projects modules in 4th Year and 5th Year. This class allows you to work on real industry problems with various companies. In my 4th Year, I was working with a cycle helmet manufacturer based in London, designing an innovative vending solution for their product. By working closely with the client, I learned to manage time, stick to deadlines and work more efficiently to meet the client’s project needs in the required short timescale.
What are your ambitions following the completion of your course?
After graduation I would like to work for a global sport company such as Adidas or PUMA. I am fascinated by innovation and working for these companies would allow me to use the skills gained during my time at DMEM to implement creative solutions to complex product design problems.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to study at the Department of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management and the University of Strathclyde?
If you are creative, proactive and enjoy finding solutions to complex problems then I would strongly recommend studying a DMEM course. If you love sports and sports products, then the Sports Engineering course is the one for you!
Don’t be fooled by the exciting projects and innovative project opportunities, the course takes a lot of effort. You must put in the time where needed and adopt a pro-active attitude and independent approach to work, in order to thrive. By doing this, you will benefit from the whole course experience and set yourself up perfectly for industry after graduation.