Personal Statement - Product Design 2

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I am applying to join the Product Design BSc course next year as I believe that it best suits my personal interest in design and fits what I would like to gain from my university experience. I have been drawn to design since first starting Design Technology as an academic subject at secondary school. I specifically chose my higher level IB subjects in support of this aim, i.e. Design Technology – resistant materials, Physics, Business and management.

Whilst I enjoy the creative side of design and believe that form is often essential to make a product attractive in the market, I have a keen interest in the function and practicality of the product to satisfy the need. It is this technological understanding that I hope to learn from the BSc course, further developing commercially viable products. I enjoy technical challenges, problem solving and like to think about how new technologies could be adapted to existing problems. I tend to favour pragmatic solutions rather than anything that is overly complicated for the sake of being complicated – but I am not afraid of the technically complex when it is required.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

I was brought up and currently live in Hong Kong. I study the IB diploma which requires a focused independent learning style which I feel is a good foundation for university study. I grasp theories and concepts easily in subjects such as Physics and Business. For my extended essay, I evaluated the feasibility of using cheap materials for solar water heating in underdeveloped countries. This four thousand word essay is not too dissimilar to a dissertation produced at undergraduate level, and I believe that the experience will benefit me. I visited the New Designers show in London this year which left me very impressed and excited with the standard of products being produced. This made me realise how much can be achieved with modern techniques and a greater understanding of how they can be applied. Talking to some of the students reinforced my desire to be a part of this industry.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Unusually for Hong Kong, I am fortunate to have access to a workshop under the house where I have been able to work on various projects (some more successful than others). The more successful include designing a tubular frame to turn a car seat into my desk chair (including making the electrics work); fitting an extra button to my games console; designing and building a commissioned library display stand; assembling / upgrading my computer from individual parts. More generally my Dad has taught me basic practical skills, e.g. to use woodworking tools (chop saw, router, thicknesser, biscuit jointer); to arc weld; to solder. I have also stripped, replaced the seals and rebuilt the shock absorbers on my mountain bike. I feel that having this background experience will be a useful start and has helped me understand that turning a design into a finished product has to be practical.

I visited four universities this summer and realised that I have not done as much sketch work as I would like so since returning home I have been practicing sketching, using markers for rendering and digital work using a graphics tablet. Personally, I am a calm, pragmatic person. If I am interested in something I tend to become absorbed by it. I feel that I am confident when leading a team. For example, I lead my school team of 60 people for the annual 24 hour charity dingy race. In my leisure time I sail, snowboard and am an advanced SCUBA diver. I am also Captain of a school water polo team.

I anticipate that pursuing my passion for design at undergraduate level will be both fulfilling and rewarding – and something that I am looking forward to in the future. I very much hope that I will have the opportunity to further my study in design at your university.

Universities applied to:

• Brunel
• Loughborough
• Kingston
• Manchester Metropolitan
• Coventry

Grades achieved:

• 32 IB points
• 24 IB points
• 23 IB points

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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