Studio-Centered Learning
Studio is the heart of Product Design. This is where ideas become projects. Nothing is taught in isolation, every module feeds into Studio, so you’re always taking new skills (workshop, CAD, research, writing, presentation skills, graphics, materials) and applying them straight back into your design work. Across Years 1–4, the learning builds step by step, helping you design with more confidence, clarity, and professional-level detail.
YEAR 01
Learning How to Create Ideas
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Building confidence with tools, sketching, rendering materials, workshop, CAD and design process.
YEAR 02
Designing for the Real World
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Creating realistic products that balance form, function, and user needs effectively.
YEAR 03
Designing with Purpose & Evidence
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Design decisions informed by research, testing, and critical, evidence-based thinking.
YEAR 04
Designing as a Professional
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Independent, research-led design practice operating at a professional level.
Our Staff
Hilary Dempsey
Design Lecturer / L8 Program Director
Mr Hilary Dempsey is a qualified Industrial Designer with extensive experience in Design Education, research and industry consultation. He is a graduate of Carlow RTC, University of Teesside and holds an MA from University of Central England in Industrial Design focusing on Interface and User Centred Design. Currently, Hilary is programme director of the Product Design Innovation programme in SETU and leads out in the final year group. Hilary is passionate about user-centred design research and how it leads onto real design solutions. This philosophy has been embedded into the undergraduate programmes in Carlow and it is intrinsic to the design process and methodologies used. Areas of expertise are in Product/Industrial Design, User Centred Design, Interface, Interaction, Design Education, the Design Process and Project Planning
Emmet Sexton
Design Lecturer / L7 Program Director
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Bernadette Douglas
Design Lecturer / MA Interaction Design Director
Bernadette Douglas has ten years design education experience on the undergraduate Design and Product Design Innovation programmes where she has delivered a variety of modules with her current focus being visualisation for design communication and exhibition. Bernadette is programme lead for the level 9 Taught Postgraduate in Interaction Design with a focus on design psychology for framing user experience and human centred interactions. She holds a BA Hons. In Industrial Design and an applied research MA in Empathy in Design Education from IT Carlow and is currently a PhD student at Loughborough University UK. Her research project focuses on information and communication in hospital care for frail older patients and their family carers. Bernadette’s research interests include human technology interactions, inclusive systems design and visualisation of complexity.
Dr P.J. White
Senior Lecturer / designCORE Research Director
Dr P.J. White is a Senior Lecturer and Research Director of Design at SETU Carlow. Externally he is an Adjunct Full Professor at McMaster University Canada. With over 20 years of research, industry, and lecturing experience Dr White specialises in Design research on ageing and leads a broad portfolio of research within the areas of interdisciplinary product and service co-design. His research involves leading national and international bodies and partners ranging from health, education and public services.
Colin Deevy
Design Lecturer / Y3 Coordinator
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Laura Kinsella
Design Lecturer
B.A., M.A. Product Design (Fashion/Sustainability)
Padraic Whelan
Design Technical Officer
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Norman Stevenson
Design Lecturer
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Alan Grincell
Design Lecturer / Y1 Coordinator
Alan has 10 years’ experience in product research, design and development, specialising in user-centred research, usability and feasibility, with a focus on medical device design and prototyping. He holds a BA in Product Design Innovation, an MA in Applied Research and an MSc in Medical Device Design, plus postgraduate certificates in Teaching & Learning. He has taught as an Assistant Design Lecturer (Adjunct) at NCAD and is an External Examiner at ATU. Alan is a PhD Researcher at NCAD Design Labs, researching perinatal bereavement care systems (stillbirth & neonatal loss). Industry roles include Cook Medical, BD Medical, Synecco and Sedana Medical.
Eamonn Curtis
Design Lecturer
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Dr. Brian P Casey
Design Lecturer
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Carmel Maher
Design Lecturer
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House Style Of Sketching
Y1 Student Handbook
