Studio-Centred 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
-
Building confidence with sketching, rendering, materials, workshop, CAD research and design process.
YEAR 02
Designing for the Real World
-
Creating realistic products that effectively balance form, function, and user needs through live industry projects.
YEAR 03
Designing with Purpose & Evidence
-
Design products and services informed by user research, testing, and critical evidence-based thinking.
YEAR 04
Designing as a Professional
-
Independent, research-led design practice operating at a professional level, focusing on user needs and innovation.
Lecturing & Technical Staff
Students on Product Design at SETU are supported by an experienced and diverse teaching team with backgrounds across industrial design, user-centred research, interaction design, design education, medical device development, prototyping, visual communication, service co-design and applied research. Staff bring together academic, industry and consultancy experience, helping students connect studio learning with real-world design practice. Across the programme, this expertise supports students to develop confidence in research, sketching, CAD, prototyping, materials, presentation and professional design decision-making.
Hilary Dempsey
Design Lecturer / L8 Program Director / Y4 Coordinator
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
Colin Deevy
Design Lecturer / Y3 Coordinator
Text
Emmet Sexton
Design Lecturer / L7 Program Director / Y2 Coordinator
Text
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 MSc Medical Device Design 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, where he worked on over 40 projects across various phases, including early design, development, and manufacturing.
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. PJ 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.
Padraic Whelan
Design Technical Officer
Pádraic Whelan is the Design Technician for SETU Product Design, supporting students and staff across the workshop, 3D printing lab and specialist equipment. With experience in product design, rapid prototyping, model making and finishing, he helps students translate ideas into physical outcomes while maintaining safe, practical and professionally equipped learning spaces for hands-on design development.
Dr. Norman Stevenson
Design Lecturer
Dr Norman Stevenson is a Lecturer in Design at SETU Carlow. He received a PhD in Design Research from Loughborough University, UK, in 2013, where he also held a lectureship in Design. Norman has over 20 years of experience as an industrial design consultant, working with global clients across a range of sectors. His previous roles include leading design, research, sustainability, and client strategy teams at Design Partners and PA Consulting. His work has been recognised with numerous international design awards, including Red Dot, Good Design, iF Design, and CES Best of Innovation awards. Outside academia, Norman is an accomplished fine art photographer and a creator of handcrafted chocolate showpieces. This diverse professional and creative background informs his teaching and helps foster students' creative and critical thinking skills.
Laura Kinsella
Design Lecturer
B.A., M.A. Product Design (Fashion/Sustainability)
Eamonn Curtis
Design Lecturer
Text
Dr. Carmel Maher
Design Lecturer
Dr Carmel Maher graduated from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin with an honour’s degree in Industrial Design in 1989. After working as a freelance designer in Conran Design Group, London, she went on to complete a Research Fellowship in The Royal College of Art, London, in the area of future lifestyles and kitchen design for Electrolux. Cementing an interest in the ongoing relationship between culture and design, Dr Maher continued her studies with an MA in Culture and Media studies. She has been working as a lecturer and research supervisor on the undergraduate and post graduate programmes in design, in SETU Carlow since 1995. In support of this role, she completed a PhD in design research practice, with a focus on developing understanding of the role of creativity in design research. This project has developed a deep understanding of the central role of design and creativity in education at all levels and in design and interdisciplinary research practice.
Dr. Brian P Casey
Design Lecturer
Text
House Style Of Sketching
Y1 Student Handbook
