The importance of design within competitive economies has been underestimated academically. Designs increase the visual, ergonomic, aesthetic and branding appeal of a product, and has the potential to increase the impact and competitiveness of the product within different market sectors. This option will teach students the key ways to protect the investment in graphic, environmental and product designs, with an emphasis on design patents, trade mark/trade dress and copyright laws. While the focus of the course will be on EU and US laws, the course will also cover the international design registration system, as well as specific design-related issues in major industries such as competition and consumable markets (coffee pods, spare parts, cartridges), 3D printing, and counterfeiting within furniture & fashion lifestyle industries.
15 Credits