MA Design Practice

Overview of the Programme

Contemporary life is defined and fashioned by design: this course will support you to enrich and evolve your skills.

As your creative identity matures, this course will allow you to hone your talent through the application of current and traditional methods, reflective approaches and attitudes as you advance as an effective artistic practitioner.

The course provides an opportunity to work with greater sophistication in the concepts and research that underpins contemporary design. Issues of sustainability, rapid changes in economic forces and ethical matters can influence and inform your design thinking. It can also create a foundation for research activity, from which some students go on to take PhD studies.

You will work alongside other artists and designers from a variety of disciplines. The learning is “situation based” – meaning your experience is not dictated by materials or subject titles, but the context in which your work is developing, both in terms of how the research informs your designs and how the work you do informs the need for future development. You will also have the opportunity to exhibit work and to take part in live commissions as opportunity allows.

Key Course Features

• Working with experienced artists and designers, you'll have the opportunity to expand your skills into new subject disciplines as you evolve your ideas and work into new directions.
• Opportunity to learn new skills in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, animation, illustration, graphics, graphic novels, ceramics and jewellery metalwork.
• Take part in Creative Futures, an event to focus upon career options for those with creative skills with visiting speakers from a wide range of art and design professions.
• Take the opportunity to collaborate or form a collective to enhance your career potential
• Explore your potential as a researcher as you learn about the methods and protocols of supervised study.

Assessment and Teaching

Assessment will be conducted throughout the course and will require evidence of course work (typically port- folio or digital files) including evaluations of the practical work for each module.

Career Prospects

Master’s degree students are creative and innovative so find opportunities for career development in many fields of activity. Recent graduates have commenced careers as self employed artist/designers, lecturers, illustrators, special needs facilitators, theatrical prop makers, game designers. Students will also achieve PgCert and PgDip exit awards during this course.