Product Design is about enriching quality of life, whether
in the home, workplace, or public domain. It can provide ways of answering unmet needs, improving function and appearance, or offer new ways of critically engaging with objects and experiences. The MA Product Design programme addresses real-world challenges through balancing creativity and technical capability with contextual insight and empathy for people, enabling the students to make things better.
What to Expect
The MA Product Design combines core taught elements in research and critical studies, with students proposing a specific creative subject for advanced studio practice. The aim of the MA is to create a design culture that thrives on new ideas, new ways of doing things and new areas of exploration. We encourage our students to experiment and take risks in order to carve new understandings of Design and make technical innovations within, and across product design. In challenging the purpose, methods and ambitions of contemporary product design practice and research, students will identify opportunities and develop their own creative careers.
The MA provides the opportunity for students to engage in an interdisciplinary educational experience, working alongside postgraduate students from across the School of Design. We encourage our students to explore contemporary themes that connect all the design disciplines. Building on the knowledge and skills developed at undergraduate level and professional practice, students encounter new contexts in which to develop their skill-sets and deepen their knowledge of design through a range of projects, before undertaking a major self-directed project.
Opportunities to Engage
The programme will reflect the changing field of product design and continue to develop industry links offering relevant career pathways. This will be supported by a visiting lecture programme of leading industry and creative practitioners.
The programme has the option of a further 30 credits of study in Design Internships or Design Incubation and Enterprise. Additional modules enable students to undertake industry placements, working in a real-world design environment; or pursue further research to support the commercialisation of their design work, providing an incubation support system for students.