Product Design Masters degree

Entry Requirements:
A good Honours Degree in Product Design or a closely related three-dimensional design discipline, or equivalent qualifications.

Subject Routes
MA Product Design

Introduction to the course
MA Product Design challenges the ‘conceptualists’ against the ‘realists’, with the ultimate aim of fusing the best of both approaches somewhere in between. ‘Conceptual Realism’ therefore, is our unique approach to the subject of product design.

We achieve this by encouraging provocative debate and analysis of our discipline, with the intention of then seeking to create exciting new concept proposals. These are further developed and communicated through believable product narratives, backed up by supporting information from a wide range of viewpoints (for example, intellectual, commercial, material, technological, production, retail, customer and sustainability). Successful collaborative course projects have recently been conducted with Marks and Spencer, Cadbury, AGA, Pashley Cycles, Denby, Ferrari Logic 3, Richard Burbidge and Triumph motorcycles.

Your learning experience
You will benefit from studying within a large, diverse and dynamic postgraduate community who share an informal well-equipped workspace at our main Parkside campus.

An extensive programme of lectures and assignments is delivered by an enthusiastic team of staff that includes contemporary theorists, practitioners and researchers.

Focused around a creative studio ‘hub’, the communal nature of the course provides a supportive environment in which you are able to develop your own personal design agendas. Studio-based sessions are complemented by an extensive virtual learning environment, providing you with 24/7 online access to up-to-date information, course documentation and examples of previous student work.

In the Postgraduate Certificate stage, realist frameworks and analytical techniques are developed through assignments in cultural and commercial contexts. These assignments introduce new perspectives to further inform and develop your design knowledge base.

During the Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s stages you will pursue subjects such as conceptual design along with your own personal project in a chosen pathway, which will be developed through comprehensive research and practice phases.

Taught modules are assessed through assignments. These account for half of the credits available on the course. The majority of the remaining half of the course consists of a personal project involving a negotiated mix of research and practice. You will receive regular feedback on your performance throughout the course.

Career prospects
Successful graduates will be highly employable within the design industry and will be well equipped to enjoy the opportunities available to them in a variety of professional destinations. These include manufacturing, design consultancy, design management, academic research and teaching.