Product Design

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.The MA Product Design operates across a range of product design sectors and methodological approaches and contexts. It combines core taught elements inresearch and critical studies, with 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 communication design.In challenging the purpose, methods and ambitions of contemporary communication 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 inter-disciplinary 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 skillsets and deepen their knowledge of design through a number of interdisciplinary projects, alongside undertaking an intensive one year design research process addressing a specific research agenda.Students are also able to undertake optional additional modules to enable students to have the opportunity to undertake industry internships, working in a real-world design environment; or undertake additional research to support the commercialisation of their design work, providing an incubation support system for students.