Our MA Design: Products and Furniture course is aimed at designers looking to master their approach to develop innovative products, furniture, systems or services. Underpinned by a focus on your own specialism, you’ll explore the multidisciplinary field of design, challenge the norms in design thinking and engage with the realities of designing for new and emerging markets.

You'll analyse the relationship between traditional craft skills, new technology and modern manufacture, with ideas and approaches informed by collaborative working and hands-on experience. Through contemporary research and industry-applied projects and briefs, you’ll consider materials and manufacturing, and a broad range of strategies and approaches to help explore and understand markets, social needs and end users.

Who is this course designed for?

This course is aimed at design professionals or graduates with a design-related honours degree. The course, and the associated support provided by the University, will enable graduates to develop advanced design, technological and manufacturing skills, enabling them to start their own business, work within the manufacturing industry, design consultancies, research and development organisations, or to progress to further study by engaging in research.

What you'll study

With a strong studio-based culture, our MA Design course considers the relationship between traditional craft skills, new technology and modern manufacture, and encourages collaborative working and hands-on experience. You’ll be given the tools to understand market, social needs and end users, developing into an advanced and aware designer, specialising in existing or emerging areas of product design.

How you’re taught

• Learning and teaching will comprise of lectures to introduce and develop concepts, and to explore the application of these concepts. Studio work, workshops and laboratory sessions will develop your skills.
• Seminars and tutorials will provide you with academic support, and case studies and project work will be used to develop your understanding of concepts and applications.
• You’ll also be expected to take part in project presentations to develop your confidence and identity in professional practice.

Careers and employability

This course has been developed to meet the needs of industry in the UK and overseas. It is specifically designed to increase your employability in a business context by identifying new services, strategies and product opportunities, and conducting projects in collaboration with industrial partners. You'll become more strategically aware and technically literate, and will communicate concepts and outcomes at an advanced level in an ever-changing global market place.

On completion, you will have acquired a set of skills, knowledge and experience to enable you to set up your own business, to work in manufacturing industries, design consultancies, and research and development organisations, or to progress to PhD study by engaging in further research.