Objectives
Pathways in: Animation, Applied Crafts, Contour Fashion, Design Management, Fashion, Footwear, Games Design, Graphics, Interactive Design, Interior Design, Product/Furniture Design, Textiles -A professional programme which leads to high-level career opportunities in the creative industries -Offers a choice between a creative practice-based or research-focused pathway - or a combination of both -Over 12 different pathways as well as options in both management and entrepreneurship -Supported by academic and commercial expertise across a range of specialisms. A wide range of options is available, with graduates typically going on to careers in design management and design consultancy in areas such as fashion, graphics, web, interior, product and media production. Opportunities are also available in teaching or further research study at PhD level. The Design Innovation course provides a framework for developing design skills in a professional management context. The design skills taught on the course are vital in an entrepreneurial, knowledge-based economy. It enables students to enter creative roles at a high level of responsibility, ranging from small local businesses to multinational corporations.
Course description
Programme
The modules in semester 1 provide a foundation of knowledge and techniques for the student to build on.
Research Methodology: Enables students to develop a range of conceptual and practical research skills, such as questionnaire design and interview techniques. As a key part of this module, each student formulates an individual Major Project proposal with specified aims, objectives, research methods and expected outcomes.
Design Process: Complements the Research Methodology module by providing an introduction to professional practice and the nature of the design process. Advances in technology, project management, design method theories, concept development, prototyping techniques, design testing, user centred/universal design, ethical and environmental design issues are covered.
Design in Contexts: Introduces a range of relevant contemporary theoretical contexts, including consumer identity, cultural/national identities, gender, craft theory, and design as a commodity. It encourages independent research to tackle issues relevant to the major project.
In the second semester there is a choice of 2 out of 3 modules. If you are a designer, you would do the Creative Professional Brief module and either the Strategic Management and Marketing module or the Design Entrepreneurship module. If you are more interested in management, you could do both the Strategic Management and Marketing module and the Design Entrepreneurship module.
Creative Professional Brief: Students learn through a design studio experience. They produce a portfolio of investigative design development work that shows an individual creative response to the main idea or issue.
Strategic Management and Marketing: Students consider marketing and corporate strategy issues in relation to design, market segmentation and buying drivers, concepts of corporate identity and branding, corporate responsibility and sustainability, the value chain and business agility in the global economy.
Design Entrepreneurship: Supports a student in the planning of a business based on their innovative design idea. Builds on close links with industry, with case studies of a range of micro businesses and entrepreneurial practices. Students also study business ethics, intellectual property rights, contracts and financial planning.
The third semester is the Major Project module, which sums up the achievement of the course. It enables students to carry out their own design and/or research project under supervision. There is a choice of three options:
-Detailed Design (in which you develop your design to a prototype stage) with a Reflective Report
-Design Concept and Dissertation (development of the design to concept stage supported by a dissertation)
-Dissertation (in which a more substantial dissertation is produced).
Students undertake independent research, analysis, design development and writing up of their projects, supported by individual tutorials. Modules in Semester 1 and 2 are taught through seminars, lectures, teamworking and design workshops.
The MA/MSc Design Innovation programme is based in excellent, well equipped accommodation. Group work and tutorials take place within a dedicated centre, enabling students to benefit from strong group cohesiveness and a vibrant multi-disciplinary graduate community.
IT facilities include Mac, PC, CAD, graphics and multimedia labs, with software for drawing, multimedia, painting/DTP, 3D modelling, animation and video.
