MA Design for Body & Environment
Design for Body and Environment covers a broad range of design disciplines, from fashion to textiles, and jewellery to accessories. Students are encouraged to examine the past and challenge the present, and develop ideas that address and challenge industry, social, cultural and political agendas. This research-led taught programme develops design researchers and entrepreneurs of the future who will carve new paths, cultural and technical innovations within, and beyond their design discipline. The MA Design for Body and Environment is aimed at build-ing on knowledge and practice acquired at undergraduate level and within professional practice, with applicants proposing a research agenda that will provide a focus for their study. The programme is designed, timetabled and delivered in such a way as to enable design practitioners to undertake their study alongside maintaining their professional career.
What to Expect
The MA Design for Body & Environment operates across a range of design disciplines and methodological approaches and contexts. It 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 communication design. In challenging the purpose, methods and ambitions of contemporary fashion, textiles and jewellery 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 reflects the changing fields of fashion, textiles and jewellery design, with continuing development of 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.
Programme Team:
Angela O’Kelly, MA – Head of Design for Body and Environment
Angela has a degree and postgraduate diploma from Edinburgh College of Art where she specialised in jewellery and silversmithing, and an MA in Arts Management & Cultural Policy from UCD. As a designer and curator she specialises in design-led wearables combining mixed media with traditional and new technologies. She has exhibited extensively in international exhibitions and galleries. Her focus is equipping students for sustainable careers after college, linking students to industry and exposing design through national and international markets.
After Your Degree
The taught masters programme provides an in-depth, professionally informed pro-gramme of study and studio practice. As a consequence of the range of skills acquired MA Design for Body and Environment graduates have access to a wide range of local and global opportunities in industry, services, and design consultancy or as creative entrepreneurs, designer-makers and educators. The School of Design actively participates in the EU-funded Erasmus+ programme, which offers recent graduates the opportunity to avail of internships in high profile design companies within the European Union.
Eligibility
The programme is open to graduates with an honours degree award of 2.2 or higher, or an equivalent academic or professional qualification in a related discipline. The College also takes into consideration prior learning and experience. English language: Students who have not been educated through English must show proof of achieving IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 in the writing section on the Academic Version) or an equivalent score in another recognised English language assessment.