Course description
Sheffield was one of the first industrial design schools in Britain. Our MA course builds on this experience and exploits a high level of research expertise to provide an invaluable learning experience, which enhances design and research skills in a practical studio context.
Industrial design is a project-based MA. It offers designers an opportunity to use their creative, practical and theoretical skills to investigate and propose new solutions in response to social, cultural, economic and/or environmental issues.
You can pursue a wide area of investigation that centres around developing a new products and/or systems. We support your investigations by our research, which includes specialisms in the area of medical products, materials development and transport.
In the 2001 UK Research Assessment Exercise we were awarded a rating of 5 for research in Art and Design, the highest rating achieved by any university and only given to a small number of leading departments in this subject who can demonstrate that their research has international standing.
We offer EU and international students a pre-MA programme leading to a Graduate Diploma in Design and English. This allows students to become familiar with the learning culture in art and design in the UK and develop their English language ability in a design environment.
Associated careers
There are many opportunities for employment or self-employment in industrial design. The course encourages an enterprising approach to strengthen students’ abilities to develop their own business practice.
An increasing number of design graduates are undertaking more advanced further study through research degrees (PhD) within the University’s Art and Design Research Centre which has a leading position in the advancement of creative practice in design.
Course content
You receive formal teaching in • research methods for art and design • creative professionalism.
You can choose from several other options including • managing innovation • marketing and digital technologies for creative practice.
The main part of the course is a substantial programme of individual project work. You must propose an area for investigation and carry forward a programme of practical and theoretical investigation and creative work.
