Design - 9313
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Art & Design
Contact: www.artdesign.unsw.edu.au
Campus: Paddington
Career: Postgraduate
Typical Duration: 2 Years 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 96
Award(s):
Master of Design
View program information for previous years
Program Description
The Master of Design is industry-engaged, intellectually rigorous and professionally relevant. As a Master of Design student you will extend and develop your practice through advanced practical design knowledge and skills. This will equip you with the personal confidence and professional capabilities needed to move into creative leadership roles in freelance, project or design business contexts.
The Master of Design has two main components: a core of design studio classes and courses in design contexts, and the choice to specialise in a design area of practice.
In the design core you will learn to integrate technology, design thinking, experimentation, strategy and communication, with a deep understanding of the role of design in innovation and the global economy.
The studio-based areas of practice enable you to either focus on a specific area of design and digital media practice, or to put together your own suite of courses from across design, material practice, and digital media.
Studio-based design courses can be taken in the following Areas of Practice:
The Master of Design has two main components: a core of design studio classes and courses in design contexts, and the choice to specialise in a design area of practice.
In the design core you will learn to integrate technology, design thinking, experimentation, strategy and communication, with a deep understanding of the role of design in innovation and the global economy.
The studio-based areas of practice enable you to either focus on a specific area of design and digital media practice, or to put together your own suite of courses from across design, material practice, and digital media.
Studio-based design courses can be taken in the following Areas of Practice:
- Graphic Communication addresses graphic design for paper and print, the screen and broadcast, encompassing contemporary typography, graphic design and cross-cultural communication strategies in designing for different audiences.
- Spatial Experiences engages with the design of processes, services, events and environments, with a focus on the quality of the user experience .
- Interaction Design covers visual communication and user-experience across graphics, media and emergent inter-actives.
- Visualisation and Visual Effects focuses on the practices of designing for animation, 3D, sound, film, video, illustration and computing.
- Future Making: Materials and Objects focuses on the making of objects, with new materials and digital technologies and craftsmanship. It addresses the integration of technical knowledge and skills with material and contextual understanding. Future Making works with ceramics, jewellery, metal, textiles, furniture and lighting.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
At the conclusion of this program students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of concepts and principles of design as an integrated practice
- Apply research principles and methods applicable to contemporary design practices
- Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and apply established theories to design practice
- Justify, interpret and communicate knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner
- Demonstrate the qualities of an ethical practitioner
- Demonstrate cultural awareness, environmental and social responsibility, and a respect for diversity
- Plan and execute a substantial research-based professionally-focused project in design
Program Structure
The Master of Design is a 96uoc [2 year FT] program, with options for students to complete either a 72uoc [1.5 years FT] program, or a 48uoc [1 year FT] program with advanced standing, depending on background of the entering student.
Master of Design taken as a 96 UOC program [normally over 2 years full time or 4 years part time]
Design Core
Master of Design taken as a 96 UOC program [normally over 2 years full time or 4 years part time]
Design Core
- ADAD9113 Communication Skills (6 UOC)
- ADAD9114 Research Foundations Art & Des (6 UOC)
- SAHT9143 Design History and Theory 1 (6 UOC)
- SDES9203 Entrepreneurship & Creativity (6 UOC)
- SDES9204 Design Insight and Processes (6 UOC)
- SDES9210 Critical Approaches to Design (6 UOC)
- SDES9211 Culture and Identity (6 UOC)
- SDES9212 Design Studio Project (12 UOC)
- SDES9352 Imperatives for Sustainability (6 UOC)
- SDES9353 Design for Social Engagement (6 UOC)
Design Studio
- Four courses [24 UOC] chosen from approved Studio areas of practice
Electives
- One courses [6 UOC] from Art and Design postgraduate courses
Master of Design taken as a 72 UOC program [normally over 1.5 years full time or 3 years part time]
Design Core
Design Core
- ADAD9114 Research Foundations Art & Des (6 UOC)
- SAHT9143 Design History and Theory 1 (6 UOC)
- SDES9203 Entrepreneurship & Creativity (6 UOC)
- SDES9210 Critical Approaches to Design (6 UOC)
- SDES9211 Culture and Identity (6 UOC)
- SDES9212 Design Studio Project (12 UOC)
- SDES9352 Imperatives for Sustainability (6 UOC)
- SDES9353 Design for Social Engagement (6 UOC)
Design Studio
- Three courses [18 UOC] chosen from approved Studio areas of practice
Master of Design taken as a 48 UOC program [normally over 1 year full time or 2 years part time]
Design Core
Design Core
- SDES9353 Design for Social Engagement (6 UOC)
Design Studio
- Two courses [12 UOC] from approved Studio areas of practice
Design Studio Areas of Practice
Spatial Experiences
Spatial Experiences
- ADAD9311 Designing Exhibitions (6 UOC)
- SDES9300 Domestic Futures (6 UOC)
- SDES9305 Design for Commercial Contexts (6 UOC)
- SDES9350 Cultural Contexts (6 UOC)
Interaction and User Experience (UX) Design
Visualisation and Visual Effects
- SDES9320 3D Visualisation (6 UOC)
- SDES9321 3D Digital Aesthetics (6 UOC)
Future Making: Materials and Objects
- ADAD9211 Hybrid Crafting (6 UOC)
- ADAD9212 Material Thinking (6 UOC)
- ADAD9215 Ecologies of Production (6 UOC)
- ADAD9332 Future Making Dialogues (6 UOC)
Graphic Communication
Sample Program
| UNSW Program 9313 - Design |
UOC | |
|
Session 1
(Entry to 96 UOC program)
|
24 | |
| ADAD9113 Communication Skills (6) | ||
| Area of Practice or elective (6) | ||
| Area of Practice (6) | ||
|
Session 2
(Entry to 72 UOC program)
|
SDES9210 Critical Approaches to Design Practice (6) | 24 |
| ADAD9114 Research Foundations in Art & Design (6) | ||
| SAHT9143 Design History & Thoery (6) |
||
| Area of Practice (6) | ||
|
Session 3
(Entry to 48 UOC program)
|
SDES9211 Integrated Studio: Culture & Identity (6) | 24 |
| SDES9352 Imperatives for Sustainability (6) | ||
| SDES9203 Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Creativity (6) | ||
| Area of Practice (6) | ||
| Session 4 |
SDES9212 Design Studio Project (12) | 24 |
| SDES9353 Design for Social Engagement (6) | ||
| Area of Practice (6) | ||
| TOTAL: 96 UOC | ||
Academic Rules
The Master of Design requires completion of 96 UOC (normally 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time) including:
- 66 units of credit in Core courses
- 24 units of credit in approved studio courses
- 6 units of credit in Art & Design postgraduate courses
Prior qualifications or prior learning allow entry with advanced standing, allowing completion of either 72 UOC or 48 UOC made up of either 54 UOC in Core courses and 18 UOC in approved studio courses, or 36 UOC in Core courses and 12 UOC in approved studio courses.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: UNSW Fee Website.
Entry Requirements
Depending on the level and related nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Design makes provision for three entry points:
- Bachelors degree [AQF Level 7] in any field. This provides admission into the foundational disciplinary course component of the program - requiring completion of 96 UOC (2.0 years).
- Bachelor’s degree in Design [FOE codes 1005], Media [FOE codes 1007] or Architecture [FOE codes 0401] with a Weight Average Mark (or equivalent) of at least 65, provides admission into the disciplinary course component of the Master of Design - requiring completion of 72 UOC (1.5 years).
- Honours Degree [AQF Level 8] or equivalent in Design [FOE codes 1005], Media [FOE codes 1007] or Architecture [FOE codes 0401], permits admission to the advanced disciplinary component of the Master of Design - requiring completion of 48 UOC (1 year).
Applicants who apply with a bachelors degree completed more than 10 years ago can be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Design where they have 5 or more years professional experience in a design or media-related field since graduation. They can articulate up to the MDes if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate.
Applicants without a Bachelors degree may be admitted to the Masters, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director, on the basis of a Portfolio of work and professional experience. The student may articulate up to the Graduate Diploma and Masters if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate.
Verified industry experience will include a written statement of service from an employer, client or commissioning agent verifying the position, role, responsibilities, duration and/or project outcomes of employment, service contract or other professional design engagement.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Consideration of RPL, including industry experience, will be relevant for:
a) entry into the program without a Bachelors degree; and
b) entry with a Bachelors degree awarded more than 10 years prior to proposed year of commencement; and
c) entry without a Bachelor's degree in Design, Media or Architecture, for entry into the 72 UOC Program
Verified industry experience will include a written statement of service from an employer, client or commissioning agent verifying the position, role, responsibilities, duration and/or project outcomes of employment, service contract or other professional design engagement.
Applicants without a Bachelors degree may be admitted to the Masters, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director, on the basis of a Portfolio of work and professional experience. The student may articulate up to the Graduate Diploma and Masters if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate.
Verified industry experience will include a written statement of service from an employer, client or commissioning agent verifying the position, role, responsibilities, duration and/or project outcomes of employment, service contract or other professional design engagement.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Consideration of RPL, including industry experience, will be relevant for:
a) entry into the program without a Bachelors degree; and
b) entry with a Bachelors degree awarded more than 10 years prior to proposed year of commencement; and
c) entry without a Bachelor's degree in Design, Media or Architecture, for entry into the 72 UOC Program
Verified industry experience will include a written statement of service from an employer, client or commissioning agent verifying the position, role, responsibilities, duration and/or project outcomes of employment, service contract or other professional design engagement.
Articulation
Students who have completed the requirements for the Graduate Certificate or Diploma in Design with a credit average are eligible for admission to the Master of Design with full credit for courses already completed.
Students who wish to exit the Masters program early may nominate to transfer to and graduate from the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma provided the requirements for the program have been met.
Students who wish to exit the Masters program early may nominate to transfer to and graduate from the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma provided the requirements for the program have been met.
Area(s) of Specialisation
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