C04243v3 Master of Design
Award(s): Master of Design in (name of Design major) (MDesign)CRICOS code: 071751F
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 72
Course EFTSL: 1.5
Location: City campus
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Exit award
Other information
Overview
Unique in Australia, the Master of Design is intellectually vibrant, socially engaging, visionary, practice-focused and actively linked to industry. The course centres on building a design community network and has two main components: specialised master classes led by a studio leader and industry partners; and theory and technology subjects taught across the program.
The program focuses on and integrates research, industry collaboration, internationalisation and a design culture through the delivery of specialist, core and transdisciplinary subjects. It provides a postgraduate education that is flexible in both its practice orientation and research integration.
With a focus on design evolution, innovative integration of new technologies, practice and student experimentation, this Master of Design is delivered by experienced studio leaders who are acknowledged leaders in their specific industries and professions.
Course aims
Designed to produce a balance between high levels of specialisation and lateral thinking, the program enables students to examine design from a transdisciplinary perspective.
It enables students to explore design issues under the supervision of a practice leader, to learn new strategies and the application of research and theory. It supports best practices in postgraduate design education through learning and research strategies that critically examine design practice.
Graduates of this course are leaders in design and related industries through their expertise in product and service development. They are able to utilise strategic processes, creative tools and research skills for innovation in design.
The program provides a suite of subjects for postgraduate designers in the areas of interaction, strategy, design ethnography, physical prototyping, web design and designer identity. Common subjects explore related conceptual challenges and questions of visual expression in the quest to develop useful, usable and resonant designs. These include understanding and articulating the importance of user experience, the role of design in humanising information, the aesthetic and conceptual dynamics of effective communication, strategic thinking, and aspects of design management, branding and communication.
Career options
Graduates' careers are enhanced by high-level professional knowledge and skills for the workplace, with possession of specialised knowledge in interaction, sustainable design and innovation.
Course intended learning outcomes
| A.1 | Value for the designer's role as a responsible global citizen, including alertness to the impact of design on environmental ecologies and issues of social justice |
| A.2 | A commitment to ethical acknowledgement of sources and the work of others |
| A.3 | Sensitivity to social and cultural diversity |
| C.1 | Professional attitude to clarity, accuracy and effectiveness of communication |
| C.2 | Capacity to work flexibly within a team and make a positive contribution to team dynamics |
| C.3 | Ability to adapt communication style to context |
| I.1 | Capacity for perceptive concept development |
| I.2 | Ability to critically appraise, develop or redirect design ideas |
| I.3 | Ability to re-imagine human practices and human-technology relations |
| P.1 | Ability to actively and independently develop new skills, knowledge and understanding |
| P.2 | Possession of a developed aesthetic sensibility |
| P.3 | Possession of craft skills appropriate to the discipline |
| R.1 | Ability to develop well-supported arguments and rationales |
| R.2 | Ability to analyse and synthesise complex ideas |
| R.3 | A disposition to adopt practices and approaches that embed critical reflection |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.
Applicants must have a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in a design-related field with a mid-credit (70) average.
In addition to the above academic qualification, all applicants need to provide the following:
- a digital portfolio of 10 x A4 landscape PDFs that display digital files, scans and/or photographs of original design work done by the applicant, including a brief appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses in each design. Portfolios must show that the final design outcomes are the product of a rich and sustained process of prototyping and refinement, from initial concepts, through different rough iterations, to more refined design outcomes. Portfolios are judged on the students' capacity to conceive and deliver original design outcomes through a rigorous and expansive approach to design process
- a 300-word statement addressing the applicant's reasons for undertaking postgraduate study in design at UTS, and the specific learning that they are seeking given their intended career direction on completion of the degree
- a CV that clearly articulates the applicant's design or related experience.
- a list of the applicant's existing software skills relevant to the design disciplines that they intend to study in. Applicants have an advantage if they possess prototyping skills in software relevant to interaction and service design. For example, Sketch, Maya and Solidworks are used in some subjects. However, the course is created to help students with less advanced prototyping skills thrive, if they are willing to put in the extra effort.
Students must refer to the inherent requirements for all degrees offered by Design and Architecture in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Course duration and attendance
The course is offered on a one-and-a-half-year, full-time or three-year, part-time basis.
Course structure
Students must complete 72 credit points comprising 36 credit points of core subjects and 36 credit points of design expertise subjects.
Course completion requirements
| CBK90665 Design Studio choice | 36cp | |
| CBK90890 Electives (Design) | 36cp | |
| Total | 72cp |
Course program
An example full-time program is shown below, for students commencing in Autumn session.
| Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90665 Design Studio choice | 36cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90890 Electives (Design) | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90665 Design Studio choice | 36cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90890 Electives (Design) | 36cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90665 Design Studio choice | 36cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90890 Electives (Design) | 36cp | |
Exit award
Students can exit this course after completing 48 credit points of specified subjects with a Graduate Diploma in Design (C07119) or after completing 24 credit points of specified subjects with a Graduate Certificate in Design (C11225).
Other information
Further information is available from the UTS Student Centre on:
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS
UTS: Design, Architecture and Building