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
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 leadership 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 courses and practice-based classes in a number of design studios.
In the design core you will learn to integrate of 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 courses 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:
The Master of Design has two main components: a core of design courses and practice-based classes in a number of design studios.
In the design core you will learn to integrate of 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 courses 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:
- Experience Design engages with the design of products, processes, services, events and environments, with a focus on the quality of the user experience.
- Interaction Design addresses 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
- Graphic Communication which 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.
- Future Making 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.
AS WELL, STUDENTS MAY TAKE STUDIO COURSES FROM :
- Planar Practices which engages with creative practice using colour, line, and surface. It works across the disciplines of painting, drawing, printmaking and the screen.
- Temporal and Spatial Practices which addresses creative practice using lens, time, space and objects and works across the disciplines of photography, video, animation, sculpture, installation and performance.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The Master of Design provides for pathways for both those with backgrounds in design and those who wish to enter design from other professional backgrounds. Graduates of the Master of Design are prepared to be independent professionals, able to undertake leadership, research and innovation roles across a wide range of design and digital practices.
Students are prepared for leadership in innovation and the design industries. The major capstone project enables students to integrate their strong practice-based skills with their understanding of design as strategy across product and service development.
Students are prepared for leadership in innovation and the design industries. The major capstone project enables students to integrate their strong practice-based skills with their understanding of design as strategy across product and service development.
Program Structure
The Master of Design can be taken as a 96 UOC [2 year FT] program, or a 72 UOC [1.5 years FT] program, or a 48 UOC [1 year FT] program, 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
- COFA9113 Communication Skills (6 UOC)
- COFA9114 Research Foundations Art & Des (6 UOC)
- COFA9312 Leadership (6 UOC)
- SDES9203 Entrepreneurship & Creativity (6 UOC)
- SDES9204 Design Communication (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)
Design Studio
- Six courses [36 UOC] from approved Studio Specialisations
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
Design Studio
- Four courses [24 UOC] from approved Studio Specialisations
Master of Design taken as a 48 UOC program [normally over 1 year full time or 2 years part time]
Design Core
Design Core
- COFA9312 Leadership (6 UOC)
- SDES9203 Entrepreneurship & Creativity (6 UOC)
- SDES9211 Culture and Identity (6 UOC)
- SDES9212 Design Studio Project (12 UOC)
- SDES9352 Imperatives for Sustainability (6 UOC)
Design Studio
- Two courses [12 UOC] from approved Studio Specialisations
Design Studio Specialisations :
Experience Design
Experience Design
- COFA9311 Designing Exhibitions (6 UOC)
- SDES9300 Domestic Futures (6 UOC)
- SDES9305 Participatory Design (6 UOC)
- SDES9350 Design and Production in Context (6 UOC)
Interaction Design and UX
- SDES9311 Interaction Design (6 UOC)
- SDES9312 Interactive Design (6 UOC)
- SDES9315 Tangible Interfaces, Immersive Interactions (6 UOC)
- SDES9350 Design and Production in Context (6 UOC)
3D Visualisation
- SDES9320 3D Visualisation (6 UOC)
- SDES9321 3D Digital Aesthetics (6 UOC)
- SDES9325 3D Immersion and Interaction (6 UOC)
- SDES9350 Design and Production in Context (6 UOC)
Future Making
- COFA9211 Hybrid Crafting (6 UOC)
- COFA9212 Material Thinking (6 UOC)
Graphic Communication
Academic Rules
The Master of Design requires completion of 96 UOC (normally 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time) including:
- 60 units of credit in Core courses
- 36 units of credit in approved specialisation courses
Prior qualifications or prior learning allow entry with advanced standing, allowing completion of either 72 UOC or 48 UOC made up of either 42 UOC in Core courses and 30 UOC in approved specialisation courses, or 30 UOC in Core courses and 18 UOC in approved specialisation courses.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html
Entry Requirements
Depending on the level and related nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Art 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
Design
Design Studies
Design Studies
Area(s) of Specialisation
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