COURSE OVERVIEW

MA Design Practice 1-year (full-time) Programme Specification
Master your practice with our multi-disciplinary programme, offering you the opportunity to immerse yourself within your specialist practice as a design practitioner, and support your integration into the creative industry. MA Design Practice focuses on strengthening design thinking and contemporary practice. The programme considers how design acts as a catalyst for innovation to address societal and professional challenges and aims to develop a rich understanding of theoretical and applied knowledge in the specialist study of design, in a global context.
Creative UK
HPool Art Gallery
Aux
HPool Art Gallery
ARC
Museum
previous arrowprevious arrow
next arrownext arrow
Discover our Master's degrees
Click To Watch Our Master's Degree video
Discover our Master's degrees

Step into a world where creative ambition meets expert guidance. Our Master’s programmes at The Northern School of Art give you the freedom to shape your practice, collaborate across disciplines, and access professional-level resources in a supportive environment. Whether you’re exploring MA Art, Culture & Curation, MA Directors & Theatre Making, MA Arts Practice or MA Design Practice you’ll emerge ready to lead and to innovate. Watch our video to see real student journeys, and begin your own.

Ready to take the next step? Explore our Master’s courses and apply today.

Master's Degree Focus

MA Design Practice focuses on strengthening design thinking and contemporary practice. The programme considers how design acts as a catalyst for innovation to address societal and professional challenges and aims to develop a rich understanding of theoretical and applied knowledge in the specialist study of design, in a global context.

Modules of study will include:
• Extended Practice
• Specialist Practice
• Practice Resolution

Themes of Arts Practice could include:
• Art Direction
• Animation
• Design & Garment Construction
• Graphic Design
• Illustration for Commercial Application
• Fashion Communication
• Costume Interpretation
• Production design
• Visual Communication
• Textiles & Surface Design
• Design for Advertising
• Motion Graphics

GUEST SPEAKERS

Recent guest speakers from our MA Design Practice degree include:
• Emily Ward, Curator & Collection Specialist
• Nick Wesson, Land of Iron
• GF Smith
• Anna Byrne, The Auxiliary
• Yasmine Hayat, The Kings Traditional School of Drawing
• Dr Yusen Yu, Lecturer in Islamic Iranian Art History, University of St. Andrews Scotland
• Sara Makari Aghdam, the University of St. Andrews Scotland
• Pann Lim, Kinetic, Singapore

INDUSTRY PROJECTS & LIVE BRIEFS

Students have exhibited work in venues including:
• Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar
• Pineapple Black Contemporary Arts Space, Middlesbrough
• ARC Stockton Arts Centre
• The BIS, Hartlepool
• Vane, Newcastle
• Baltic Centre of Contemporary Arts, Gateshead
• Saabat Gallery, Middlesbrough
• Preston Hall Museum, Stockton
• Museum of Hartlepool

Live Briefs have included:
• Natural Ecologies exhibition by MA students
• Miniature Painting in the Contemporary
• All students were given the opportunity to exhibit and respond with the Touring
• British Museum Collection
• Queer Now! Hatton Art Gallery, Newcastle – Curious Arts finalist
• Costume design for the BBC on a drama series

A Creative Community

The dedicated postgraduate studios provide you with spacious collaborative spaces and flexibility to engage cross-disciplinary throughout a year of study. The programme will provide you with the skills to solve complex problems through innovation and exploration of ideas, intended to strengthen and develop your field of study and specialist practice.

The interdisciplinary approach will allow you to explore your specialist route within the arts, with opportunities to work collaboratively and occupy a broader interest in the interdisciplinary approach of creative practice, as part of a creative community. Access to technical workspaces and technical support will allow you to develop your practice and strengthen your independence as a practitioner throughout studio modules, while dedicated lecturers and supervisors will extend your professionally thinking and its interplay with the arts scene and creative industries.

APPLY NOW FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE

Trouble applying? Get in touch!

Application Advice

Application Form

MA Design Practice Application Information

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & REFERENCES
Applicants must have one of the following:
• Degree at 2:1 or above (If still studying, you should be projected to achieve this grade)
• Degree at 2:2 or above (If still studying, you should be projected to achieve this grade); or
• Experiential learning in lieu of a degree to be assessed by interviewing panel; Applicants holding other qualifications may also be considered provided that they have appropriate relevant professional experience.

At least one written reference is required to support your application, but it is usual to supply two where possible.

One of your references must be relatively recent and preferably from a previous or current academic tutor.

We also accept references from previous or current employers as well as other creative practitioners.
FINANCE
You can find out more information about fees and finance here.

*As of 2022 school alumni are eligible for a 20% discount on MA course fees.
COURSE PROPOSAL GUIDE & INTERVIEWS
Applicants who meet the entry requirements will be required to submit a proposal outlining their intentions for MA study. This will be explored further if invited to an interview. The faculty staff will evaluate the proposal to determine its feasibility in the context of the resources required and the availability of specialist staff to support their chosen area of study.

MA Design Practice
Your proposal should include a portfolio of work and a supporting statement about your practice. Your statement should be a maximum of 500 words. This does not need to be detailed but should include:
• A title
• Your reasons for applying to study MA Design Practice at The Northern School of Art
• A description of your current practice
• The proposed direction of your MA study (including potential development ideas/themes)