Institution
University for the Creative Arts, United Kingdom
Award
Master of Arts Degree
Curriculum
- Design Thinking
- Advanced Problem Framing
Moving beyond basic problem statements to address complex, ambiguous challenges, often using tools like affinity diagrams, personas, and stakeholder mapping
- User Research and Synthesis
Deepening user empathy and translating qualitative insights into actionable, human-centered solutions
- Facilitation and Co-Creation
Mastering the art of facilitating design thinking sessions, guiding teams through the process, and encouraging creative collaboration
- Prototyping and Testing
Developing more sophisticated prototyping methods and refining the testing process to gather meaningful feedback and iterate effectively
- Storytelling for Influence
Learning to craft compelling narratives that motivate stakeholders and drive adoption of new ideas
- Advanced Design Communication
- Advanced Design Projects
Application of advanced design concepts to create professional projects, often for real clients or social causes
- Portfolio Development
Building a portfolio with a collection of strong design pieces and accompanying process books
- Client Collaboration
Working with external clients to define goals, propose solutions, and deliver final designs
- Advanced Typography
Deeper exploration of typographic theories, manipulation of fonts, and effective use of type in complex projects
- Strategic and Creative Problem-Solving
Applying design thinking to address complex or “wicked” problems and developing strategic solutions
- Research and Methodology
Conducting primary and secondary research to inform the design process
- Production and Presentation
Understanding production cycles for print and digital media, including prepress processes, and preparing to present work professionally
- Research Methods
- Research Fundamentals
Review of research characteristics, ethics, and proposal writing
- Quantitative and Qualitative Research Designs
Detailed study of both quantitative and qualitative designs
- Sampling
Advanced probability and non-probability sampling techniques
- Data Collection
Methods, tools, and techniques for primary and secondary data
- Data Analysis
Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and analysis of variance
- Reliability and Validity
Assessing the quality and rigor of research
- Multivariate Analysis
Advanced techniques like multiple regression, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis
- Specific Analysis Methods
Meta-analysis, structural equation modeling, and causal analysis
- Methodological Challenges
Addressing research biases and methodological rigor
- Design Innovation
- Design Thinking
A user-centered approach to innovation involving phases of empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test
- Creative and Critical Thinking
Developing the ability to think creatively and critically to solve complex problems
- Human-Centered Design
A methodology focused on understanding user needs to create desirable solutions
- Systems Thinking
Analyzing how different parts of a system interact to understand and design for complex challenges
- Prototyping
Developing and testing tangible models, which can include physical 3D printing, laser cutting, and digital prototyping
- Data and AI
Innovating with data and integrating Artificial Intelligence into the design process
- Graphic Design
Fundamental principles such as composition, color theory, and typography
- Applied Design Project
- Portfolio
A collection of all project artifacts, including sketches, research, drafts, research plans, and empathy maps
- Design Brief
A document that defines the project’s objectives and constraints
- Prototypes
Iterative versions of the design, often presented for feedback
- Final Presentation
A comprehensive presentation of the project, including the research, design process, and final product
- Design Documentation
Documents like a tasks and backlog list that track project progress