Digital Design MA/MSc

Program Overview

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This Digital Design MA/MSc program focuses on advancing technology and emerging digital design techniques within the interior, fashion, and marketing design sectors. Students will explore and embrace digital and design-related technologies, developing specialized skills for careers as digital designers, web and app developers, and multimedia production directors. The program emphasizes digital design principles across various creative sectors and provides opportunities for collaboration with students from other disciplines and work on live research and commercial projects.

Program Outline

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Digital Design MA/MSc

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Degree Overview

This program focuses on advancing technology and emerging digital design techniques within the interior, fashion, and marketing design sectors. You will explore and embrace digital and design-related technologies in your chosen field, which could include:

• User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design
• Mobile app design
• E-learning
• Virtual and augmented reality
• 2D and 3D animation
• 3D digital printing
• Digital display and projection design
• Interactive kiosk and installation design
• Wearable devices and smart clothing
The program is designed for students with a strong working knowledge of multimedia software tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, After Effects, and 3D software like Autodesk MAYA or 3DMax. It provides an opportunity to develop these technical skills further. You will examine the practical skills and theoretical concepts of digital design methods. You will learn the entire creative production process, from concept development and prototyping to production techniques and testing. In-depth insight into each stage will be supported by training in project management. This program will equip you with a broad base of specialized skills for careers as digital designers, web and app developers, and multimedia production directors. Additionally, you will gain the business planning and web presence management skills needed to launch a freelance career.

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Highlights:

• This program leads to an MA or MSc degree, depending on your chosen route and final project.
• You can also exit with a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
• The program emphasizes digital design principles across various creative sectors.
• You will collaborate with students from other disciplines and work on live research and commercial projects for companies like Caterpillar and Sainsbury’s.
• The award-winning Vijay Patel Building provides state-of-the-art facilities, including a diverse range of devices and industry software and hardware.
• You will learn from leading professionals actively involved in their own fields and gain insights from visiting lecturers engaged in world-class research.

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Outline

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Course Structure:

• Block 1: Digital Design Studio
• Block 2: Research Methods with Service Design
• Block 3: Choose one from the following:
• UX and UI
• Technology for Design
• Narrative Spaces
• Block 4: Design Problem Solving
• Block 5 and 6: Choose one from the following:
• Major Project
• Work-based Project

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Course Modules:

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Block 1: Digital Design Studio:

• Introduction to current digital design technologies
• Creative and management processes
• Production techniques in a professional context
• Advances in digital media and related product technology
• Project management
• Digital design method theories
• Concept development
• Prototyping/production techniques
• Design/application testing

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Block 2: Research Methods with Service Design:

• Current design research
• Professional practices
• Advanced scholarship in your discipline
• Creating new hypotheses
• Form independent judgments
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences
• Role of research within a design context
• Reflecting on personal attributes, skills, and values
• Research design
• Gathering, managing, and analyzing data
• Developing critical and ethical practices
• Reporting and presenting research findings

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Block 3:

• UX and UI:
• User experience design and tools
• Industry best practices
• Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Human Interface guidelines
• Design solutions for new or existing systems
• Inclusivity
• Data security and privacy
• Usability testing
• Performance reviews
• Iteration
• Technology for Design:
• Investigating emerging technologies
• Computer-aided design
• Computer visualization
• Virtual prototyping
• Direct digital manufacturing
• New equipment, materials, artifacts, and devices
• Partnering with students and technology
• Internal and external collaboration
• Narrative Spaces:
• Storytelling through design
• Interaction between objects, space, and stories
• Complex ideas, messages, and emotional connections
• Empathy
• Interpretations of space
• Digital platforms
• Modern retail environments
• Progressive museum and exhibition design
• Group design project and presentation

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Block 4: Design Problem Solving:

• Innovative approaches to local and global design problems
• Consolidating and developing subject-specific skills
• Experimenting with research and analytical tools
• Creative and resilient design
• Confidence in interdisciplinary collaborations
• Effective deployment of experimental research tools
• Major project planning

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Block 5 and 6:

• Major Project:
• Advanced research and scholarship
• Design practice or critical evaluation
• Major focus on critical evaluation with condensed design practice for academic-focused projects
• Professional-level planning and implementation
• Work-based Project:
• Developing and demonstrating skills in a practical context
• Working with a fashion, textile, or design company
• Prototype innovation
• Design and development of products
• Integrating research methodologies and discipline-specific knowledge
• Supervised by host organization and university
• Negotiated outcomes
• Research reports and plans

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Assessment:

• Primarily through design presentations and written work
• Participation in the RSA Student Design Awards
• Contact hours:
• Typically 12 hours of timetabled taught sessions per week in the first two terms
• 23 hours of independent study per week
• Self-directed in the third term (including meetings with supervisor)
• 35 hours of independent study per week

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Teaching

• Expert teaching team actively involved in their fields
• Visiting lecturers engaged in world-class research
• Challenging conventions and experimental approaches
• Innovative thinking
• Contemporary design challenges
• Sophisticated devices and industry software and hardware
• Realizing creative visions

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Careers

• Digital designers
• Senior web designers
• App designers
• Multimedia production directors
• Accenture
• Felinesoft
• Freelance businesses
• University’s Innovation Centre
• PhD level studies

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Other

• The program offers an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching, known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
• This UDL approach provides a wide variety of support, facilities, and technology for all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.
• One way this is achieved is through ‘DMU Replay,’ providing audio and/or visual material of lectures for revision and adaptability.

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2024/25 Full-time tuition fees for UK students £9,435 per year 2024/25 tuition fees for EU and international students: £15,800