Course details
Term 1
You'll be introduced to the University and the technical workshops and facilities available to you. The first term includes a range of lectures and seminars and you’ll start to explore your creative practice.

Research and Communication
This unit enables you to undertake a focused and rigorous investigation into the purpose and process of research at postgraduate level within the field of Design, Innovation & Brand Management. It is designed to support and advance the project work produced during the rest of your MA study through a developed investigation of research methods. You will define, articulate and critically reflect upon the research concerns of your own practice during this unit, thereby underpinning and enhancing your knowledge and understanding of the chosen field of study, as well as developing your ability to communicate this in a variety of way through a process of understanding and developing your practice, drilling down from contextual research to more focused ideas, understanding the importance of the blend of academic and pragmatic research, exposure to design led ideas, debate, conversation, and the innovative introduction of research and study methods into the course.

Creative Thinking
This unit introduces you to definitions and concepts of creativity. It allows you to explore what creativity is and reflect methods of creativity with concepts of taste, consumer need as well as user interface. Throughout this unit you will be required to implement creative processes using various techniques connected with the development of creative skills.

Term 2
During term two you begin developing your MA project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study.

Professional Practice
Individually or in small teams you will tackle some of the industrial problems of our age. You will write or choose a brief, and iterate over 5 weeks applying your research and communication skills to problem solving and delivering exciting and real world solutions.

Product and Prototyping
This unit will focus upon self-directed practice in which you will define and develop individual rationales and methods of working aimed at identifying, positioning and pre realising your Final Project. Research and practice will be directed and guided by a Literature Review and Project Proposal in which you negotiate and review your practice with your tutor. Prototyping ideas and concepts will allow you to, build, visualise, learn, prove and test design outcomes.

Term 3
In the third term of the course, you'll apply the knowledge gained through your research to create a final body of work.

Final Project
The Final Project is the culmination of your studies and will form an exposition of the central ideas and concepts developed throughout your MA. There are two components to this:

Portfolio Component: Portfolio work must demonstrate research, coherence, innovation, and a high quality of conception and execution. Your work will reflect the development of in-depth subject knowledge, creative autonomy and the development of a personal strategy for presenting and citing your work. The final presentation of the project and research into presentation possibilities is considered to be a vital element of this unit.

Written component: you will be required to submit a written component in the form of a report. The method of dissemination should be agreed in advance with your tutor. All forms of dissemination will be assessed against a common set of criteria and adhere to academic convention. Your writing must demonstrate clear aims and objectives, a substantial knowledge of criticism and theory in the chosen topic and a coherent argument. It must also demonstrate a critical awareness of your practice and the work of others in the chosen field of research and articulate a critical awareness of the links between theory and practice.