MA Design
The MA Design Programme provides an opportunity for eligible postgraduate diploma students to develop their advanced studies in practice and to enhance their applied research skills. The programme is a springboard for new enterprise and research which underpins the role of the professional practitioner in sustainable economic regeneration. This is based upon innovation, production and the creation or exploitation of market demands and provides fertile areas of research related to the specialist subjects represented at West Dean.
This new postgraduate programme is headed by Robert Pulley, West Dean’s principal. The course, a combination of Postgraduate Diploma and MA components for those in Visual Arts or Conservation, will enable students to develop their advanced studies in practice and to enhance their research skills.
Programme Content
The MA Design is a combination of Postgraduate Diploma and MA components. A framework of additional units and blocks of study are
provided through which students registered on any of the eight existing Postgraduate Diplomas can obtain the MA Design degree through a total of one calendar year of full-time study.
The programme provides an opportunity for eligible postgraduate diploma students to develop their advanced studies in practice and to enhance their applied research skills. The programme is a springboard for new enterprise and research which underpins the role of the professional practitioner in sustainable economic regeneration. This is based upon innovation, production and provides fertile areas of research related sustainable development.
There are three related elements of work required:
? Design Development Project
? Research Dissertation
? Professional Research Plan.
Entry Requirements
Candidates registered on any of the Postgraduate diplomas in Visual Arts or Conservation will have fulfilled the entry requirements for the MA Design. Progression to MA will depend upon identifying and agreeing a suitable individual project to be undertaken.
Specialist Facilities
You will continue to work from your subjectspecialist workshop. These are all wellequipped and will provide the support needed for your design development project. Further support will be provided through a seminar programme, research skills workshops, case study analysis and regular tutorial.
Programme Leader
Robert Pulley
Robert Pulley studied Furniture Design at the Royal College of Art from 1978 to 1981 after which he set up his studio and workshop in London with help from the Crafts Council. He was a Senior Lecturer in three dimensional design at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication from 1989 to 1994 when he moved to Falmouth College of Arts as Dean. In January 2001 he was appointed Principal at West Dean College where he continues to practise as a furniture designer and design researcher.
Associate Tutor
Barnaby Barford
Barnaby Barford is an artist who works primarily with ceramics to create unique narrative pieces. He works with found porcelain figurines to create
sculptures that draw a portrait of our contemporary lives. Graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2002, he has been the subject of several solo exhibitions in the UK, and has shown in exhibitions internationally. His work is part of both public and private collections.
Since 2003 Barnaby has regularly taught in institutions across the UK and Europe at both MA and BA levels. He has run workshops and special
projects in Europe. He is passionate about teaching and sees it as an integral part of his practice.
Visiting Lecturers
Visiting Lecturers will vary from year to year but may include: Designers: Sue Timney, Adrian Stokes, LucianTaylor, Kate Fletcher, Paul Brennan, Jason Osgerby, Russell Finch, Claire Bryan, Arash & Kelly Kaynama, Geoffrey Mann, Clemens Weisshaar, Dominic Wilcox and Maxim Velcovsky. Plus other industry professional such as Max Fraser (design curator), Tony Chambers (Editor Wallpaper* magazine) and Artists: Keith Harrison and Richard Slee.
For student profiles please click here
Further Information
West Dean has a long established portfolio of full-time, practice-led advanced graduate and postgraduate programmes of study specialising in Conservation and Fine Art disciplines. These programmes, along with a College validated programme specialising in making historic musical instruments, have unique profiles and enjoy international reputations.
It is widely understood that in all of these programmes, including Conservation ones, skills in designing and making are an integral part of what our practitioners actually do. Recently, students from all disciplines have accomplished highly skilled levels as designers and makers of objects.
The College crosses borders in art/craft/design and heritage and is committed to helping new enterprise and applied research incorporating critical debate and contemporary contextual issues. Such fertile territory may generate new business ideas, including applied research, based on serious engagement with materials, processes and artefacts born out of design which embraces ecological, technical, historical, social and economic factors.
Like existing MA programmes in Conservation Studies and Visual Arts, the MA Design is a combination of Postgraduate Diploma and MA components. A framework of additional units and blocks of study are provided through which students registered on any of the following eight existing Postgraduate Diplomas can obtain the MA Design degree through a total of one calendar year of full-time study.
Each of the postgraduate subject areas consists of one academic year of full-time study specialising in a particular area of conservation or visual arts. Registered postgraduate diploma students may decide to continue on to one of the MA programmes.
During their specialist Postgraduate Diploma studies, MA Design students will attend an induction and study additional units to be taught as a single interdisciplinary group. On successful completion of the second semester, which includes blocks 3 and 4 of the Postgraduate Diploma together with block 1 of the MA component, students start block 2 of the MA. This involves a major project undertaken during a ten-week period of full-time study with a final assessment toward the end of September.
The MA Design Programme provides an opportunity for eligible postgraduate diploma students to develop their advanced studies in practice and to enhance their applied research skills. The programme is a springboard for new enterprise and research which underpins the role of the professional practitioner in sustainable economic regeneration. This is based upon innovation, production and the creation or exploitation of market demands and provides fertile areas of research related to the specialist subjects represented at West Dean.
There are three related elements of work required: 1) Design Development Project 2) Research Dissertation 3) Professional Research Plan
The Design Development Project provides the core of the MA. This project is initiated through a Research Proposal, developed during the Induction Programme, and progressed in Block 1 of the MA and sustained through Block 2 through the Research Dissertation.
Research Dissertation, the next component, brings together practice, history and theory. Relevant theory and contextual information is used to inform practical outcomes, the latter reviewed to inform and promote theory to add to the body of knowledge. A typical dissertation takes into account the related historical context and may look sideways at current economic, environmental and social issues. Students are encouraged to include ideas for future research and development in the conclusion of their dissertation. This open-minded MA Design research will be used towards the Professional Research Plan.
The Professional Research Plan is the third element of work. Students will produce a clearly articulated proposal that demonstrates the application of their learning to meaningful post-programme outcomes. The Plan demonstrates a student’s work within the professional, commercial or research environments and in some cases all three.
The undertaken range of projects is wide and potentially inter-disciplinary. A student may, for example, work on a design brief with an external client such as a museum, an architect, a manufacturer or other relevant professionals or exploit the use of local materials on the West Dean Estate in an enterprising way by developing a new start-up business.
A student may wish to develop innovative products for niche markets such as a limited edition book, a range of clocks, a series of chairs or a set of musical instruments. Alternatively, how great things of the past were innovated and apply the imagination and intellect to unpick problems and apply findings to resolve important questions. A student may also undertake technical matter research aimed at extending knowledge related to a specific subject alongside an external partner.
Students are supervised by a West Dean College tutor and, if appropriate, an external supervisor who may offer advice and access to specialist resources, knowledge and skills.
The MA units and blocks of study provide students with a structured experience that is designed to develop a confident approach to practice through the production of artefacts, ideas and insights which consolidate and extend previous experience and learning at the postgraduate diploma level. All students at West Dean have access to our short course programme which includes more than 300 tutors who are practicing artists, designers and writers. This is an extraordinarily unusual learning resource.
