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Camberwell College of Arts

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MA Designer Maker

College
CAMBERWELL
Start date
September 2020
Course length
1 year (full time)
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MA Designer Maker at Camberwell College of Arts aims to take the lead in re-asserting the position of craft and making in the contexts of contemporary design discourse, society and humanity.

Course Leader Maiko Tsutsumi talks about MA Designer Maker at Camberwell.

Student work

  • Wood and rope sculpture by Alice Chen.
    Alice Chen - MA Designer Maker
  • Re-cycled rope by Angelique Talbot.
    Angelique Talbot - MA Designer Maker
  • Golden woven wall piece by Anita Carnel.
    Anita Carnell - MA Designer Maker
  • Lamps and lights by Chieh Ting Huang.
    Chieh Ting Huang - MA Designer Maker
  • Folding table by Emily Rohrer.
    Emily Rohrer - MA Designer Maker
  • Bracelet by Meghan Hutchins.
    Meghan Hutchins - MA Designer Maker
  • Brackets, hinges and screws to be re-used.
    Nathan Johnson - MA Designer Maker
  • Silver bowl and tray by Ran Yu.
    Ran Yu - MA Designer Maker
  • Brooch by Ruining Han.
    Ruining Han - MA Designer Maker
  • Exhibition display by Sophie Minal.
    Sophie Minal - MA Designer Maker
  • Ceramic feather sculpture by Younsu Kim.
    Younsu Kim - MA Designer Maker
  • Ceramic skull sculptures by Yuta Segawa.
    Yuta Segawa - MA Designer Maker

Course overview

In the last 10-15 years craft and making activities have been attracting more attention in the design industry and beyond. Engaging fully with the broadening and diversifying debates around making, the course reflects the notable shift in the discipline’s focus towards ethical and environmental issues. These may manifest in the development of new materials, or reconfiguration of existing systems and resources, while others address diversity, ecology, inclusivity and empowerment of individuals.

Students on the course typically come from craft, product, furniture design and architecture backgrounds.

What to expect 

  • To develop a project from proposal to final exhibition
  • To explore new and existing materials and processes
  • To be part of an inter-disciplinary and inter-cultural cohort where multiple perspectives and diversities are actively taken on board as a rich resource for learning
  • A transdisciplinary learning environment in which the MA Designer Maker students are part of a community of Design School postgraduate students who share the same teaching and learning spaces
  • Seminars and discussions that cover a wide range of subjects. These include material culture studies, anthropology, philosophy, sustainability, consumerism, museum studies, psychology and literature
  • Visits to collections, makers’ studios, galleries and museums
  • To engage with contemporary debates in applied arts, design and object-based art
  • To explore human-object relationships and the meaning of making
  • A lecture programme
  • To produce a wide range of works during the course and for the final show. Work has included lighting, ceramics, furniture, jewellery and small-scale sculpture installations
  • To keep a reflective journal in a blog format which as an ongoing documentation of your practice and learning process throughout the course
  • The opportuntiy to access the ILEA collection housed at Camberwell College of Arts, working with the UAL Archives and Special Collections curator
  • To have access to Camberwell's shared workshops that include printmaking, photography, film, moving image, digital, plastic, ceramics, wood and metalwork. View the Camberwell facilities

Mode of study 

MA Designer Maker is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 12 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Course units

A short description of each unit and what you can expect.

Unit 1 - Exploring and understanding research context and methodology

This unit is an introduction to your course, the college and the university.

  • Inductions to learning resources and workshops at Camberwell
  • An introduction to the notion of practice as research, which is one of the guiding principles of the course
  • To devise your own brief and use it as a tool to develop and refine a project proposal
  • To be encouraged to move between studio practice and theoretical research
  • To critically reflect on the nature of your practice and skills, as well as the types of knowledge you engage with through your practice
  • A programme of personal and professional development
  • To explore contemporary debate and historical discourses
  • Seminars, tutorials, crits, lectures and workshops
  • To submit a research portfolio that includes practical work, experimentations, visual material and theoretical research
  • To keep an online reflective journal throughout the course

Unit 2 - New practice methodologies

This unit builds on your chosen research theme in your project proposal.

  • To form and test a methodology through experimentation or field work
  • Encouraged to actively seek opportunities to collaborate with external partners
  • To use your research findings and outcomes to form a unique approach to your work
  • Seminars, tutorials, crits, lectures and workshops
  • To identify the target audience for your project
  • To submit a research portfolio and project proposal
  • To write a 4000-5000 word research paper

Unit 3 - Synthesising research and implementation of practice

The final unit of the course will focus on the production of your personal project.

  • To present work in the college postgraduate show
  • To submit a professional statement, research portfolio, project proposal and resolved body of work

Learning and teaching methods

  • Group and individual tutorials
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Off-site visits to studios and manufacturers
  • Optional projects with external partners
  • Professional development
  • Student-led crits
  • Visiting practitioner lectures and workshops
  • Workshop inductions

Assessment methods

  • Contextual and evaluative writing
  • Exhibition
  • Presentations
  • Project proposal
  • Reflective journal
  • Research portfolio
  • Writing on critical practice

Staff

How to apply

Opportunities for all

We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
  • Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio of work

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • The ability and competence to: creatively formulate and develop design concepts; and to clearly organise and present your ideas.
  • Demonstrable affinities to materials and processes
  • Demonstrable interest and involvement in material-based practice with a consideration of associated historical, social and cultural contexts
  • Evidence of proactive engagement with the critical debate around designer maker practice
  • Demonstrable ability and capacity for self-reflection
  • Ambition and aspiration for higher level of practice and research

Making your application

Personal statement

This should be about 500 words long and include:

  • Your reasons for choosing the course
  • Your current creative practice and how this will help with your future plans
  • If you do not have any formal academic qualifications please describe your relevant education and experience

Portfolio advice

The portfolio should show the following:

  • A range of work that demonstrates technical skills and documentations of material experimentations and model making, showing complete design development process
  • Examples of professional and or industry experience if appropriate
  • A coherent selection of work which demonstrates a selective approach, that focuses on the work and skills relevant to the proposed MA project
  • Work that demonstrates a close understanding of material qualities and processes which may form the basis of your research

Applications will open shortly, please continue to check for updates

Application deadline

Home/EU applicant period may stay open until midday Thursday 30 July 2020.

Although we advise you to apply sooner than this. Some courses are very popular and may close to applicants early.

Postgraduate transfers:

If you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at Camberwell College of Arts, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible. Further information can be found in our UAL External Student Transfer Policy.

Deferred entry application:

This course will consider deferred entry applications. If you are interested in requesting a deferral, you can only request this if you are successful at application.

What happens next

Communicating with you

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Initial application check

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to submit a mini portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

Mini portfolio

The portfolio should show the following:

  • Approximately 10 to 30 images of your work that provide a good overview of your creative practice
  • Show a selection of your work that is relevant to your application. This can include both finished work and examples of your research and development
  • For video, sound or web based work please provide links
  • Where appropriate include captions or short explanations that give context for your work. If you have worked on any group projects explain your role
  • Provide indications of the size and media used. If you are invited for interview you will need to show original work

Following the review of the mini portfolio we select applicants to move on to the next stage of the process. These applicants will be invited to an interview selection event.

Interview Selection Event

You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the academics conducting the event. Please be prepared to talk about your work, what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.

More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.

Selection for Home/EU applicants happens in a variety of different ways:

  • In person at Camberwell College of Arts
  • By phone or Skype

If you choose phone or Skype your mini portfolio that you uploaded via UAL’s online portfolio review system will be used during the interview.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.

Please note that applications made to this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

Applications will open shortly, please continue to check for updates

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course at Camberwell College of Arts:

  • Through one of our official representatives in your country
  • By direct application

Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

Application deadline

International applicant period may stay open until midday Thursday 30 July 2020.

Although we advise you to apply sooner than this. Some courses are very popular and may close to applicants early.

Postgraduate transfers:

If you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at Camberwell College of Arts, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible. Further information can be found in our UAL External Student Transfer Policy.

Deferred entry application:

This course will consider deferred entry applications. If you are interested in requesting a deferral, you can only request this if you are successful at application.

What happens next

Communicating with you

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Initial application check

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to submit a mini portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

Mini portfolio

The portfolio should show the following:

  • Approximately 10 to 30 images of your work that provide a good overview of your creative practice
  • Show a selection of your work that is relevant to your application. This can include both finished work and examples of your research and development
  • For video, sound or web based work please provide links
  • Where appropriate include captions or short explanations that give context for your work. If you have worked on any group projects explain your role
  • Provide indications of the size and media used. If you are invited for interview you will need to show original work

Following the review of the mini portfolio we select applicants to move on to the next stage of the process. These applicants will be invited to an interview selection event.

Interview Selection Event

You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the academic conducting the event. Please be prepared to talk about your work, what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.

More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.

Selection for international applications are available in a variety of different ways:

  • By phone or Skype
  • In your country, if your application was made through one of our official representatives
  • In person at Camberwell College of Arts

If you choose phone or Skype your mini portfolio that you uploaded via UAL’s online portfolio review system will be used during the interview.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.

Please note that applications made to this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.


Fees & Funding

Home / EU fee

£11,220 (2020/21).

International fee

£22,920 (2020/21).

Course fees may be paid in instalments.

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.

Scholarships and awards

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Careers and alumni

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Contact

  • Telephone: +44 (0)20 7514 6302

Address

  • Camberwell College of Arts
  • 45 - 65 Peckham Road
  • London
  • SE5 8UF

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