Master of Arts in
Product Design
Course length
12 or 16 months
Start
January
Language
English
Where
Milan
Master of Arts in Product Design with Advanced Practice
Self-Production and Entrepreneurship
The Master of Arts in Product Design offers a unique and distinctive course of study designed for aspiring Product and Industrial designers who wish to work in the Self and Mass Production sector.
The course aims at providing useful techniques and tools to understand the product chain for the creation of a quality object, taking into consideration the dynamics behind the design of an object such as materials, aesthetics, different production processes, consumer behaviour and new available technologies.
Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience, graduates will be able to excel in a dynamic field of product design and will be able to start their own start-up, become a true entrepreneur able to initiate collaborations with a big companies or take on leadership roles and promote innovation in the sector.
Features
The Master of Arts in Product Design, which focuses on tangible design ranging from mass production to self-production, motivates students to conceive and realise products that are harmoniously integrated in the real context, promoting a dialogue between their creations, the social and cultural environment without forgetting the concept of sustainability in the product chain.
At the same time, the programme equips the student with fundamental knowledge and skills, from comprehending material resources and production processes to mastering artisanal techniques and explore the new techniques provided by artificial intelligence software.
Fundamental for students is the opportunity to do an internship within a company where they will have the chance to see and make a real projects, started from the idea to its realisation.
In addiction, the programme equips the student with fundamental knowledge and skills, from comprehending material resources and production processes to mastering artisanal techniques.
Method
The Master of Arts in Product Design is based on a strategy learning by doing aimed at nurturing creative talent through the acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.
Its main objectives are:
- Equip the student with the essential knowledge, method, and skills needed to excel in design industries, placing a central emphasis on empowering you to become a successful Designer-Producer.
- To provide students with the ability to tell about themselves and their work as product and industrial designers (module makers and markets) and how to become a product designer by themselves and work in a company.
- Enhance effective decision-making abilities in addressing complex creative challenges through hands-on practice.
- Provide a robust methodology, enabling the student to proficiently manage and implement the entire process of bringing objects to life, while also actively contributing into the cultural debate and innovation within the field of product design.
To be admitted into the Master of Arts course, students must have a second class (2.2) honours or higher in art, design, or other creative disciplines from any recognised ISCED level 6 programme. Graduates in scientific disciplines, social sciences, and humanities can also be selected, as well as candidates who have previously gained significant professional experience in the field of the Master selected.
SPD also considers other relevant experience and/or the attendance of SPD Preparatory Courses. In addition, international students need an IELTS score of 6.0, with no component below 5.5.
After the successful completion of the Master’s programme, eligible students can earn the Master of Arts degree, awarded with 180 UK credits (corresponding to 90 ECTS credits). The Master of Arts Courses are accredited by Teesside University, SPD’s Educational Partner. The standard programme (without Advanced Practice) awards a total of 180 UK credits (90 ECTS), while the version with Advanced Practice awards 240 UK credits (120 ECTS).
The Internship/Advanced Practice pathway offers numerous significant advantages, making it an ideal choice for those who wish to maximize their education and gain high-level practical experience. This programme includes not only an internship but also the Major Project.
The 15-week module is a unique opportunity to experience a first taste of the professional or academic life ahead of you and to test the knowledge and skills acquired in your studies. Only students enrolled in the 2-years programme can take this module.
During this semester, you have the option to choose from three opportunities:
- a professional experience in a real workplace environment (internship);
- an in-depth exploration of a particularly significant study topic through a research project within the school, in collaboration with a company (project work);
- an experience of personal and cultural growth through a period of study in a different institution (study abroad period).
The Major Project is the final individual research project that will allow you to investigate a specific topic at a high level, within a proposed research framework or project brief.
This project not only represents the culmination of your education but also marks the beginning of your professional career.
With the Major Project you will, indeed, have the opportunity to gain genuine project experience at the professional level, and when the project involves collaboration with companies, your ideas, if deemed of particular interest, may become the subject of further development that will make your resume competitive in the relevant industry.
After completion of the Master of Arts in Product Design at SPD, you are ready to embark on a career in various fields, including:
- Autonomous Product Designer
- Product Designer in a company
- Self-Entrepreneur
- Design-process manager
| YEAR | SUBJECTS | UK CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| First Year |
Mass Production Learn to design a mass product by articulating its quality aspects, balancing functional, physical, technical, aesthetic-formal, and communicative characteristics.
|
20 |
|
Small Series Explore the symbiotic relationship between galleries and designer, focusing on crafting small series of products that aspire to blend ethics and market dynamics.
|
40 | |
|
Self-Made Production This module is a journey into the knowledge of Self-Made Production and the complex process of transforming ideas into tangible products.
|
20 | |
|
Makers and Markets The Makers and Markets is a module designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills of the business aspects necessary to succeed in the product design industry.
|
40 | |
| Second Year |
Advanced Practice Experience either a vocational internship with external institutions and companies, an internal research internship, or a period of study abroad.
|
60 |
|
Major Project Develop your own design research under the guidance of the Course Leader.
|
60 |
*The study plans, including laboratory activities, may be subject to updates.
Partners
Faculty
See the projects realised during the course
Course highlights
