Design Studies M.A.

Design Studies cover the study of the produced and the artificial, and of the manufacture, perception and effect of artefacts. They consider the theoretical and practical framework conditions of planning, designing and forming – and the consequences of these conditions. Within the Design faculty and in the context of design training, the disciplines of History of Design and Architecture, Design Theory and Psychology of Design make up the Design Studies department. Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Aesthetics and Art Philosophy represent additional training course elements that form part of the teaching of theoretical design fundamentals.

This course in Design Studies – which is unique up to now in Germany – is aimed at graduates who already have a first degree and who wish specialise further in their chosen discipline by engaging in additional area-specific study. Prospective candidates who already have an academic or design/practical qualification may apply.

Der in Deutschland bislang einzigartige designwissenschaftliche Masterstudiengang Design Studies wendet sich an Absolvent*innen, die bereits einen ersten Studienabschluss erlangt haben und die entsprechende Disziplin durch zusätzliche fachspezifische Studien im Bereich der Designwissenschaften vertiefen wollen. Bewerben können sich sowohl Interessierte, die auf eine erworbene wissenschaftliche Qualifikation verweisen können, als auch solche, die einen gestalterisch-praktischen Studienabschluss vorzuweisen haben.

Teaching concept

Master’s students can select their semester projects from a range of options offered in the course. They work here with students from the final semesters in the bachelor’s programme on problems in the same areas; the master’s students, however, have tasks with a different focus. Master’s students may also suggest their own project topics in consultation with their professors.

A particular feature of the contribution of the Psychology of Design area to the overall course elements in Design Studies is that only one advanced module is offered per semester. This module is compulsory and is structured with the Design Studies master’s course in mind. Students from other courses may only take this module under certain circumstances.

Prerequisites

This course in Design Studies – which is unique up to now in Germany – is aimed at graduates who already have a first degree and who wish specialise further in their chosen discipline by engaging in additional area-specific study. Prospective candidates who already have an academic or design/practical qualification may apply.

Aim of the course

It is intended that graduates of this course in Design Studies will be capable of analysing and interpreting the broad spectrum of areas that fall under the umbrella term of ‘design’ using academic methods and that they will be able to integrate these into their corresponding contexts. In addition, the course will contribute to the introduction of planning and creative skills into disciplines that are not necessarily characterised by design. It should also help with the establishment of practical design skills through theoretical background knowledge and with reflection upon and optimisation of these skills. The formal structure and content focus of the course of study are oriented towards the backgrounds and intentions of the students. The curriculum of the master’s course in Design Studies is focused on intensive guidance and fostering of the participants.

The teaching areas that make up the Design Studies master’s course deal mainly with the following areas: history and perspectives of design and architecture and its reception; theories of artefacts, planning and media; perception and behaviour research; and the scientific methodology of the subject areas involved. In addition, design management and pragmatism, the ecological theory and practice of sustainability in design and – last but not least – aesthetics and philosophical fundamentals play a significant role in the structuring of the course. The main focuses of the course – particularly in its practical components – can be selected by the students themselves in certain areas.

Course of study

The master’s course in Design Studies takes four semesters. The three leading design study disciplines here – History of Design and Architecture, Psychology of Design and Design Theory – deal with three specialist focal areas to which the topics of the course elements can be assigned.

The following higher-level or accompanying course elements can also be identified: activities in the area of fundamentals (seminars on text theory and creativity technique) or external elective subjects (lectures on sustainability, philosophy, history of aesthetics and theory of art). The Design Studies master’s colloquium for all three disciplines – each with its own topic areas here – serves as an accompanying element for the entire course of study.

In addition, it is recommended that students attend the relevant foundation lectures of the individual subjects, as the basic knowledge taught in these is assumed in the thesis and it also provides the required supplementary fundamental knowledge for the seminar and project studies.In the two middle semesters, two practical projects will also be completed; students are free to structure these as they wish in consultation with teaching staff. The course of study may also be supplemented by diverse course elements from module areas in design or related subjects or from practical areas.

In the final semester, students work on a comprehensive master’s thesis on an individual design topic from the area of Design Studies in consultation with teaching staff.

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Prerequisites

The Design Studies master’s course at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle is aimed explicitly at graduates of bachelor’s or ‘Diplom’ courses with an artistic/design emphasis and at academics whose focal area lies in history, philosophy, theory and psychology – in short: the culture of artefacts in general. All applicants have to take a course-specific entrance test; interested graduates of other disciplines who have relevant qualifications may also be admitted to a master’s course after taking this test. Most courses also require proof of relevant practical placements or comparable practical experience along with this test.

• Ansprechpartner*innen

• Prof. Dr. Veronica Biermann
  +49 (0) 345 7751-884
  Prof. Dr. Pablo Abend
  +49 (0) 345 7751-884
  Prof. Dr. Martin Grunwald (Gastprofessor)
  +49 (0)345 7751-881
  ed.ellah-grub@seidutsngised

• Ansprechpartner*innen Hochschule

• Dezernat studentische und akademische Angelegenheiten
  Studieninformation
  T +49 (0)345 7751-532
  F +49 (0)345 7751-517
  ed.ellah-grub@ofniduts

• Regelstudienzeit

• 2 bis 4 Semester, Masterthesis im letzten Semester

• Kosten

• Keine Studiengebühren

• Registrierung

• Online-Anmeldung zur Masterbewerbung ist vom 1.April bis 15.Mai für das folgende Wintersemester möglich.