MASTER OF ARTS and MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREES

    (Page is for ARCHIVE purposes only)

    The Faculty of Art & Design of De Montfort University offers Masters degrees across a wide range of subjects.
    A new area of research is into 4D Design.

    TABLE

    Classification of Design

    Whether you are an industrial designer,information designer, multimedia specialist, performance artist, design manager, or an engineer you can contribute to growing design research into 4D design:

    Information design of 'intelligent' consumer products, eg washing machine interfaces.
    Industrial design of animatronic consumer products eg articulated coffee makers.
    Use of 'smart' materials and structures eg thermochromic fabrics.
    Interactive information product design eg telematic road sign message displays,
    Informative, in contrast to entertaining, World Wide Web site design.

    EXAMPLE: 4D Information design research

    The information design researcher deals with the forefront of design thinking concerning complex dynamic information and its use.

    Information designing involves design for both the real 'live' informational events such as conferences like the 4D Dynamics Conference, to the design of information for the Internet.

    Individual projects may include a variety of subject topics from teaching and learning materials for schools, product design focusing on information -eg.music synthesiser displays and their instruction manuals, research into'green' design, ethical advertising, community and business informationand graphic communications resulting in publications using all kinds of media.

    The creative design idea - its research and development is the focus of media use.

    Career opportunities for information designers with research experience are in all areas of design where information is required, such as electronic publishing, information for museum and trade exhibitions, commercial corporate graphics in all forms, and informative material for the information technology industries, such as interactive user-guides and computer manuals.

    THE PROGRAMME

    The standard programme is negotiable and there are a variety of part time modes. This Master of Philosophy programme of study is fully integrated within the school and the students benefit by being members of a large and international postgraduate student body, representing a broad range of experience in a variety of design disciplines.

    The study area for the major project may focus on the solution to a design problem; or on experimental or investigative research; or may be a combination of these approaches. Individual projects may include a variety of subject topics.

    SUPERVISION / ASSESSMENT

    Assessment of the major design research project will be based upon a thesis or design report and design work in any other form.

    CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

    Career opportunities for 4D designers with research experience are in all areas of design where 'dynamic forms' are required for information, artefacts, or 'services'. Imagination is required as this is a new area for professional design. The advantage is that graduates are few and can offer a unique perspective in a crowded job market for designers.

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

    Applications will be considered from graduates or from holders of graduate-equivalent professional qualifications. They will normally be persons from design or education/training backgrounds. The course has a bias towards the understanding of a design research problem in depth and it is therefore essential to have an aptitude for investigation. Applicants may be requested to submit evidence of both analytical and creative work.

    APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

    Application should be made direct to the University. Selection is by interview. Overseas students would need to provide slides, videos, disks and evidence of written work.


    For further information on 4D design research please contact
    Alec Robertson, MA(RCA) Design Research, MCSD, FRSA,
    Faculty of Art & Design,
    De Montfort University,
    The Gateway,
    Leicester LE1 9BH.

    Electronic mail:
    OR go direct to The MA by Independent Study Unit


    What is 4D Design

    Paper on 4D Design by Alec Robertson