MA Design and New Environments (MADNE)

School: Iceland University of the Arts (IUA) / Course: MA Design and New Environments (MADNE) / Location: Reykjavík, Iceland.

Course dates: August 2025 to May 2027 / Application deadline: April 22, 2025.

MA Design & New Environments—Designing for a Changing World
The MA Design & New Environments (MADNE) is a two-year, 120 ECTS international programme that explores how design can engage with new environments—the shifting landscapes of society, technology, culture, and ecology. These transformations call for new ways of thinking, critical inquiry, and creative approaches to rethink outdated systems, develop solutions, and navigate complex challenges at both local and global scales.

Through studio work, residencies, thematic seminars, and hands-on experimentation, students develop skills in design thinking, systems thinking, prototyping, and digital media to engage with pressing issues. The programme encourages independent exploration and collaborative exchange, integrating theory with practice.

Located in the North Atlantic, Iceland offers a unique context where proximity to nature, sustainable energy practices, and a tightly knit society provide a dynamic space for exploring local insights with global impact. Small cohorts ensure individual support and collaboration, allowing students to refine their design approaches while engaging across disciplines.

The programme welcomes candidates from design, architecture, fine arts, the humanities, sciences, and engineering who seek to expand their practice through design methodologies. Graduates pursue careers in design consultancy, environmental advocacy, social entrepreneurship, public sector innovation, and advanced research or PhD studies, or they establish independent practices.

Find out more about the course and apply here.