MA Design Pathways

Which design skills are essential for working effectively across multiple knowledge systems? How are designers playing a role in reimagining how society might live in greater harmony with people and the planet? What are the ways in which we can design ecosystems that scale from local material selection to global, climate-aware digital distribution?

Arts University Plymouth’s MA Design is a cross-disciplinary platform for designers who want to develop their ideas and skills within the context of the broader social and environmental challenges that we face as contemporary citizens and creative leaders. Linked with current theoretical frameworks and embedded within cutting-edge resources that support your transition to more holistic, integrated and purposeful making, you will be immersed in a learning environment that is building the emergent and innovative ideas, services and solutions necessary for moving to a more circular and regenerative economy. Experiment in biomaterials and natural dye processes, develop prototypes within the largest digital fabrication lab in the south west UK and expand your professional networks through the university’s global partnerships, including with the Fab City Foundation network of over 2700 Fab Labs across the world. 

Applications are now open for MA Design pathways at Arts University Plymouth where you can select from five postgraduate routes of design study including fashion, textiles, built environment, communication, and an open design pathway focused on speculative design and design systems. Build an independent, iterative body of work through making, research, subject specific seminars, peer critiques and exhibitions.

Regardless of which MA Design pathway you choose, all routes share a common, three-Unit curriculum that facilitates a rigorous, cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas and a common commitment to your personal development as a designer. Units are structured to guide a contextual understanding of your ideas through a weekly series of core lectures, technical inductions and peer critiques led by established designers, cultural leaders, and social innovators. 

You are taught practice-led research and the digitally-based communication skills that will support your life-long professional development, preparing you for a role in a fast-paced, changing design world or to build your own design business as an independent studio designer.

MA Design explores interdisciplinary and speculative design through regenerative methods, life-cycle thinking and rapid prototyping, with access to the Natural Dye Lab, Biomaterials Lab, Materials Lab and Fab Lab South West.

MA Design (Communication) is for practitioners developing visual communication, brand-led projects and narrative artefacts across print, digital and spatial forms, supported by the Imprint Lab, Digital Print Bureau, Multimedia Studios and Equipment Resource Centre.

MA Design (Fashion) supports critical, research-led fashion practice shaped by systems-thinking, circular production and new material applications, with access to the Materials Lab, Biomaterials Lab, Sew Lab, CAD Lab and Fab Lab South West.

MA Design (Textiles) focuses on structured and printed textiles through bio-based materials, natural dyeing and digital technologies, with specialist access to the Natural Dye Lab, Embroidery Studio, Tufting Studio, Knitting Machines, Biomaterials Lab and Fab Lab South West.

MA Design (Built Environment) examines spatial design and urban transformation through co-design and practice-led research, with a focus on social wellbeing, circular production and bioregional material investigation. 

You will study within an interdisciplinary postgraduate community on a city-centre campus with more than 13,000 square metres of studios, labs and workshops across six buildings. Arts University Plymouth is the top-scoring specialist arts university in the UK in the National Student Survey 2022–2025, and Top 5 in the UK for creative facilities in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024 and 2025.

Study modes include either a one-year/full-time or two-years/part-time period of study.

Application requirements: To apply, you will be asked to submit a digital portfolio of work, a Personal Statement and Project Proposal. To find out more, explore the pathways and apply online, or book an informal conversation with a postgraduate course leader.

For questions about postgraduate study, contact postgraduate@aup.ac.uk.