Master of Design

Overview

The Master of Design is designed for students who have a deep interest in pursuing meaningful and useable design that compels, informs and delights. The course focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration and uses a dynamic, project-based, studio learning environment to expand professional capability. Students will be empowered to enhance existing expertise or extend their knowledge into new areas of interest across the broad field of design. The nexus between research and practice underpins the program as students develop research-led design solutions or explore design-led research. The Master of Design will equip students with knowledge to become strategic design leaders in their field.

In the Master of Design students undertake a Core stream which is research and practice-based, and one of two interdisciplinary industry-connected streams. The Applied Design stream focuses on design practice and entrepreneurship, and the Design Factory Melbourne stream focusses on design innovation and strategy. In the final year all students undertake a supervised research-informed and design practice-based Major Project which consolidates and integrates their learning from across the course into a substantial professional-quality design outcome. 

^ Students are unable to enrol directly into the Graduate Diploma of Design but it is available as an exit award.

Aims and objectives

The Master of Design enables mastery in design and enhances the skills, knowledge and capabilities for professional practice and management in a broad range of design fields.

Upon successful completion of the Master of Design, graduates will be able to:

• generate high-level concepts and highly refined, detailed design outcomes and/or prototypes to professional standards 

• critically evaluate and interpret current and future design practices in relation to social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts

• analyse and synthesise complex conceptual and technical information to inform independent research and apply to design projects

• critique and interpret theoretical propositions and methodologies, using design research principles and communication skills

• implement agile, strategic thinking and evaluative judgement in the design process, including collaboration, experimentation, creative problem-solving and decision-making. 

Career opportunities

Graduates will have industry level skills and basic research abilities enabling them to find employment in senior or strategic roles in design companies and other organisations as designers or in research roles. Entrepreneurial graduates may be able to start their own business ventures. Graduates will also have the ability to move into further study at PhD level.

Graduate skills

The Swinburne Graduate Attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching courses assist all its graduates to be:

• capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas

• entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community

• effective and ethical in work and community situations 

• adaptable and able to manage change

• aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing.

Professional recognition

Upon completion of this qualification students may be eligible to become a member of the Design Institute of Australia, Australian Graphic Design Association or Design Management Institute but should confirm eligibility with the association.