Master of Design
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
The Master of Design is designed for students from a range of design or related fields. The course emphasises a mix of interdisciplinary collaboration and provides a project-based, studio environment. Students enhance their expertise within a chosen design field, including visual communication design, industrial design, interior architecture and digital media design. They also broaden their skills and knowledge in design practice, 3D printing, interaction design, design management, computer-aided design and visualisation tools.
Students develop the professional capabilities and knowledge to become leaders in their field, as well as skills and strategies that enable them to be accomplished practitioners. They may also undertake study in related areas, including business innovation, marketing and media. Students have the option to participate in study tours and projects with Design Factory Melbourne.
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Duration
2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates
Study modes
- Full-time,
- Part-time
2023 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
27 February 2023
Semester 2 -
31 July 2023
2024 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
26 February 2024
Semester 2 -
29 July 2024
Student work
Co-designing the future of cinema
By tapping into the current cinema experience, Swinburne’s Master of Design students are investigating the future of cinema entertainment using co-designing techniques with movie-lovers.
Working with Village Cinemas, students are redesigning cinema entry points, collaborating with dating sites and even creating collectable movie tickets for attendees.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
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.
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Master of Design, students must complete 200 credit points comprising:
- 4 Core units (100cps)
- 4 units from either Applied Design Stream or Design Factory Melbourne Stream (100cps).
A unit of study can only be counted once.
Units of study
Design Core units
Students must complete 100 credit points of study from the following list of units:
DDD40001 Studio 1: Methods for Design Research (25 credit points)
DDD70019 Studio 3: Inclusive and Participatory Design (25 credit points)
DDD80024 Studio 5: Major Project* (25 credit points)
DDD80025 Studio 7: Major Project* (25 credit points)
Students must complete 100 credit points of study from either the Applied Design stream or the Design Factory Melbourne steam:
Applied Design Stream
Applied Design Stream
DDD60011 Studio 2: Design Principles (25 credit points)
DDD70020 Studio 4: Open Studio (25 credit points)
DDD80026 Studio 6: Design-led Research (25 credit points)
DDD80027 Studio 8: Applied Design* (25 credit points)
Design Factory Melbourne Stream (by application)
DDD60030 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 1 (25 credit points)
DDD70031 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 2 (25 credit points)
DDD80032 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 3 (25 credit points)
DDD80033 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 4 * (25 credit points)
* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives, graduate skills and professional recognition.
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.
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.
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.
Pathways and scholarships
- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Fees are estimates for students commencing in 2023 only: Tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year. Find out more about fees.
Entry requirements
Academic Entry Requirements
One of:
- Bachelor's degree in design or related field*; or
- Bachelor's degree in any discipline plus a minimum of three years relevant professional experience** in design or a related field*; or
- Completion of postgraduate studies*** (graduate certificate / graduate diploma) in design or related field*.
**Relevant professional experience must be documented in either a portfolio (see below) or a detailed CV (see below). Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.
***Students with a recognised Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma may only need to be complete 150 or 100 credit points, respectivel
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee offer of a place. See Admissions at Swinburne, for general information about admission process.The University may determine selection criteria and restrictions in respect of courses to apply in addition to these entry requirements. Other Requirements
Do I need to submit a Portfolio?
Applicants must submit a digital portfolio if:
- Applicants do not have an undergraduate degree in Design or a related-field (a detailed CV is an accepted alternative to a portfolio); or
- Applicants are seeking Advanced Standing (unit exemptions) outside of an agreed pathway or articulation agreement.
How to submit a portfolio:
To submit a digital portfolio, applicants will first need to complete their online application. They will then receive a communication as to how to provide a portfolio.
What is a detailed CV?
A detailed CV clearly details descriptions of design capability, experience, examples of applied design capability, and reference from a relevant professional attesting to capability.