Masters Design

The role of designers has changed dramatically in recent years, expanding their opportunities and responsibilities for action and relationships, which now go far beyond the usual media. The MA in Design focuses on building preferable futures, exploring publishing practices in an expanded manner. Revolving around the idea of Publishing Futures, the verb ¿publish¿ is used as a strategy to make public issues and problems that are pressing in contemporary societies. The study program is developed around classes or conferences, performances and installations in galleries and museums, new and old types of printing and reproduction, cinema/video, social networks or virtual reality and AI technologies, without forgetting the ancestry of paper publishing. This is a MA degree explores the challenges of design practice from different perspectives of research, creativity and imagination, as ways of understanding a world in permanent change, offering students countless practical experiences through forums as pertinent as: Geographies and Food, Climates and Culture, Communities and Publishing, Archives and Futures. This innovative program is the second phase of the pedagogical strategy initiated in the BA Communication Design, as a teaching-learning-sharing platform that critically analyzes design as a discipline undergoing profound transitions, exploring different collaborative pedagogical models, and approaching design beyond its disciplinary margins.

Candidates are eligible to apply for the master's degree program if they fall into one of the following categories: a) Holders of a bachelor's degree or equivalent; b) Holders of a foreign academic degree obtained following a first-cycle of studies organized according to the principles of the Bologna Process by a participating country; c) Holders of a recognized foreign higher academic degree that satisfies the objectives of a bachelor's degree, as determined by the competent statutory body; d) Individuals with an educational, scientific, or professional background recognized by the competent statutory body of the CUP as demonstrating the capacity to undertake this study cycle. Selection criteria: 25% previous qualification (Bachelor Certificate Grade) + 75% Interview and CV/portfolio assessment. For candidates without a degree or qualification grade, the interview will be weighted at 100%.

This program is open to applications from designers, artists and agents from the cultural and communications sector, at various stages of their practice and career, as well as candidates from sciences, humanities, politics, economics, sociology and other fields that intersect ¿ or can benefit from ¿ the interdisciplinarity and collaborative dynamics of contemporary design practice.

Gemma Copeland Justin Roborg-Söndergaard Inês Neto dos Santos Paul Bailey

This MA establishes links with the market through opportunities such as lectures and debates with guests from inside and outside of academia, feedback from institutional and creative industry partners, mentoring and tutoring, project development and an internship program. It teaches skills that are highly transferable, aiming to lead to careers in the broad sectors of content publishing and the creative industries, focusing on a broad audience, as well as developing tools to collaborate with other disciplines. It offers the opportunity to take part in real projects with established partners in publishing such as publishers, design studios, museums, galleries and associations.

This MA prepares students for future studies by introducing and consolidating a research culture. This implies the acquisition of research methodologies, as well as an articulation of the institutions and infrastructures that support these activities (i.e. publishers, museums, archives, cultural associations, creative industries). Therefore, student-researchers will be prepared for future studies such as postgraduate courses, fellowships, residencies and doctorates.

The MA in Design takes place at Delli, a central space for work, collaboration, learning and knowledge sharing. It provides students with different means of production that can be used during and beyond the class schedule. Modern technologies stand out, such as 2D/3D printing, laser cutting, plotters, risography, digital photocopiers, digital drawing on Cintiqs and 3D workstations, motion capture and VR, which coexist with the most established printing techniques: letterpress, screen printing, mimeographs, needle printers or fax machines. This is where most of the practical and theoretical courses are taught. It is also where extracurricular activities are promoted, organized and programmed by the students (seminars, reading sessions, cinema, performances, etc.). At the same time, the MA in Design benefits from taking place in a university campus that has a multiplicity of knowledge areas, activities and facilities.

The academic staff of the MA in Design is made of a group of researchers working in areas that inform the program, such as: design history, design criticism, design and ecology, community practices and pedagogy. With an international dimension and a vast network of contacts and partnerships, the work developed in this program seeks to transfer knowledge and methods to students, working as peers.

The MA in Design runs on an after-work basis, from Monday to Friday.