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MA Ceramic Design
What’s it about?
• Designinnovationforsmallandmassmanufacture• ideasinceramicsandrelatedmaterials• productsfor-foodanddrink;interiors/tabletop; sanitarywareandcladding• ideasfor2Dsurface/patternand(or)3Dform/function• re-evaluating-redefining-challengingtheconvention.
Whatdoyoustudy?
• Formatandpresentation• CADCAM• 2Dceramics-associatedsurface/decoratingtechniques• 3Dceramics-model/mouldmaking,formingandfinishing• clientledbriefs• thecoreintegrationofprofessional,marketand commercialissues/factors• industrialplacementopportunities• engageinresearchandpracticetowardsa vocationalgoal.
MACeramicDesignGraduateemployment1992-2010
204graduates.
174(85%)indesignrelatedemployment.
141(81%)ofwhichinceramicindustriesWorldwide.
“It is no coincidence that as World Capital of Ceramics, Stoke-on-Trent is also home to one of the world’s leading postgraduate programmes in ceramic design.
Staffordshire University’s MA in Ceramic Design plays an important role in a key sector of the area’s economy. We are not only immensely proud of our ceramics heritage but also of the many successful creative businesses and individuals who are at the leading edge of ceramic design - producing a wide range of products including luxury tableware and decorative ceramics, tiling, bricks, sanitary ware and sophisticated medical devices.
Anyone serious about working in ceramics can be sure they will be at the heart of a vibrant and developing sector that is internationally recognised and has an extremely exciting and diverse future.”
Tom MacartneyManaging Director, North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership
“As the centre of English pottery manufacture, Stoke on Trent was the natural choice for me to further my professional career. The postgraduate programme at Staffordshire University lived up to my expectations, providing extensive access to key ceramic factories and services. Project briefs for the industry gave me real life experience within the field, designs accepted for manufacture now form my design portfolio.
The local ceramic museums and collections have provided an amazing resource to view both historical and contemporary ceramic work.
Opportunities to participate and exhibit at the leading international design fairs, Ambiente in Frankfurt and Maison & Objet in Paris, provided instant access into the commercial world of the international designer. Contacts made during these exhibitions have served to launch my career as a designer-producer.”
Evelyn GrantMA Ceramic Design graduate 2010
Then what?
• Freelancedesigner/produceretcconsultant; entrepreneur• Commercialstudiopractice-design;sales;marketing; buying• FE/HElecturing.
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MA Ceramic Design 2010
StaffordshireUniversity’sMAinCeramicDesignisrecognisedasoneoftheleadingpostgraduateprogrammesworldwideforitsworkinceramicdesignformanufacture.
TaughtinStoke-on-Trent,attheheartofthePotteries,thislong-establishedcourseconsistentlyproducescareer-readygraduatesthatareindemandbyleadingceramiccompaniesbothintheUKandoverseas.
Withworld-famousceramicmanufacturersquiteliterallyonthedoorstep,Stoke-on-Trentprovidesauniquevenueforthestudyofceramicdesign.
Studentsbenefitfromplacementopportunitieswithleadingnamesfromtheceramicsworldandenjoyenviableemploymentprospects.
Atthesametime,theUniversity’scloserelationshipwiththeceramicindustryismutuallybeneficialandisprimarilyresponsiblefortheuniquecharacterandinternationalreputationthecoursehasearned.
Professor David [email protected]
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Sarah-LouiseSmith
e:[email protected]:+44(0)7795364563www.sarah-louiseceramic.com
“Rose”forVistaAlegre2009
1918
AndreaWalsh
e:[email protected]:+44(0)7881627169www.andreawalsh.co.uk
(Artist in Residence in collaboration
with The British Ceramics Biennial
and Minton at WWRD Holdings Ltd.)
The Learning Experience-Course Curriculum
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Thecourseisorganisedonamodularbasis.Eachmodulewillhavespecificaimsandclearlydefinedlearningoutcomes.Insemester1thiswillnormallytaketheformofprescribeddesignprojectbriefsandthensubsequentlythroughnegotiatedpersonalprogrammesofstudy.Thesestrategiescentreonreflectivepractice,studentswillnormallyworkindividuallyoroccasionallyingroups,communicatingtheconclusionstoothersininteractivecritiques,witharangeofassessmentmethodsforminganintegralpartoftheeducationalprocess.
Semester1constitutestwodesign‘studio’basedmodules.Thefirstintroductorymodule“ToolsandTechniques”aimstoestablishacommonmethodologyandpracticeofceramicdesign.Thisisintroducedthroughaprescribedproject,whichwillservealsotoencouragetheacquisitionoftheoretical,technicalandpracticalknowledge,andseektodevelopskillsfrom‘traditional’crafttonewtechnologiesviaCADCAM.Thesecondmodule“CollaborativeBrief”introducestheactivityofworkingwithexternalclients.Thispracticeisfundamentaltothecoreaimsoftheprogramme.Fundamentalbusinessandprofessionalskillswillbeembeddedwithinsemester1inpreparationfortheFebruarytradefairvisits,notably“Maison&Objet”Parisand“Ambiente’”Frankfurt.Itisatthispointthatstudentswillbeexpectedtoengageinbusinessandcommercialdialogueandasaconsequenceinformanddriveindividualstudyinsemester2.
Shouldanindustrialworkplacementbedeemedappropriateandindeedpossible,thiswilltakeplaceduringsemester3,duringthesummer.TypicallystudentswillworkinthedesignstudioofamajorceramicmanufacturerwhocouldbelocatedintheUKoroverseas.Thisexperiencecanwhererelevantcontributetothesubsequentmastersprojectwork.ForsubmissionfortheawardofMA,studentswillundertakeamajorprojectthatshowsevidenceofasubstantiallevelofcreativityandinnovation.Itshouldsynthesisetheacquiredknowledgeandskillspreviouslygainedthroughasignificantbodyofdesignwork.TheMastersProjectwhichnormallytakesplaceinsemester4isavehiclethatexercisesandprovesthestudentsabilitytochoose,plan,manage,implementandcontextualiseaparticularprojectinthefieldofceramicdesign.Itisademandingundertaking,butwillprovideachallengingandrewardingplatformfromwhichtodevelopafuturecareer.
Studentswillnegotiatethesubjectandmethodologyoftheirprojectwiththecourseleader.Itmaybeappropriateinsomecasesforstudentstoenterintocloserdialoguewithbusinessandcommerceandtoworkdirectlyincollaborationwithparticularcompanies.Aprojectproposalwithobjectivesestablishedjointlywithinterimsupportfromcompanyrepresentativesasapplicable.
Theglobalindustryandasaconsequencethemarketplacehasbeenthesubjectofmajorevolutionarychangeinrecentyears.Thishasprompteddebateamongstthecourseteamincontinuingtoofferacoherentacademicprogrammeofcontemporaryrelevance.Studentsareencouragedtoconsiderthisdevelopmenttopursuenewandinnovativeideas,redefiningestablishedceramicdesignandmarketprinciples.Theseideasmaybelessweddedtotheimmediateperceivedneedsofindustryandforthemassmarket.Asaconsequenceencouragingstudentstotakeawiderperhapsmoreentrepreneurial,enterprisingstandpoint,workingasdesigner-producersforexampleengagingwithsmalltomediumsizedmanufacturers/factoriesindevelopingcontemporary‘aspirational’productsaimedpotentiallyatnewanddifferentnichemarkets.Thereisabalancetobetakenherewithstaffandstudentscontinuallyreviewingshort-term‘vocational’employabilityobjectivesagainstafuture(longerterm)speculativeapproach.
Insemester2thedesignpractice‘studio’module“ProfessionalPathways”requiresyoutonegotiatewithcoursestaffyourownprogrammeofdesignresearchandpractice.Thiswillbuilduponthefoundationofsemester1andprepareyouforpotentialindustrialplacementopportunitiesinsemester3orformulatelogicalprojectproposalsappropriateforalternativeprofessionalaspirations.Runningconcurrentlywillbeacontextual,theoreticalstudymodule.“Creativity&Innovation”willencouragestudentstoconsideravarietyofbusinessandenterpriseactivitieswithinwhichtheircreativedesignpracticemaylogicallylocate.Thiswillprovidestudentswiththeappropriateknowledge,acumenandenterprisingskillsrelatedtotheirproposedcareerinprofessionaldesignpractice.
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An exceptional course
“The experience gained on the course prepares the student for the ‘real world’ and puts them higher on the employment ladder. As a potential employer I look for designers with this kind of experience, designers who understand their material, the design process and manufacturing disciplines and can apply them within a commercial environment.”
Simon StevensMA External Examiner 2009
Commencing mid-September 2010, the MA Ceramic Design course has been created to give talented individuals the knowledge, skills and acumen to succeed in professional design-related practice.
If you are experienced in the areas of ceramics, crafts, product design, textiles, surface pattern design or graphics and have an entrepreneurial spirit, we would like to hear from you.
A priceless opportunity
• 32%ofallUKceramicsemployersand60%ofemployeesarebasedinNorthStaffordshire.The ceramicssector’sannualgrossaddedvaluecontributiontotheUKeconomyisaround£650m.
• Theareahasover350ceramics-basedbusinessesemployingaround7000peopleand providingonequarterofallceramics-basedjobsintheUK.
• Theareaisakeydestinationforpotteryandceramicstouristswithanestimated3.6 million tourismvisitsperyear,includingaround34,000fromoverseasvisitors.
• ThePotteries MuseumandArtGalleryinStoke-on-Trenthousesoneoftheworld’sfinestand mostextensivecollectionsofStaffordshirepottery.Allofthecollectionsinthismuseumare DesignatedCollectionsofnationalimportance.
• In2009WedgwoodMuseumwasawardedThe Art Fund Prizeforthemostoriginalmuseumor artgalleryoftheyear.TheprizeistheUK’slargestsingleartprizeandthemostprestigious awardinthemuseumworld.
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How to apply
Applications can be made on-line, on our website www.staffs.ac.uk, follow the link to ‘postgraduate study’ and ‘how to apply’. You will find all relevant information here, including course fees.
For more information, please contact:Professor David Sandersone: [email protected]: [email protected]
Companies that have supported the MA Ceramic Design course during the past year through placements, material donations, collaborative projects and services include:
AynsleyChina,BritishCeramicsBiennial,BritishEuropeanDesignGroup,CaverswallChina,ChurchillChina,DenbyPotteryCo,DigitalCeramicSystems,DudsonHotelware,RoyalDoulton,StephanieWoodDesign,StudioLevien,ValentineClays,VistaAlegreAtlantis,WedgwoodandYorkshireFlowerpotCompany.
Why study MA Ceramic Design with us?
• Stoke-on-TrentisthecentreoftheUKceramics industry
• Theopportunityweofferisuniqueandsupported by substantial world of work facilities
• Nocoursematerialcosts
• Paidworkplacementopportunities
• Remunerationforyourcommercialdesignwork
• GainvaluableCAD,entrepreneurial,businessand employment skills
• Exhibityourworkatamajorinternationaltradefair
MA Ceramic Design
Faculty of Arts, Media and DesignPO Box 660StaffordshireUniversityCollege RoadStoke-on-TrentST4 2XN
t: 01782 294415e: [email protected]/amdwww.staffs.ac.uk/ceramicprospects
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher and copyright holder.
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