MA Design (Jewellery and Metalwork)

Attendance

Full-time, Part-time

Full time – 12 months or 16 months including summer
Part-time – typically two to three years

Starts September

When studying part-time, you follow a similar study pattern to full-time. You share some teaching with full-time students, as well as attending evening seminars.

At a glance

Study jewellery and metalwork at an advanced level and develop your talents for designing and making. You will be challenged to think differently about design and creatively push the boundaries of your discipline whilst developing the skills needed to become an imaginative and versatile designer who can operate independently or as a member of a team. Your studies are project led and develop through researching, designing, producing and exhibiting your work. Your projects are supported by lecturers who are specialists in this varied and diverse subject area.

Key points
• Develop your skills and aspirations to undertake lead roles in the wide area of jewellery and metalwork design and production.
• Give your design understanding the edge by applying the findings of specialist research conducted by our staff.
• Work on live research and practice based projects that may be undertaken in conjunction with user communities, international and regional business.
• If available, take advantage of industrial sponsorship schemes.

About this course

If you are a highly motivated individual this course will prepare you for a career working at the forefront of this creative discipline. You build upon existing craft traditions, extending them in response to the needs of our rapidly changing society both in terms of function and style.

Your work on the course is project led and studio based. You develop and apply advanced skills using traditional and new technologies in the field. You also carry out research through practical and theoretical investigation.

You have access to a huge range of creative resources to experiment and engage with including • 3D printing for rapid prototyping • state-of-the-art hardware and software • photography studios • a creative media centre • a gallery • well-equipped workshops.

You also have access to our award-winning learning centre featuring a specialist art, design and media library and extensive online resources.

Your individual project work includes research and creative work which explores your study topic. This is supported by lectures and seminars dealing with professional practice issues and reviewing progress. You also take part in regular group and individual tutorials.

This culminates with your final project that demonstrates you can deal with difficult contemporary questions and take a leading role in your profession as a designer.

You benefit from a strong relationship between the masters design programme and the University’s Art and Design Research Centre which has gained international recognition for its work in both practice-based and strategic research. This has led to an approach to postgraduate study in design which emphasises the role of research in professional practice.

During the course you regularly take part in constructive critical debates about your own work and that of your peers. You need to communicate your research, ideas and designs in ways that are appropriate to professional leadership.

We support the course with excellent technical resources and teachers who have international standing as designers and researchers.

Sheffield: an international centre for excellence in metalwork
Sheffield is famous not only for its innovative steel and tool industries but also for being at the leading edge of the design and production of contemporary metalwork, silversmithing and tableware.

There are also residential study trips at home and abroad, complemented by visits to design conferences and debates.

Industrial sponsorship
Sometimes we are able to obtain sponsorship from an industrial company. Usually this is linked to a particular design problem that the company would like to investigate.

We are normally asked to shortlist applicants before recommending a small number to apply. If this happens, we consider your interview, portfolio of work, academic qualifications and learning aims. We aim to pick those whose abilities and aims are relevant for the company and who are most likely to be successful in a competitive interview.

Associated careers

There are many opportunities for employment or self-employment in jewellery and metalwork. This course encourages you to take an enterprising approach and to strengthen your ability to develop your own business practice.

An increasing number of our graduates in this field are undertaking further advanced study through research degrees (PhD) in the University’s Art and Design Research Centre, which has a leading position in the advancement of creative practice in design. Some of our graduates find employment in the University.

Sheffield is home to the largest concentration of creative production in Yorkshire and Humberside. Support for creative industries in the city has encouraged a talent base from home grown talent as well as practitioners relocating here.

Course content

You mainly focus on individual project work. You propose an area for investigation and complete practical, theoretical and creative work around this area.

Research project
You complete a research and design project on a theme set by your academic tutors. The theme is either a live brief or chosen for its significance or relevance to contemporary focussed design practice. You work to the same themed brief as other MA Design students, attending lectures and seminars that support the project, but you complete the project in your chosen discipline.

Live research and practice
You work on live research and practice based projects that may be undertaken in conjunction with user communities, international and regional business, third sector, institutions and organisations or carried out in close cooperation with the Art and Design Research Centre, research active teaching staff, the commercial consulting centres within Design Futures or the Research Innovation Office (Knowledge Transfer Partnerships).

You also study two modules in • research methods for art and design • creativity, innovation and professionalism.

Assessment

Assessment and feedback are vital parts of the learning process in creative disciplines. Most assessment is through individual project work which combines research and creative practice.

Entry requirements

Normally you need

• a 2.2 degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline or significant relevant experience

• appropriate study plans, including an indication of possible project topics and clear, appropriate and realistic learning aims

• a high level of creative ability, as evidenced by a portfolio of work

• ability to discuss design issues critically and confidently

If English is not your first language you typically need an IELTS 6.0 score with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Fees

Home and EU students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £4,590 for the course
Part-time study should be calculated pro rata.

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £10,980 for the course

2014/15 academic year

Typically £11,250 for the course

How to apply

Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form.

For information on applying, the interview process and your portfolio, open the application support media box.

Contact details

For further information please contact the Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 5179 or email aces-helpdesk@shu.ac.uk