The National College
Postgraduate Study in Design: MA & PhD
On this page:
Further pages in this sub-section (also accessible from left-hand navigation bar): Areas of Study in Design
- PhD through practice in Design
- Master of Art (MA) through practice in Design
- Department of Ceramics, Glass & Metals
- Department of Fashion & Textiles
- Department of Industrial Design
- Department of Visual Communication
- Contact Information
Introduction: Research through Design
The Design Faculty has always maintained a very high-level of engagement with the broader contexts of design, craft, art and industry beyond the College, and has developed many partnership projects and collaborations testing out new design solutions and challenges. The Design Faculty is the academic centre with the greatest concentration of design researchers and practitioners in the state and has multiple crossover links into industry and the design world. Members of the Faculty are represented and active in all aspects of design ranging from innovative product development initiatives to high level presentations at international conferences, from the production of unique works of excellence to the construction of ambitious long-range design solutions.
In support of the research culture of the Faculty, staff present, participate and organise international exhibitions, conferences and seminars, they are involved in developing dynamic high profile international visiting lecturer programmes, they organises international field trips and study visits. Recent field trips have included visits to New York, Paris, Barcelona, Prague, and Amsterdam. Earlier this year (2005) the Faculty visited Florence for the Pitti Fillati/Pitti Imagine Fashion Textiles Yarn & Colour Forecasting Exhibition. Members of the Faculty have also recently participated in research workshos and seminars including the Doctoral Workshop at IADE Lisbon (2005). Students and staff avail of Erasmus Exchange programmes at postgraduate level.
New Programmes in Development
The College is currently developing new taught MA programmes which support professional practice and explore new and exciting pathways in design thinking, design practice and design cultures. The College is also collaborating with other institutions to develop alternative pathways in pursuing creative practice for designers, architects, artists, and creative professionals. If you would like to be informed of these new programme developments contact postgraduate@ncad.ie
Final Submissions
The final submission for a postgraduate programme will normally entail a combination of (1) preliminary research materials (e.g. drawings, photographs, sketchbooks, technical notes, and test pieces) (2) concrete outcomes (e.g. proof of concept work, prototypes, completed works) (3) a written text of 5,000 words for MA (or 20,000-to-40,000 words for PhD). This may comprise for example a case-study report on the work undertaken, an analysis of the outcomes, a contextualized statement of intent or a report that articulates the process and outcomes of the work or similar. The evolving nature of your practice will determine the exact nature of the outcomes and will be discussed with colleagues and your supervisor as work develops. An important consideration for all postgraduate students is the appropriate form for making the outcomes of their work publicly and professionally available (e.g. publication, exhibition, event, or symposium, application in industry or other.) While in the past exhibition has been a standard practice, students are increasingly encouraged to consider a range of modes of distribution and communication.
