Professional Diploma in Digital Making

To be accepted into the programme, applicants must have completed an honours level 8 undergrad degree (achieving at least a 2:2) in a relevant and cognate discipline, or have an appropriate level of professional practice in the subject field or a related field.Students can be accepted onto the programme without the academic entry requirements outlined above. In such cases, applicants will need to demonstrate equivalent and relevant experience and/or formal learning.Students should apply to the programme with evidence of previous successful qualifications, statements of work-related achievement etc.

Students who have not been educated through English must show proof of achieving IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 in the writing section on the Academic Version) or an equivalent score in another accepted test.

This programme is ideal for creative practitioners who want to situate their practice within the digital making environment. It is well-suited for learners with a foundational literacy in digital design and making skills.

This programme provides a sound and strong basis for further education at MA level, in direct relation to contemporary creative practice and theory, and also within related fields.

The programme is designed to meet the needs of the digital making creative sector within and beyond Ireland. As such the constituent awards explicitly address key requirements identified in extensive discussions and research undertaken with industry partners and representative bodies such as the Arts Council, Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and Institute of Designers in Ireland, and findings from government and sectoral reports.The programme seeks to provide the transversal and specialist digital making skills to equip creative practitioners to work within existing career paths, while also forging careers and creative pathways and learning.

The programme fee for this course is €2200.

Scholarship Opportunities 

The Arts Service of Louth County Council has joined forces with our partners Creative Spark to offer bursaries to Louth-based artists seeking to gain new qualifications and skills to expand their practice through the Professional Diploma in Digital Making with NCAD and Creative Spark.

There will be four bursaries of €500 which will be awarded through an application process.

Apply for the bursary here

Creative Futures Academy is delighted to collaborate with Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet to offer a special partnership rate for this course. This course is supported by ESF+ Funding so you may be eligible for a partnership rate of €1,200 if you are a successful applicant (employed / freelance / sole traders that are ROI residents). Terms and conditions apply.

APPLY NOW VIA CCI SKILLNET 

Applications are now open.  Click on the yellow button below to apply.

NCAD TEAM

Lead Academic - Adam Gibney 

A multi-disciplinary artist, educator, and researcher with a Master of Arts by Practice-Based Research Degree and First Class BA(Hons) in Visual Arts Practice.

With extensive experience utilising coding, electronics, digital fabrication techniques, and more traditional new media technologies such as video, sound and photography to create conceptual artworks and engaging experiences.

Through art-practice, honoured to have received several prestigious awards, including the Aileen MacKeogh Award for the most outstanding graduating creative student at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, the Siamsa Tíre Emerging Artist Award, and the Arts Council Visual Arts Bursary award.

A rich experience of exhibiting both nationally and internationally,  most recent solo exhibitions include "Can_you_breathe_for_me?" (Oonagh Young Gallery, Dublin, 2021) and "Projective Verse 9: Deep Breadths" (Daegu Foundation of Culture, South Korea, 2017).

Currently,  lecturing in Interaction Design and Fine Art at NCAD with previous experience in visiting and assistant lecturing in New Media, Fine Art and Interaction Design at IADT, TUD, NCAD, and UL.

Creative Spark Team

Oscar Diaz 

NCAD MicroCred programme

Oscar Isaac Diaz Carrillo – Education and Operations Manager

As an accomplished Education and Operations Manager, Oscar seamlessly merges his expertise in design, project development, and management to oversee the daily operations of the FabLab. With a profound focus on cultivating training and upskilling programs, tailored instruction, and the promotion of STEAM practices, Oscar is deeply committed to empowering professionals in their digital fabrication journey through the dissemination of pivotal tools and knowledge.

Expertise and Experience

Oscar has 8 years of extensive experience in FabLab management within the esteemed Fab Lab Global Network. Additionally, he possesses 5 years of proficiency in Advanced Prototyping utilizing digital fabrication techniques, coupled with 2 years of instructional experience in Industrial Design. 

He has served as a Fab Academy Diploma instructor for 3 cycles and as a Fabricademy instructor for 1 cycle, both Academany distributed diplomas.

Technical Proficiency

Oscar demonstrates adeptness in various technical domains, including electronics production and design, programming, web development, computer-aided design, parametric design, advanced prototyping, system integration, additive manufacturing, and subtractive manufacturing.

Problem-Solving and Creativity Skills

His skill set extends to encompass problem-solving and creativity skills such as co-design, team building, project management, transdisciplinary research, participatory processes, and citizen science.

Key Achievements

Oscar's notable accomplishments include:

- Being awarded the Fab Foundation scholarship in 2017 for his exceptional dedication to studying the Fab Academy Diploma.

- Co-winning the prestigious 2019 Chevron STEM Education Award, recognizing his significant contributions to STEM education.

- Receiving an honourable mention recognition from The Fab Foundation for the Chevron STEM Fellowship application, highlighting his unwavering commitment to advancing STEM education initiatives.

He is also credited as the co-founder and former director of Fab Lab Yucatan, the pioneering digital fabrication facility in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. Additionally, Oscar played a pivotal role as the co-founder of Fab City Yucatan, a non-profit organization dedicated to localizing the Fab City Global Initiative.

Professional Experience

Oscar's professional journey includes:

- Serving as Project Manager at AQUA.LUX (2014-2015), focusing on lighting design, house automation systems, and energy efficiency projects.

- Acting as a Consultant Architect for the Merida Municipality (2015-2016), contributing to urban innovation and planning projects, as well as implementing civil participatory strategies for urban planning.

- Directing Fab Lab Yucatan (2016-2019), where he spearheaded Fab Lab management and operations, led research efforts, integrated innovation projects with digital technologies, and supervised a transdisciplinary team.

- Serving as Project Coordinator at Fab City Yucatan (2019-2022), where he assumed the role of strategic project coordinator, focusing on research, technology integration, participatory processes, co-design, and citizen science initiatives geared towards raising awareness about climate action.

Education and Qualifications

Oscar holds the following academic credentials:

- Bachelor of Architecture from Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (2015)

- Urban Innovation and Energy Efficiency Diploma from Universidad Anahuac Mayab (2015)

- Scrum Master certificate from International Scrum Institute (2016)

- Fab Academy Diploma from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia/Fab Lab Barcelona (2017)

- Design and Parametric Fabrication Certificate from CONTROLMAD Advance Design Centre S.L. (2023)

Carl McAteer

NCAD MicroCred programme

Carl McAteer – Technical Manager

In his capacity as Technical Manager, Carl assumes responsibility for the day-to-day oversight of all equipment, ensuring the safe operation of the space, and upholding rigorous standards of fabrication quality. Central to his role, Carl offers advanced expert guidance to members, aiding them in navigating design, prototyping, and manufacturing challenges with precision and proficiency.

Expertise and Experience

Drawing from 8 years of experience as a Product Designer, Carl possesses a deep-rooted passion for continual development within the manufacturing realm. He identifies his core strength as the seamless fusion of design thinking and problem-solving methodologies with a data-driven, analytical approach. Beyond his professional commitments, Carl is an avid maker, constantly exploring novel applications and techniques within the realm of 3D printing.

Technical Proficiency

Carl demonstrates expertise across various technical domains, including additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, digital design, computer-aided design, model making, and parametric design.

Problem-Solving and Creativity Skills

His skill set extends to encompass advanced prototyping techniques, design thinking methodologies, adept project management, and comprehensive research methodologies.

Key Achievements

Notable accomplishments include:

- Securing funding exceeding €100k for a collaborative circular joint project with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and ATU aimed at remanufacturing redundant office furniture into new pieces. Subsequently, he assumed a leadership role across the three organizations for the projects 12-month duration.

- Successful completion of the Innovation for Growth Programme in collaboration with senior management at Farrell, facilitated by the Irish Management Institute and Enterprise Ireland.

Professional Experience

Carls professional trajectory includes:

- Serving as a Designer and Junior Production Manager at PWS Signs (2014-2019), where

he was instrumental in design and CNC fabrication for graphic cutting, as well as

meticulously analysing manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency.

- Assuming the role of Design and Production Manager at O'Connors Kitchen (2019), where he adeptly interpreted customer designs for manufacture, coordinated with suppliers to procure materials, managed production workflows, and conducted insightful studies to optimize efficiency during production.

- Acting as a Designer and Advanced CAD Technician at Farrell Furniture (2019-2022), where he contributed to the production of residential furniture and spearheaded research and development initiatives for new office furniture ranges. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in training junior staff members in current manufacturing processes and nurturing their proficiency in digital manufacturing technologies such as CNC cutting, 3D printing, and advanced design methodologies.

Education and Qualifications

Carl holds the following academic credentials:

- Bachelor of Science in Product Design, Marketing, and Innovation from Maynooth

University (2014)

- Design and Parametric Fabrication Certificate from CONTROLMAD Advance Design

Centre S.L. (2023)