MA Future Design
British Master's degree
Intensive or standard (low residency) available
Graduate in 18 or 24 months
Start September
Advance your career in the creative industry and secure top positions with a British Master’s Degree in Design! Gain the skills to become a future-ready designer who can lead teams, think critically, connect the dots, and master essential marketing and business fundamentals. This degree will make you indispensable in the job market, opening doors to higher salaries and advanced roles such as a creative leader, art director, manager, or even the founder of your own startup. Our programme covers essential knowledge in design thinking, strategies, and research methodologies, ensuring you develop irreplaceable skills and remain at the forefront of the design world. Join us and shape your future in design.
Programme Essentials
- Comprehensive Training: Immerse yourself in design strategy, research methodologies, and design thinking, integrating specialised training, independent learning, and advanced problem-solving skills.
- Marketing and Business Foundations: Learn professional skills that prepare you to excel as a creative leader, art director, manager, or successful startup founder.
- Collaborative Community: Engage with a dynamic community of designers and innovators, collaborating towards shared and diverse goals in an inspiring environment.
- Career Preparation: Develop both technical and interpersonal skills, equipping you to navigate the creative market confidently and effectively.
- Professional Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of seasoned professionals and forge valuable industry connections that enhance your career prospects.
MA Future Design offered in the framework of the Lifelong Learning with a PCU certificate leading to British qualification, and at the same time granting ECTS credits for the British degree. Find out more about programme accreditation & recognition →
What You Study
Semester 1*
- Innovation by Design
- Design Research Methods
- Launchpad: Exit into Industry
Semester 2*
- Design Practice
- Critical Thinking and Theoretical Contexts
- Design Integration
Summer Semester
- Advanced Practice
Semester 3*
- MA Future Design Major Project
* Study plan for Intensive format. Modules in standard format are spread over two years, four semesters.
Ruth's final project highlighted possible scenarios that could occur when work is fully developed by AI tools. Her project showed how AI will drastically change the course of all industries, from tech to healthcare to education and beyond and how it is vital to start the conversation and better prepare society for this transition. Her biggest insight was the importance of participatory design practices. "In order to achieve truly ethical and inclusive designs, we have to be making them with, for, and alongside the people that they will impact. This is especially true when designing AI systems."
Schedule
Intensive format - High residency
Students can expect 9 to 12 hours of class time a week, plus additional workshops & guest lectures. Further independent learning and group work of around 16-17 hours per week is expected.
Standard format - Low residency
Students can expect 6 to 8 hours of class time a week, plus additional workshops & guest lectures. Further independent learning and group work of around 16-17 hours per week is expected.
Meet Your Programme Leader
MgA. Vít Škop
Vít is an award-winning visual designer with extensive international experience. After graduating from UMPRUM in Prague, he advanced his education at SVA in New York, honing his skills at studios like Pentagram under Paula Scher, R/GA, and We Are Collins. He also worked with top studios such as Sagmeister & Walsh and Special Projects in London.
“Design is more than just aesthetics. Building my startup made me aware of the crucial business, leadership, and marketing knowledge that designers need. Integrating these elements is essential for becoming indispensable in our evolving world. If you’re ready for a broader understanding and new challenges, join us.” — Vítek Škop
Entry Requirements
- British Honours degree (first or second class) or equivalent level international qualification, in an art or design discipline.
For applicants who do not hold the above-mentioned degree award, special entry may be considered at the discretion of the Admissions Board. - English language certificate. Required Scores: IELTS 6.0 or higher ; TOEFL iBT 79+; Duolingo with equivalent score. If the applicant has completed a Bachelors programme entirely in English this requirement may not apply.
- A letter of motivation (500 words) describing career and personal motivation. This letter should also include a research proposal.
- Curriculum Vitae and Portfolio
- Professional and academic references
- Final Interview – a formal discussion between the applicant and Programme Leader is the final stage of the application process.
Applicants will be invited to show their portfolio of creative and written work, giving a clear sense of ability, skills and drive to engage in self-reflective and innovative design activity. If unable to attend an interview in person due to distance, employment commitments etc. then a digital portfolio can be submitted and together with an interview conducted online, will ascertain suitability for study of the subject at Master's level.
Are you interested in this programme?
Get in touch now and start September.
Degree Projects
Master’s study in Future Design culminates in a challenging, self-defined degree project that taps into each student's strengths, interests and experiences, resulting in a public showing of their work.
Muneer Elsaheb:
Unit 2.6m²
Unit 2.6m² is the final project for Muneer, who works as an Architect. Anyone affected by a disaster seeks a safe place to start their life again. Unit 2.6m² are modular units that can be configured into shelters of various sizes to fit the needs of tenants. It is durable, reliable, easily transported for assembly and can be modified as needed.
Zhyldyz Shaiymbetova:
Self-Sustained Energy System [RES2050]
Zhyldyz's project sees a future in which energy systems in cities are more interconnected and also more self-sufficient. She proposes a citywide, multi scale energy network that collects, distributes, and stores natural resources and energy, creating exchanges that reduce waste and emissions and thereby resemble an ecosystem.
Mattia De Vitis:
Anti Social Media
Mattia is an Italian designer and art director living in Prague. His project takes inspiration from imagining a world without the internet and focuses on communication and social interaction which has suffered with the advent of the internet. His installation encourages strangers to meet and discuss interesting and controversial topics and have a real interaction away from their devices and photographs.
Career Building at PCU
Graduate Careers & Further Study Destinations
- Mike Jelinek is studying for his PhD at the Slovak University of Technology where he is currently preparing his dissertation work. He also works as a Senior Researcher/Product manager at Wacom where he is responsible for connecting VR technology from Future Ink with potential creative uses.
- Suzanne Heidekamp is a Creative Technologist, Head of Product at Cuebric, a subsidiary of Seyhan Lee, where she began as an intern for her Master's programme. Cuebric, specialises in generative AI to assist filmmakers and content creators and Suzanne regularly travels to the USA as a panelist at large-scale global conferences for AI Innovators, Technologists and Creators such as Nvidia GTC.
- Isa Ibasco work as a 3D augmented reality artist and fashion designer in the role of Digital Assets and Content Creator for AUROBOROS in the United Kingdom.
- Ruth Guerra is Founder & Workshop Facilitator for Phenomena Co-Design and delivers participatory design and design research workshops in Europe and South America. She also works as an Innovations Design Researcher intern at the UNDP Innovation Community, an organisation that uses the potential of data and new technologies to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
- Irina Sidorina is Head of Creativity - France for Canva as well as Co-Founer of Le Kimino, a marketing and design agency in Paris that works with fashion and beauty brands such as Dior, Celine, Guerlain, Massimo Dutti, with an emphasis on sustainability.
- Matia De Vitis began working as an Art Director at award-winning Matbold studios in Prague after graduating from MA Future Design and was selected as a jury member for the 2023 Indigo Design Awards.
- Ivana Špačková, who graduated with first class honours in Graphic Design went on to achieve an MA in Future Design and had her final MA project selected for presentation at the Computer Human Interaction (CHI conference) in Montreal.
