Industrial and Strategic Design

The application period for Master’s Degree Programmes has ended 15 Feb 2012. Next application period will start at the beginning of 2013.

Who can apply
The programme is intended for graduates of a Bachelor’s degree in Design and other Bachelor’s degree graduates with equivalent basic skills in design.

The programme has the following specialisation options:
• Advanced Product Design
• Design Strategy and Innovation
• User Inspired Design
• Design and Culture

Description of the degree programme
Some of the basic competences of an industrial designer are familiarity with design methods and the design process, and mastery of the essential knowledge and skills of a designer.

In the Advanced Product Design specialisation area, students develop their problem-oriented design thinking, their skills in producing three-dimensional forms and their use of design tools and methods, and familiarise themselves with the issues related to bringing design solutions into production.

In the Design Strategy and Innovation specialisation, students learn to link design to product development and business as a whole. The studies are completed in Aalto University’s International Design Business Management (IDBM) minor subject module.

In the User Inspired Design specialisation, students learn to understand users’ needs and requirements, design the interaction between humans and technology, and conduct usability evaluations. The studies are completed in the Usability School minor subject module, arranged in cooperation with Aalto University and the University of Helsinki.

The Design and Culture specialisation develops the students’ ability to see their work as part of a cultural entity and to understand the cultural links contained in design and products as a part of people’s object worlds, consumer behaviour
and cultural ambitions.

Objectives of the programme
The objective of the 120-ECTS programme is to deepen students’ design skills, familiarise them with target-setting for design work, and place design efforts in the broader context of product development, business and culture. The aim is also to develop the students’ conceptual and research skills in producing and applying the necessary information.

Structure of the programme
The studies are characterised by multidisciplinary group work with students from different degree programmes, use of information technology, internationality, and project work
linked to businesses and research. A major part of the MA studies is the independent thesis.

Course languages
Taught mainly in English, the programme can also be taken completely in English.

Employment prospects
Graduates can fill demanding posts as experts, managers, researchers or educators in design.

Selection Process 2012

   

Portfolio
Max. portfolio size: A3 (297x420 mm). No samples in electronic or digital format will be accepted.

Also see general portfolio instructions. 

Required Application Documents
See Required Application Documents.

How to Apply
Read the application instructions carefully: How to Apply.