Master of Arts - Design for Social Innovation and Sustainable Futures
- 1,5 years
- Duration
- 30,890 GBP
- Price
- September
- Start
- June
- Deadline
- Master
- Degree
- Campus
- Format
- London / United Kingdom
- Location
Program description
The MA Design for Social Innovation and Sustainable Futures at London College of Communication is a collaborative studio for designers from any background to tackle complex global issues.
The course interrogates the future of design practice in relation to urgent eco-social concerns, including environment, materiality, ethics, and justice. It emphasizes innovative practice, collective action, and real-world change within broad socio-cultural and political contexts. Open to practitioners from various fields, it encourages them to question their discipline's role within global systems. The program blends practical application with thoughtful research, focusing on plurality and demonstrable impact. It culminates in a final "Design in Action" project aimed at creating tangible eco-social change.
Program structure
- Researching and framing for innovation (20 credits)
Understand the range of different design research methods and apply these to a real-world enquiry. Explore the ethics of research practice, the complexity of the global issues within our different personal and cultural contexts, and the importance of getting the question right.
- Eco-Social innovation and impact (40 credits)
Explore an expansive range of theories, models, and literature around the subject of social innovation and sustainability. Dive into examples of practice and take a critical look at the past, present and future.
- Collaborative unit (20 credits)
A chance to do a real project with other people across the university and beyond. Put your knowledge, thinking, and ideas into practice.
- Co-design for sustainable futures (40 credits)
Speculate, imagine, and make more plural, collaborative and sustainable futures.
- Design in action: major project (60 credits)
A chance for you start your own piece of work in direct reaction to a situation or issue in the world that you want to change.
Price
Tuition fee:
- 30,890 GBP per education*
*Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.
You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course.
Requirements for applicants
Educational level may be demonstrated by:
- Honours degree at 2:1 or first-class
- Possession of equivalent qualifications;
- Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;
- Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.
Language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 6.0 in speaking and reading, and 5.5 in writing and listening.
About the university
The University of the Arts London (UAL) produces and encourages the creativity essential for a better future. Its colleges have been at the forefront of innovative education since 1842, creating work with a lasting impact on people and the planet, driven by curiosity, imagination, and purpose.
London is fundamental to UAL's identity, providing a vital context where the university connects and exchanges ideas with individuals from all walks of life. Globally, its creative network influences education, culture, business, and society.
Through innovative research and creative instruction, UAL's faculty and staff bring fresh perspectives to education. The university enables students to build the careers they desire by working with them at every level - from pre-degree to postgraduate, and from short courses to online learning.
UAL's colleges
Ranked second in the world for art and design, UAL comprises six distinct colleges:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central Saint Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts
Together, they form a community of creatives, innovators, trailblazers, and storytellers, united in their mission to reimagine the future.
Courses in the visual arts, animation, screen, communication, fashion, media, and performance are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
