Jean asked about experiences and stories from the perspective of the
provider. I hope the following is of interest.
The course I lead at University of Lincoln (UK) is called MA
Interdisciplinary Design. It is a one-year programme offering a
specialism in Museum & Exhibition Design. It is not strictly a
professional qualification as there are no forms of accreditation we can
apply for in design (architecture would not be appropriate and in any
case we already have an RIBA part 2 accredited architecture programme
from which students have access to the museum and exhibition design
subject).
Most of the students that come to us have at least two years'
professional practice experience. Students with a background in design,
art or architecture can straightforwardly pursue an advanced
practiced-based study which integrates an introduction to research. But
we also offer a research-oriented approach which integrates an
introduction to design practice - this is open to graduates from other
backgrounds such as museum studies, business studies, psychology,
archaeology, etc. These non-design graduates do have to demonstrate an
aptitude for design and to this end we give them guidance on preparing a
portfolio of evidence which they bring with them to interview. Museum
Studies graduates have been particularly successful on the programme and
I currently have a engineer with a background in optics doing very well.
We also offer preparatory design studies drawn from our undergraduate
programme to non-design students who wish to develop greater skills and
understanding of design process before embarking on the masters
programme.
Three modes of study are available full-time, part-time and work-based.
The MA is divided into three stages and students can change mode of
study at the end of stages one and two. Creative research projects form
the core of the study and these are developed by individual students to
suit personal and professional needs. For the project work we have a
supportive system of learning contract development that includes advice
and guidance from a team of specialist tutors.
We have a student who gained several years experience in commercial
exhibition design before starting our undergraduate course. And in the
past we have had a number of career changers join the undergraduate
programme; these were often individuals in their thirties or forties in
occupations as varied as merchant navy, nursing, machine engineering,
and regular army.
Only one of our own graduates has returned to do an MA, and so far we
have not had any MA graduates continue on to a research degree. I think
this is largely because design education generally is still not very
joined up; most undergraduate programmes aim to prepare graduates for
employment and tend to do so very successfully. Any graduates looking
for a second degree are likely, therefore, to be changing direction and
looking elsewhere than their Alma Mater.
Dr Geoff Matthews
Course Leader MA Interdisciplinary Design
Lincoln School of Architecture
University of Lincoln
Brayford Pool
Lincoln UK
T: +44 (0) 1522 837139
F: +44 (0) 1522 837155
E: [log in to unmask]
http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/architecture/staff/155.asp
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