MFA Product Design Making

at Edinburgh Napier University

The programme aims to develop your creative practice through hands-on making and promotes “knowing-by-doing” and “making-as-knowledge”. You will undertake a number of projects led by material enquiry and processes and explore making as a process of growth. You will develop advanced workshop skills with hand guided tools and digital hardware. As your skills develop, you will work in the context of localised (re)manufacture and “manu-digi-facture”, seeking out entrepreneurial and/or social development opportunities. Sustainability and circular economic thinking are core values of the programme and you are encouraged to work with alternative consumer models.

 The programme is supported by the Edinburgh Napier design team who are actively engaged in research, knowledge exchange and/or consultancy work as part of the Art & Design Research Centre (ADRC). We have a cluster of externally funded research projects focussing on making and materials, redistributed (re)manufacture and sustainability, led by Ian Lambert, Dr Sam Vettese, Paul Kerlaff and Colin Malcolm.

Ian Lambert is an Associate Professor and a practicing product and furniture designer. Specialising in making and sustainability, Ian is currently working on projects with Ocean Plastic, and improvised aluminium sand casting methods. Ian has over 25 years of experience in design education and has exhibited work widely across the UK, including at London Design week and the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

Dr Sam Vettese is a Reader in Design and Applied Arts. Trained as a jewellery designer, Sam has recently undertaken a number projects funded by the AHRC, Textile Forum Scotland and Interface. Sam is currently working on the integration of textile waste into 3D printing filament (Selvage PLA), as well as leather waste.

Paul Kerlaff trained as an architect before undertaking an apprenticeship in furniture making and becoming a furniture designer. He has almost 15 years of professional experience in design, 10 of which have also been in design education. He is currently working on a remanufacturing and repair project funded by the Manufacturing Institute of Scotland.

Colin Malcolm trained as a shipbuilder, and then worked in vehicle prototyping, before completing an MA in Product Design Prototyping. Colin has recently worked on several projects with the iconic band New Order. Colin is a highly skilled maker and active design researcher, and head of the design workshop.

You'll study a variety of modules during the course, including:
 

• Making as Thinking
• Sketching in Hardware and Software
• Maker Space module
   

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught degrees 

IELTS (Academic)
6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5

TOEFL Internet Based Test
80 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

Pearson’s Test of Academic English
56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each component

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge B2 First (formerly Cambridge English First (FCE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English Advanced (CAE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Trinity Integrated Skills Test (ISE)
ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV with a pass in each component

LanguageCert English language qualification
B2 Communicator Test with overall 39 or above, and 25 or above in all skills

Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next.

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2022 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. 

Graduates from this programme pathway can pursue careers in: 
 

• product design
• digital crafts
• remanufacturing
• furniture design
• interaction design and prototyping