The MRes Design taught programme gives you the opportunity to carry out original, in-depth design research and to develop the skills to become a critical thinker and innovative researcher.

The main aim of the programme is to equip you for further academic study at a doctoral level or to work as a researcher in the cultural industries.

The course encourages intellectual curiosity and inquiry, challenging you to develop a robust and dynamic approach to research. The taught modules provide an excellent framework of practical, communication and transferable skills, supporting your development into a flexible and self-motivated early-career researcher.

You will gain an understanding of research methods, tools and ethical principles along with professional skills in self-management, project planning, academic writing and presentations. You will develop your research in contact with other MRes students from within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences at Northumbria University, energising interdisciplinary conversations and provocative thinking.

You will create and deliver a unique, significant project in the form of a dissertation or practice-based output, to demonstrate your ability to produce thought-provoking, well-grounded design research that stimulates debate and contributes to your community of practice.

Research Project Proposal Guidelines

In addition to the Personal Statement required in the online MRes programme application form, you should attach an outline of the research project you intend to undertake for the duration of the programme. Consider that the research you propose will ultimately be presented in a 20,000-word written dissertation or, in the case of practice-based students, a body of design practice and a 10,000-word dissertation, so it needs to be considered with this scope in mind. For more information 'read our application guide.'

You will learn through a combination of discipline-specific and core framework modules that develop your research skills.

You will undertake a 20,000-word written dissertation or in the case of practice-based students, a body of design practice and 10,000-word dissertation. This specialist in-depth study will build upon a substantial body of subject-relevant sources and can take either a subject specific or interdisciplinary approach.

You will also take two discipline-specific modules that examine the key methods, themes, traditions, and debates in design, alongside a module in which you work with your classmates to organise a one-day symposium at which you present a paper about your research project.

You’ll be assessed by a mixture of traditional and innovative practices, including dissertation (or equivalent project), oral and written presentations, critical reviews, and portfolios of work.

The academic team will help you develop the skills required to plan, manage, and review your learning. Supervision is built in throughout the programme to support you in your personal and professional development of skills.

Northumbria's School of Design was named one of Europe’s top design schools by US Business Week magazine and has an international reputation for innovation and creativity.

It has been fitted out with state-of-the-art facilities and the latest in design technology including:

• Dedicated exhibition gallery and outdoor show spaces
• Modern presentation rooms with the latest screening facilities
• Digital photography studio
• CAD suites
• Traditional letterpress and screen printing
• The latest in computer numerically controlled machinery
• Extensive 3D prototyping workshops
• Industry standard textile, printing, knit and garment
• Construction facilities
• Sound studios and recording booths
• Interaction and animation studios
• Mobile laptop facilities
• Postgraduate, research and consultancy suites

Northumbria is in the UK top 10 for research power in Arts and Design. The School of Design hosts three research groups:

Design Issues

This research group addresses complex social and cultural issues from a design perspective. We work on themes such as social care issues with the Carers Centre Newcastle and Alzheimer’s Scotland; socio-economic challenges with Newcastle YMCA and Traidcraft and mental health issues.

Design Innovation and Research Methods

This group focuses on innovating and creating value across society by applying design-led innovation better research methods to support the work of designers in context. Work involves the industrial and commercial sector, such as design's role in corporate innovation and creativity in product manufacturing and service organisations.

Design Making

This research group focuses on materials and the cultural and technology benefits of making in society. Researchers work in product, industrial, interaction, service, textile, craft, fashion and interior design disciplines.

This course will give you skills for life-long learning, including critical skills and attitudes, presentation skills, and the ability to reflect and evaluate. These are all attractive traits and in demand from employers.

You’ll be able to demonstrate critical awareness of research and scholarship in your chosen design discipline and show that you are self-motivated, disciplined and possess a thirst for independent learning.

Throughout the course, you’ll build on your undergraduate skills, adding intensity, complexity and depth of study as you also develop communication, time management and highly developed research and inquiry skills.

Your studies have a real world focus and you’ll be encouraged to make contact with external contacts in industry and academia to develop your research and its potential impact, and grow a network of valuable contacts. We seek to nurture home-grown talent to support and grow the economic, social, cultural and intellectual capital of the region and beyond, into the wider global marketplace.