COURSE CURRICULUM

The Design Innovation MSc course is structured across three study blocks, with a progression from foundational concepts to specialist application and a final major project. In Study Block One, all students, regardless of specialisation, begin with two core modules. The first, Innovation Principles, provides a comprehensive foundation in innovation, design thinking, sustainable design, and the use of AI in visual communication. Emphasising collaboration, students apply these skills in interdisciplinary teams to address real-world challenges and align solutions with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The second core module, Sustainable Practice, focuses on equipping students with the theoretical and methodological tools to assess global challenges through a sustainability lens. It encourages critical thinking about the interconnectedness of society, environment, and economy. In Study Block Two, students pursuing the core Design Innovation MSc explore two modules: Innovating with Users and Prototyping. The first introduces user-centred research methods, emphasising the role of end users in informing product and service design. The second develops technical skills in digital prototyping and sustainable design through tools such as Life Cycle Assessment software, which helps quantify the impact of design decisions. Students in the Healthcare, Materials, and Events specialisms follow tailored pathways during this block. In Study Block Three, all students undertake a Final Major Project, which allows them to consolidate their learning through a self-directed research-based design project. This capstone module encourages innovative, contextually relevant outcomes that reflect each student’s chosen specialism and ethical considerations. The project is an opportunity to apply critical thinking, creativity, and research into a cohesive piece of work that demonstrates the student’s capability to design meaningful solutions to complex challenges. This modular structure ensures a balance of theory, practice, collaboration, and specialisation, equipping graduates with the skills to innovate responsibly across diverse industries.