Design, Master's, 2 years

You apply for the programme based on your own project and are thus your own source and most important instrument. At the core of the programme is the development of a larger, independent master’s project. You can immerse yourself in furniture and room design/interior architecture or visual communication.

In the master’s programme we discuss:

• As designers, how can we contribute to innovation and develop new professional knowledge?
• How can we reflect relevant social challenges in our creative work?
• How can we develop an artistic project that traverses established professional boundaries?  

A substantial part of the learning will take place through participation in collective academic conversations and discussions in the Department of Design’s academic environment and in meetings with other professional environments. All of the students on the master’s programme take a special seminar programme. The dynamic between individual and collective work is key.

You will also learn to disseminate your project in writing, verbally and through exhibitions. As a master’s student you will be part of the research environment at the Department of Design and the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design. Research through design is a form of artistic development work that is equated with other research in Norway.

The master’s programme integrates theory and practice, with an emphasis on the relationship between design as a creative practice and design as a conceptual subject. Research through design involves an interaction between materials and tools, different forms of work and approaches, and between your own creative work and critical reflection. Through the practice of design, we make ideas and concepts tangible, for us and for others. In this way, visual language can express new insights and create meaning.

Career

With a master’s degree in design, you can perform various design roles and lead complex design processes. Designers work in public and private enterprises. Many are entrepreneurs.

In working life, you can contribute:

• Energy and independent thinking anchored in relevant interpretive frameworks and contemporary perspectives on topical social challenges
• Idea and concept development, converting ideas into action and concrete results, projects and processes
• Proactive interaction in groups, academic and interdisciplinary

With a specialisation in visual communication, you will have a comprehensive perspective on how ideas and concepts can be disseminated through various tools, materials and media. You will be able to make ideas visible, conceivable and understandable through typography, illustration, visual identity, editorial design, moving images and interactivity.

With a specialisation in furniture and room design/interior architecture you will work within the relationship between people and their surroundings, and express ideas and concepts in the form of three dimensional objects and spatial forms. You will emphasise the connection between furniture design and interior architecture. Form, colour, materials, light, ergonomics and structure are key factors.

With a master’s degree in design, you can apply for admission to a One-year practical-pedagogic education (PPE) programme and become a teacher. Or you can apply for admission to a PhD programme in artistic development work and have the opportunity to continue to do research and teach at a university level.

Structure

The master’s programme in design is a two-year full-time programme that starts in August. The programme consists of four single-semester courses, each worth 30 credits.

The programme offers two programme options:

• Furniture and room design/interior architecture
• Visual communication

The two-year master’s programme can be summarised as follows:

1. First semester: You will work on preparing and developing your master’s project. Preliminary project with research through design.
2. Second semester: You will continue working on your master’s project based on an approved project description and completed preliminary project.
3. Third semester: You will immerse yourself further in the project with a particular emphasis on further developing your communicative skills, primarily within visualisation and presentation.
4. Fourth semester: You will complete your master’s project. The students are jointly responsible for producing their master’s exhibition.

See full list of courses

Student life

As a master’s in design student, you will be part of a good learning environment in the Department of Design. The programme admits a small number of students and the students have a good team spirit.

Art and design programmes are based in a new building in Møllendal in Bergen. As a master’s student you will have your own work area here.

The teaching in the master’s programme involves lectures, seminar groups, practical exercises, self-study and completion of a master’s project. You will receive around 30 hours of teaching each week. The literature is in both English and Norwegian.

It is not compulsory to attend the teaching in person, but it is strongly advised. Participation in the assessment, examination and exhibition is compulsory.

Design in context is a professional design framework and education programme that is common for all master’s students. Here you will learn about idea and concept development, theory, professional writing and research, as well as prepare yourself for working life.

Master’s thesis

When you apply for admission to the master’s programme you must enclose a project description. You will continue to work on this together with your supervisor.

Your master’s project is an independent project that requires an individual course of study. You will make your own academic choices and steer your own learning. The master’s programme requires you to be highly independent and you will immerse yourself in academic issues over a longer period.

Work on your master’s project will run over all four semesters based on your project description, further research and analyses. You will write the actual thesis in the final two semesters.

Read more about design at the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design.

What will you learn

With a master’s degree in design, you will be able to:

• Develop, execute and disseminate larger, independent design projects
• Apply knowledge from research and theory in your own work
• Communicate and interact effectively with others in development processes, within and outside your own field

Click here to see all of the programme’s learning outcomes.

Study period abroad

You can participate in an exchange programme in the second or third semester of your master’s programme. We have agreements with several universities around the world.

See list of recommended exchange agreements

How to apply

You apply for admission to the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design.

The application deadline is 1 February. Applications can be submitted via SøknadsWeb.

Click here for information about applications and admission to the programme.