3D Design and Craft BA(Hons)

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Portfolio advice 

Admission to this course involves reviewing your portfolio. After you apply, we will ask you to share a link to an online portfolio of your work. This enables us to see your potential and understand your approach and motivations.

We will ask you to log on to Student View to share your portfolio link. We will not be able to progress your application to Brighton until you share your portfolio.

• Find out about the specific requirements for your course.

Creating your portfolio
We’ve put together advice and guidance to help you create and share your portfolio and we run regular online portfolio advice sessions where you can get help from our expert team.

We are looking for highly motivated and creative students with the ability to draw, imagine, be curious, think and make in three dimensions, experiment, take risks and apply research processes.

Top reasons to choose this course

• Excellent teaching team of practising makers who encourage a diagnostic and investigative approach, which means you have the freedom to find your specialism and graduate with an impressive body of work.

• Dedicated, spacious workshops in wood, clay, metal and polymers with full-time technical support.

• Hands-on practice is integrated with historical and critical studies.

• Live projects and case studies mirror how you’ll work in industry.

• International exchanges – there are exchange opportunities to study at Oslo National Academy of the Arts in Norway and Nagoya University of the Arts in Japan.

• Opportunities to exhibit your work, including in the final-year major exhibition, the Graduate Show.

• Field trips and working outside the studio are an important part of the course.

• Student exchange opportunities with Nagoya University in Japan.

• Impressive alumni – our graduates work for brands such as Habitat, Nike and IKEA, and run major design companies. 

• A year on placement gives you the chance to make industry connections and gain valuable experience.

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Year 1

Through four material areas (wood, metal, ceramics, polymers and composites) you will be introduced to the processes and techniques of design and making. This is followed by a short period of self-directed study or a design project.

Concept development is led by themes and project briefs, such as:

• culture of making – traditions
• consumption – resources and environment
• technology – materials and performance
• object and context – body, space and site.

Studio practice is integrated with professional practice and a creative enquiry module introducing research methods and delivering skills in visual communication, design development (drawing, representation, studio techniques such as technical drawing, model making, digital image and layout skills).

Modules

• Making, Materiality and Processes

  The key questions ‘why make?’ and ‘how do we make?’ are investigated through a range of projects exploring materiality and process. You will be introduced to the course’s workshop areas, essential analogue/digital processes, working individually and in teams in response to these fundamental questions.

• Historical and Critical Studies in Design and Craft: Key Concepts

  This module will provide you with an introduction to a broad range of current key debates relevant to the analysis of the past and present in the field of design and craft. Through lectures, seminars and exhibition visits, you will be introduced to and engage with critical ideas and academic approaches relevant to your field of study. The module will support studio work through the development of critical thinking and formal written skills.

• People, Places and Context

  During this module you will explore design and craft within the given contexts people and place through research-led projects undertaken in conjunction with the continuing development of workshop skills. Using a range of different approaches, you will investigate relationships between object, user and site. Professional practice elements will help to locate yourself and your practice within a vocational context and introduce a range of transferable and employability skills such as teamwork and networking.

• Why Make? What Sort of Maker Am I?

  This module offers a period of study for you to situate your practice and determine what kind of a maker you are. It will give you the opportunity to consolidate and extend your knowledge and use of materials in preparation for level 5. You will define an area of enquiry to investigate building on your workshop experience to date. The module culminates in a student-curated exhibition.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Student Iara Talledo talks about how studying a 3D Design and Craft degree at Brighton helped them find their craft.

Field trips and working outside the studio are an important part of the course.

Year 2

In year 2, you will focus on specialisation and choice in materials and processes, progressing your individual practice.

Structured projects combined with live and research-led projects contribute to your personal development plans and research questions for the independent project work in year 3. Studio practice is supported by modules in professional practice and historical and critical studies.

There is an opportunity to apply for a student exchange to Nagoya University.

Modules

• Making; Society, Economy and Environment (SEE)

  3D Design and Craft can help tackle local and global challenges by offering creative solutions and shaping new opportunities for sustainable development. This module moves away from a focus on individual talent and concentrates on the power of collaboration to develop new ways of working that benefit society, support emerging economies and protect the environment.

• Materials and Process: Professional Designing and Making

  This module helps you build strong design, craft and professional skills, with a focus on the business practices needed to succeed in the creative industries. It provides a range of exploratory approaches to 3D design and making, including theme-based projects and an advanced material skills demonstration programme.

• Live and Engaged Making

  This module looks at different contexts for both individual and collaborative creative work and encourages independent study. You will work on live projects with external partners or organisations and develop specialised skills through workshops in areas including wood, metal, digital production, ceramics, polymers and composites, printed textiles, knitting and weaving.

• Historical and Critical Studies in Design and Craft: Ethical Perspectives

  In this module you will build on the foundation of visual and thematic analysis taught last year and develop further confidence as an independent researcher. Through weekly lectures, seminar discussions and written assignments, you will explore historical and contemporary issues that shape your own and others’ practice. The module is designed to encourage close engagement with theoretical texts and case studies, each of which addresses a different ethical issue.

Design by award-winning student Luke Fuller.

Placement year

Gain valuable experience and earn money during an optional placement year following year 2. You’ll return to the final year of your degree with added confidence, additional real-world experience and valuable contacts. 

A placement year gives you the chance to work with established professionals in design studios, galleries, film sets, music labels, creative agencies, newsrooms and many other environments. You’ll be able to get an insight into creative workflows and come away with a portfolio filled with real-world projects that will stand out in a competitive job market.  

It can also help you discover your creative direction and passion for a particular area of work, helping you grow artistically as well as professionally.   

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team will support you in getting a placement that suits your interests and career goals by helping you with your CV and cover letter writing, applications, online testing and more. Plus, they’ll provide support and guidance when you’re on placement and make sure that everything is going well. 

Final year

This year you will develop a major independent body of work in 3D design and craft, supported by a rigorous body of creative enquiry research, a professional practice portfolio and an extended essay. You will be supported in the development and management of independent learning.

Modules

• Historical and Critical Studies in Design and Craft: Independent Research Project

  During this module you will design and complete a research project guided by regular supervision sessions with a specialist tutor which explores themes supporting the development of your studio practice. You’ll be working more independently than in previous levels of study and will build on previous experiences in Historical and Critical Studies and the study skills you’ve already developed.

• Positioning and Establishing Practice

  This self-directed module incorporates professional practice, creative enquiry and studio practice so you will be able to identify, position and establish your practice within the field of design and craft. By the end of the module, you will have a research plan outlining your direction and methods for future work and a substantial body of research, material tests and experimentation applied to initial 3D work.

• Expansion and Resolution of Practice

  This module will build on your research and initial 3D work, expanding and defining it in relation to your stated goals. You will develop a professional design and craft practice, incorporating research and creative enquiry and professional sector knowledge. At the end of the module, you will present resolved 3D objects and related research, a professional practice dossier and an edited portfolio to support your chosen career path.

Graduate Ash Lim with a piece from his final-year work, examining what people connect with on an emotional, physical or instinctual level.

Meet the team

The course team prides itself on creating a nurturing environment where year groups work side by side and technical staff are available in every area, every day.

Jem Ryan, course leader and 3D designer
Jem has over 20 years’ experience in creative education. His specialist background is in three-dimensional design, making and ideation, and his work is concerned with memory, making and meaning. As a teacher and curriculum innovator, he believes in creating an environment where students can begin a facilitated journey to independence of practice. His educational philosophy both as a lecturer and as a curriculum developer has centred around the acquisition of a deep understanding of a creative working process and creative journey combining practical experimentation and reflective practice. Read more about Jem.

James McAdam, lecturer and design engineer
James has worked for leading designers and artists employing both digital and material expertise, creating everything from mass-produced products to high-profile sculptures. He has exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York as well as at The London Design Festival. James has specialist knowledge of computer-aided design and manufacturing as well as in-depth material engineering and traditional craft expertise.

Louisa Taylor, lecturer and ceramicist
Louisa teaches ceramics and in her own work creates meaningful objects that interplay between still-life and visual composition and encourage social interactions through use. In a ceramics residency at the V&A Museum, her research explored the collections of eighteenth century porcelain wares. In her research she has investigated using metal-working techniques with clay and experimented with incorporating precious metal components made using cast silver and silver-clay material within ceramic forms. Ultimately, the intention of Louisa’s work is to explore the notion of materiality and prompt a dialogue around interdisciplinary approaches within contemporary craft practice. Read more about Louisa.

Nick Gant, senior lecturer and multidisciplinary designer
Nick leads on the design and sustainability elements of the degree. He is an award-winning designer and academic whose research and consultancy work has a global impact. He has helped multiple companies develop their sustainability and social agendas and has presented findings to organisations such as The Cabinet Office, The House of Lords and The British Council. His design research outputs have been exhibited at The V&A Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Hayward Gallery and Crafts Council Gallery and internationally. His work has featured in press including The Guardian, The Times, ICON, Blueprint, World of Interiors and on Channel 4 and BBC TV and radio. He is the founder of social and sustainable design research group Community21.org. Read more about Nick.

Tanya Dean, senior lecturer and practice-based design researcher
Tanya has instigated and executed multimedia projects both commercially and independently which explore the breadth of material innovation application. She has created interior installations in international exhibitions, museums and galleries and worked in commercial product design. Clients, sponsors and collaborators include material manufacturers like ICI and Perspex; NGOs such as Vision Aid Overseas and the Marine Conservation Society; as well as organisations as diverse as Vivienne Westwood, Dyson and Absolut Vodka. Her work has featured in press including The Times, The Independent and Elle Decoration as well as on the BBC and Channel 4. Read more about Tanya.

Workshop technicians

• Wood: Malcolm Jordan and Marcus Laffan
• Ceramics: Eusebio Sanchez Pomares and Tanya Gomez
• Polymers: Saskia Buchanan and Dani Lane
• Metals: Craig Issac, Dawn Gulyas and Gabby Leigh

Facilities

• The course has dedicated specialist workshops in wood, metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. All workshops are supported by specialist full-time demonstrator technicians.

• Equipment on the 3D Design and Craft degree includes lathes, band and dim saws, pillar drills, sanders, bag press, planers, TIG and MIG welders, forging, vacuum former, dome blower, milling machines, polishers, engravers, gas and electric kilns, wheels, whirler, jigger/jolly and a spray booth.

• Design Lab is a flexible learning space for design-led teaching and hot desk spaces for design and non-workshop-based practice.

• Students also have access to the TECH HUB – a team of technical demonstrators based in Grand Parade who provide specialist creative software support including Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, etc), Rhino, Blender and C4D, as well as web- and blog-related software. They manage digital manufacturing services within the School of Art and Media, including laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing, plasma cutting and 3-axis CNC milling. They also have VR headsets and 3D scanners. The TECH HUB has its own dedicated PC suite with all of the software they support as well as standard university programmes.

• There are also spaces for group tutorials, seminars, critiques and exhibitions.

Explore our metal, wood and polymers workshops

Explore our ceramics workshops

What our graduates say

“The Plastics and Polymers department was the main reason I chose the course as I wanted to explore working with waste plastic materials further. The structure of the course enables each student to experience all material areas which I found to be an enjoyable and enriching experience.” Alice Coomber, 2023 graduate

“I immediately found Brighton inviting, colourful and there’s a strong sense of community within the university and city. I had a silversmithing practice, but wanted to explore other mediums such as blacksmithing and ceramics and found this course to be the best fit. The course has helped me develop a deeper and considered context to my work and improve my designs. Above all my making skills in multiple disciplines has gone from next to nothing to having a great foundation in various processes that will exponentially grow my practice.” Tesni Smith, 2023 graduate

“I have had a chance to try out so many material areas and techniques, gradually building a really broad skill set and giving me the confidence to define my specialisms and discover exactly why and what I want to make." Maddy Bostridge, 2022 graduate

“The 3D course at Brighton has always interested me for its focus on materials exploration and narrative. It has great team of highly experienced tutors and technicians, many of whom are 3D graduates themselves. Thinking environmentally about materials is also a prominent ethos of the course.” Nikkan Woodhouse, 2022 graduate

“I learnt a huge range of skills and had the opportunity to specialise in ceramics and metal learning from kind and patient teachers. The experience I gained has allowed me to expand my skills and practice both professionally and personally. 3D Design and Craft has encouraged me to explore a variety of pathways, enabling me to widen my knowledge, skills and passion whilst developing my own style.” Bronte Simpson-Little, 2020 graduate

“The workshops have incredible facilities, and the tutors and technicians are the best! All three years work together, so there’s just a great atmosphere in the workshops. I did work experience last summer making props at the National Theatre, and was asked back to work freelance.” Annabel Lamby, 2019 graduate

“Studying at the University of Brighton has given me the opportunity to explore a huge range of materials and processes. The community the course attracts allows for an exciting and busy workshop atmosphere for discussion and debate, allowing for other ideas to be realised and to learn how your work is perceived.” Luke Fuller, winner of the Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award at New Designers 2018

“I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to study on the 3D course as I get the feeling it's a one of a kind, and it offers such a wide range of ways to experiment with materials and concepts. I have also met an amazing group of like-minded people.” Till Lightfoot Pendered, 2018 graduate

“The course at Brighton has been amazing, the people have been fantastic and I have felt really nurtured and embraced. Creatively, I have felt that I have been free to choose my own path and discover what I am truly interested in. Even the essay writing has been, for the most part, enjoyable!” Ash Lim, 2018 graduate

Summer shows 2024

Every year our brilliant art and media students show their work at the University of Brighton Summer Shows. The shows are finished for 2024, but you can still take a virtual wander and explore our students’ creative work.

Course fees

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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