Sustainable Design MA

Why study with us?

• As a student of this course you will benefit from our innovative interdisciplinary approach to sustainable design that incorporates ideas from ecology, psychology and business with a balance of theory and practice.
• You will be joining a vibrant community, and will study in a collaborative environment of dedicated workshops and studios.
• Brighton is one of Europe's most progressive and creative cities, providing the ideal backdrop and inspiration for the subject.
• Our guest lecturer programme features inspiring staff from industry including Richard Gilbert (director of The Agency for Design), Oliver Heath (founder of OH Designs) and Doug McMaster, zero-waste restaurant founder.
• You will meet a diverse and inspiring group of fellow students – people join us with backgrounds in graphic design, illustration, architecture, fashion, education, politics, product design and more. Introduce yourself on our Sustainable Design Facebook group.

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.

Extensive workshops provide a key part of the student experience.

Areas of study

Sustainable Design: Present(s)

Semester one, 20 credits

In this module you will gain a broad introduction to established principles, theories and methodologies in sustainability and design.

Themes covered may include, for example, the circular economy, low-carbon building and production, sustainable food systems, sustainable communities, systems thinking, critical design and climate communication.

Teaching delivery will take the form of lectures, seminars, workshops and presentations from specialist practitioners, writers, researchers, manufacturers and theorists.

For assessment, you are required to create a three-minute 'video manifesto' and a research poster as well as a workbook of supporting research, process and development.

Research Methods

Semester one, 20 credits

This module gives you the opportunity to understand and
develop research as an integral part of your design practice.
You will develop a substantive research position piece that will likely be related to your ongoing design work and generally inform your specialisation research project.

We will ask you to engage with research through:
- Examining the scope and value of research in design relative to other aspects of design practice and other disciplinary fields.
- Considering a variety of practical and intellectual approaches to design research as well as challenges and limitations.
- Developing your individual position piece, including
definition of subject area and topic, research aims,
identification of research material and approach, planning of research process.

Studio

Semesters one and two, 60 credits

In this module, you will develop your practice in sustainable
design through independently defined studio practice, enabling you to progress to a position of authority in your chosen area of specialisation.

The module provides a reflective and productive environment for you to develop self-directed projects that engage critically with current discourses in sustainability and design.

It spans two projects and your final mark is based on the combined output of the two projects.

Sustainable Design: Future(s)

Semester two, 20 credits

In this module, you will expand your work outwards to the
edges of the discipline to consider new opportunities for
sustainable design innovation. You will be required to develop a more expansive comprehension of contemporary issues relating to sustainability and design, and develop the ability to situate your practice with greater clarity and purpose.

Specific module content will change year on year. Themes covered may include, for example, complex systems thinking, criticality in design, morality and ethics of design.

For assessment, you are required to develop and present a
‘model of sustainable design’ and a workbook of research, process and development.

Master

Semester three, 60 credits

This module takes the form of a self-directed design research project structured by an individually-defined 'statement of intent’ developed under supervision.

It requires you to develop and present the culmination, integration and application of experiences, methods, skills and mastery accrued throughout the course.

You are challenged to establish new ways of working, characterised by individually defined approaches to emergent issues in sustainability and design.

The final body of masterwork must be developed through practice(s) relevant to your research aims. These might include, for example, the development and production of design proposals, a written thesis, a documentary or film, an article for a leading publication, the development of a business plan, an exhibition, or a combination of the above.

Our studio

Students work in our masters centre which provides studio, seminar and tutorial space at Mithras House on the Moulsecoomb campus.

Students on our Sustainable Design MA will have dedicated studio space with access to workshop and digital model-making facilities. More specialised materials and making requirements can be supported on an individual basis with colleagues in engineering, crafts and arts.

Staff profile

Dr Tom Ainsworth, course leader

Dr Tom Ainsworth became course leader for the Sustainable Design MA in 2015. He is a design theorist specialising in design research, health and wellbeing and behavioural insights. He teaches in areas of sustainable design, design research and research ethics. He has extensive experience of large-scale research projects covering themes of sustainability, design innovation and interdisciplinary education.

He has had work published in international journals including: the International Journal for Art and Design Education, BMC Medical Education and the International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development. He is a regular reviewer for international publishers Routledge and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts and Manufactures (FRSA).

Read Tom's full profile.

Find out about our other staff Nick Gant, Dr Damon Taylor and Duncan Baker-Brown.

Student views

Gabriel Wulff

"The multi-disciplinary nature of the Sustainable Design MA course makes it a very diverse and exciting space. My classmates included economists, graphic designers, school teachers, industrial designers, architects and artists, representing just a few of the disciplines that come together to tackle one of the most important challenges of our era: sustainability.

"The course structure allowed the freedom to explore my personal research while delivering a solid background on sustainable design, its origins, evolution and current tendencies. The diversity of speakers invited to the course and the variety of subjects delivered, coupled with the different academic and cultural backgrounds of the students, offers an exceptional environment in which to explore sustainable approaches."

Rodrigo Bautista Medina

"The university continued to provide contact with industry, advice for job interviews, programs to enhance my CV and frequent communication even after I graduated."

Raquel Sereno

"I´m forever grateful to the University of Brighton, my tutors and fellow pupils. It was a remarkable time in my life when I got to open up my outlook and ideals. I particularly enjoyed the interdisciplinary courses and the fact that the MA was very much self taught, a learning curve of research and experimentation – trial and error. At masters level, the feedback of ideas between tutors and pupils was always very enriching. I met the most remarkable and lovely people and we have kept a strong bond." 

Student work 

International requirements and visas

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

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies, although we have tried to keep this to a minimum. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, whilst studying a course in the School of Architecture and Design are listed below:

• In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
• For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
• Most essay and report submissions can be made online however, you should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in your final year.
• For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
• Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
• You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the university.
• You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.
• Most courses include mandatory site visits and travel expenses are included in the fees.
• There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips throughout the course but these are not required to pass your course. The cost of travel to them will be covered by the course but there may be additional costs varying from a packed lunch to entrance to a museum.
• International field trips are offered in each year which are optional and are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget approximately £150–£350 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps