Design Innovation & Future Heritage

Key Facts

Staff

Programme Overview

Award

MDes in Design Innovation and Future Heritage Design. All GSA degree programmes are validated by the University of Glasgow. Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities and a founder member of Universitas 21, an international grouping of universities dedicated to setting worldwide standards for higher education.

Assessment

The assessment combines written work, visual and project material produced both by groups and individuals. The assessment formats are designed to develop analytical thinking, creative synthesis and a rigorous capacity for reflection and self-evaluation. There is an emphasis upon collaborative studio working combined with individual exploration and analysis of theoretical positions and discourses.

Facilities
You will study at GSA’s Creative Campus in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Located just outside Forres, the Creative Campus is a research and postgraduate teaching centre for international excellence in creativity and innovation. The combination of modern studio environment and workshop with a traditional highland setting offers a unique educational experience. We deliver Masters and PhD programmes, and the campus location enables us to research in geographically diverse and distributed contexts as well, as develop innovative forms of teaching with our academic partners around the world.

Indicative Additional Costs
Individual departments levy material fees as indicated on this page. You should budget for each year of your programme of study and should allow for costs over and above your fees and maintenance, particularly if expensive materials or projects are chosen.

Head of School
Prof. Gordon Hush

Academic Leads
Dr Iain Reid (Glasgow)
Dr Mafalda Moreira (Glasgow)
Ruth Cochrane (Forres)

Programme Coordinator
Dr Iain Reid

 

Lecturer & Subject Leader
Dr Aude Le Guennec


Research Methods Lecturer
Dr Mafalda Moreira

Programme Overview

This programme is taught at the GSA's campus in the Highlands of Scotland. More information on living and studying at our Highlands campus is available here.

Future heritage design is a speculative interdisciplinary undertaking that draws upon a variety of academic disciplines such as design innovation, design anthropology, heritage and museum studies, heritage-based design practice, and user experience design. This course aims to delineate the concept of heritage in contemporary society, questions its ownership and identify its role in the society, from both local and global perspectives. It makes an early and important impact on heritage practice and cultural policy, recognising the relationship between heritage, community wellbeing and sustainability. This course encourages us to think how we can interpret and be inspired by heritage in a way that is speculative and culturally relevant to our society.

This programme aims to challenge conventions in heritage and cultural design and to develop critical engagement with, and a working knowledge of, heritage debates, history, environmental issues, and societal concern; and provide speculative and interdisciplinary design perspectives to explore the development of future heritage and its benefits on communities and the industry; as well as utilise theoretical and technical skills to complete a collaborative project within a heritage setting.

You will also have the opportunity to engage with peers from international schools as part of the annual Winter School. This seasonal event brings together students and faculty from leading institutions around the world for a two-week programme of lectures, workshops and networking opportunities that offers an insight into what a career in design as a global activity looks like.