Design (LT, EN)

Programme code 

6211PX007

Qualification degree

Master of Arts

Level of qualification

University studies, Second cycle, graduate (Master's)

Mode of study

Full-time, 2 years, 120 credits

Aim

The aim of the programme is to educate a designer-researcher, a design-expert, a creative and responsible personality who is capable of the following:
- to critically assess the trends and scenarios of the social development and consumer culture. To solve complex socio-cultural, environmental, technological or economic, business problems in the fields of a product or special (contextual) design.
- to develop skills of critical and strategic thinking, to carry out research activities in the sphere of design and to base the results of practical activities on the research data.
- to create design objects, systems, processes or services, competitive at the international level and to implement design projects in cooperation with stakeholders.
- to reflect a personal creative activity, to define its exceptionality and to combine it with the needs of society.

Profile of study programme

The Master’s programme in design is two-year university studies in the field of design, which provide students with the possibilities to deepen their knowledge and develop their skills to investigate complex socio-cultural, socio-economic, technological problems of the product and spatial design and to offer innovative ways of solving them. The Master’s degree studies are focused on two directions of design research and innovations – product design and spatial (contextual) design and their interrelation. Neither direction is singled out as a separate specialisation but forms the whole in which the students can try different design methods and forms, as well as define their personal creative position as designers.
The basis of studies is project design activities. It does not address the design problems of a single object (product), but draws on a holistic approach and contextual research involving people, their experiences and needs, spaces, artifacts, materials, technologies, design and business strategies influencing design concept transformations into object, services, systems or processes. Design is perceived as a whole, as a catalyst for change, identifying the problems of the individual, society and the environment. During the first year of studies the principles and the process of strategic, critical and conceptual design, the latest design research methods, as well as links between art, science, technologies and design innovations are dealt with. Strategies and problems of design integration in different systems and situations; links and opposites of an individual-group-society, an individual-environment are addressed. Intensive creative practices, individual and team projects are carried out in cooperation with enterprises and organisations. During the second year of studies the students work in enterprises and organisations and prepare their Master’s thesis and design project. Studies are completed by a public exhibition of independently prepared design research and project presentation.

Occupational profiles of graduates

The students who complete the Master’s study programme in design can do creative work of a designer-researcher, consultant, and a project manager in design studios, production, service agencies and companies, public and state organisations. The graduates can set up individual design enterprises, or work as freelance designers, carry out consultancy, expert activities, teach design at higher educational institutions, work in the spheres of design journalism, as curators, to continue studying at the Doctoral level, the programme in art and design.

Study programme coordinator and study organization department

Prof. Juozas Brundza
Vilnius faculty, Department of Design

Assoc. prof. Renatas Šukys
Kaunas faculty, Department of Design