MA Design, Craftsmanship and Entrepreneurship
:: 1 Year Full Time, September and January intakes
In a world of low-cost manufacturing, infinitely replicable digital design and competitively priced high street and designer goods, we believe that objects formed by another human hand will become increasingly compelling, distinctive and in-demand.
Through an exploration of the inter-relationships between design, craftsmanship and sustainable enterprise this course equips students with the knowledge and tools to identify the skills and inherent value in hand-crafted produce and how this can be used to enhance the value chain and protect and build brands. It also examines the role of social innovation in creating sustainable enterprise within local communities.
Equally applicable to established businesses and micro enterprises, this course looks at every aspect of creating and sustaining a successful and sustainable craft enterprise, providing invaluable insights into both the making and marketing processes.
Your course in brief
From identifying the skills that make finely crafted products unique and how to achieve the optimum price for your goods; to managing every aspect of the production process and knowing how and when to extend your product range; to the importance of ethical and environmental issues in the global market right through to developing relevant staff training courses, this course covers everything you need to upgrade your business and access new markets.
Building on the framework established for our MA Fashion Management and Entrepreneurship, this course will include the following modules;
:: Ethical and Environmental Values
:: Design Craftsmanship
:: Creative Entrepreneurship and Sustainable
:: Practice
:: Industry Project
:: Major Research Project
Through a combination of lectures, seminars and case studies students will explore the complexities of establishing and managing a craft related brand in the highly competitive fashion, accessories and home-ware global markets. The involvement of Professor Bruce Montgomery (Design Craftsmanship) and Professor Jackie Guille (Ethical Enterprise) will ensure that the curriculum is informed by cutting edge design-craft practice for social and business innovation related research.
Who would this course suit?
Due to the in-built flexibility of this course and the fact that it can be tailored to suit the individual's specific needs, this course will appeal to a broad range of people, such as;
Graduates from the pathway will enter, or return to, the industry at senior levels or may look to develop innovative individual business opportunities. Career opportunities exist in specific fields including: design product management, project and account management, buying, marketing and retail management, sourcing and supply chain management, and within organisations specialising in the fields of ethical and environmental values. The entrepreneurial focus of the pathway is highly relevant for those who may prefer to establish their own fashion related business.
