MA

Sustainable
Design
www.kingston.ac.uk/pgsustainabledesign2015
 M A S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N / www.kingston.ac.uk/pgsustainabledesign2015

OVERVIEW /This course is aimed at designers, creative

workers and other specialists who want to direct their
practice towards progressive sustainability and social
agendas. It focuses on the value of design as a vehicle
for addressing social and ecological concerns in both
developed and developing world settings. It will equip
you with the knowledge, capabilities and confidence
to challenge the status quo by applying design
thinking to a generation of design-led interventions
for a sustainable future./

MODE
FULL TIME 1 YEAR

PART TIME 2 YEARS

ATTENDANCE
FULL TIME 2 days a week

PART TIME 1-2 days a week

START DATE
FULL TIME SEPTEMBER 2015

PART TIME SEPTEMBER 2015

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TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
Design project work, written assignments, live projects,
major design research project.
Course philosophy
The Sustainable Design MA is directed towards the goal of
creating a more sustainable and equitable society. You will
explore innovative and practical ways to help realise those
visions, emphasising design, creativity, empathy,
innovation, leadership and campaigning.
The course encourages critical thinking about the social
and ecological agendas it addresses. The course is
design-based, but not confined to design practice – it
includes a significant amount of theoretical and contextual
studies. It is possible to choose a dissertation option for
the final major project.
You will be taught by leading academics and practitioners
in sustainable design, social design, social innovation,
participatory design, strategic design, service design,
designled innovation, and related topics. The course
incorporates collaboration with real-world partners such
as Audi Design Foundation, Design Council, Greengaged,
Sorrell Foundation, ThinkPublic and Uscreates.
/The course focuses on the value
of design as a vehicle for addressing
social and ecological concerns in
both developed and developing
world settings /
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Course Structure
The Sustainable Design MA course is part of the Design
School’s postgraduate programme. The structure – shared
with students from Communication Design MA, Product +
Space MA, and Fashion MA – enables you to explore
your individual specialist interests in sustainable design
within an integrative learning environment that provides a
comprehensive understanding of the value and role of
interdisciplinary methods and ways of working. The influences
and impact of thinking from other related design subjects
on your own specialist study is an important aspect of the
identity and the community of interdisciplinary practice at
masters level in the Design School.
This structure is designed to help progress and develop
your independent learning, encouraging you to construct
and explore projects concerned with areas of particular
personal interests. The overarching course philosophy, based
upon an emphasis on research, methodology and design
thinking, allows individual and personal concerns to be
explored through focused study in sustainable design.
Design for Social Innovation can also be taken as a stand-
alone module.
Teaching block one
Design for Social Innovation
• Social innovation is an emerging mode of creative and
participatory human-centred practice which seeks to
address societal challenges such as wellbeing, healthcare,
homelessness, ageing, poverty, public service delivery
and unemployment. It can be seen as a design-led
activity. Design for social innovation is therefore the
emerging mode of design practice and theory in which
design thinking is applied to social and societal
challenges. The co-production of design outcomes,
moreover, sees designers acting as facilitators and
enablers, rather than authors, of these outcomes.
• This module focuses on the development of design-
based research skills and capabilities useful for
responding to real-world challenges or so-called ‘wicked
problems’. Emphasis is placed on problem-finding and
problem-setting, rather than simply seeking solutions to
problems as they are currently expressed.
• Design for Social Innovation can also be taken as
a stand-alone module.
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Designing Research Teaching block two

• Designing Research lectures and seminars are designed
Sustainable Design Principles, Perspectives
to enable students to rationalise and focus on thematic
and Practices
approaches to problem finding and problem solving. The
aim of this module is that, through knowledge of existing This module explores the key principles and perspectives

conventions and the development of students’ personal that inform the various practices of sustainability,

visual vocabulary, they will be able to make practical use sustainable development and sustainable design (design

of their ideas, perceptions and discoveries, and to work for sustainability) in developed and developing world

effectively and creatively with reference to a wider contexts. It examines the ways in which contemporary and

inter-disciplinary and cultural context. emerging modes of design practice and theory relate to
the sustainability agenda.
•T
 he integrative programme of study encourages students
to develop a personal and critical point of view through Module content will include:
recording, documentation and evaluation of ideas from
• models of sustainability;
within their discipline and from the wider interdisciplinary
environment, and applying those findings within • measures of sustainable development;
project work. • histories, theories and practices of design for
•T
 he Designing Research module introduces and develops sustainability; and
a range of analytical tools with which to interrogate • histories, theories and practices of design for
designed objects and artefacts, and makes links between development.
analytical and propositional methods – creating a
framework within which to structure self-initiated project
Creative Futures
proposals. Practical research methods are explored, with
• Creative Futures lectures and seminars are intended to
an emphasis on the development of creative, rational
enable students to develop an approach and focus to
and effective approaches to visual experimentation and
their future career and their ongoing personal and
critical reflection on practical design work within a
professional development. The aim of this module is that
logical, and measurable, framework. The aim of this
through the understanding of the key disciplinary and
module is to provide understanding of the wide ranging
inter-disciplinary skills and attributes required for a
methods and tools that are available to inform and
career in the creative industries they will be able to
support the development of students’ practical study and
develop an informed and focused Major Project proposal
to provide the basis of their further study on the course.
and project in Teaching Block 3.

• This module builds upon the notion that the best jobs/
careers in the creative industries do not exist, that they
/There is an emphasis on the are invented and created from individual creative
development of creative, rational and ambitions and understanding, and explores how this can

effective approaches to visual be approached in practical terms. The programme of

study encourages students to develop a personal and
experimentation and critical reflection critical approach to their future career and its
on practical design work within a relationship to the development of their individual major
logical, and measurable, framework./ project.

• The Creative Futures module introduces and develops a

range of practical methods by which the foundations of a
sustainable and successful design practice and career
can be understood and built upon. Lectures, Seminars
and workshops will introduce and explore key issues and
areas that help students to build their understanding of
how to develop their own approach to professional

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career planning. Students will also be expected to
engage in a range of activities that include: professional
competitions, live project work, studio visits and
professional practice lectures. This work will support and
inform the development of their Major Project Proposal
that will be presented at the end of the module.
These three options are available to all students studying
on the courses within the Design School Postgraduate
Framework. Students will be guided and supported in their
choice of mode of Major Project by course tutors and this
will be informed by individual career and personal
development planning undertaken during the preparation
of the Major Project Proposal in DE7301 Creative Futures.

Teaching block three

The Design School
Major Project Tomorrow’s designers need to be able to think critically
•T
 he Major Project – the capstone project – consolidates and act practically; they are required to be contextually
the knowledge gained in earlier modules and is informed insightful & creative and therefore well placed to meet new
and supported by prior learning within both the Design challenges in a strategic, ambitious and perhaps
School’s postgraduate interdisciplinary framework and entrepreneurial manner. The School is concerned with
course specific specialist study. creative rigour in the context of Design education,
practice, research and enterprise. It is a critically engaged
•T
 he purpose of this module is to enable students to
community of design practitioners, educators, researchers
relate the work of the course to a practical solution
and entrepreneurs. It is a school that is discipline focussed
and to demonstrate skills in defining, analysing and
and in which making is central to its practice.
developing a substantial solution to an individually
defined design related problem. It will demonstrate
both in content and form the students advanced Staff
understanding of contemporary design practice. DR PAUL MICKLETHWAITE, SENIOR RESEARCH
•T
 he research and documentation of the project is an FELLOW, COURSE DIRECTOR, MA SUSTAINABLE
integral part of the submission, reflecting on the DESIGN
process, as well as the critical analysis and methodology Email: p.micklethwaite@kingston.ac.uk 
of the research itself. The research will be conceptually
Specialist subjects: Paul specialises in sustainable design
integrated within the practical work. Individual project
and social research methods. He has a BA in Philosophy
topics are expected to be wide ranging and provide the
and English from the University of York, and an MA in
opportunity to fully investigate a practical situation,
Innovation Studies from the University of Huddersfield,
underpinned by a critical report on the work produced.
where he also gained a PhD investigating the question
Topics must allow the opportunity to position work
‘what is design?’
politically, socially and culturally and identify and apply
appropriate technology as a means of delivery. Project
Paul now teaches, supervises research students, and
topics must demonstrate the potential necessary to
undertakes research projects and knowledge transfer
achieve the level appropriate to the learning outcomes.
activities across a wide range of areas within
sustainable design.
Three possible forms of Major Project submission are
available to students (see below):

• 1 /2 The Practical Project Practical (outcome supported

by research, testing and developmental materials)
70% and The Project Report (3-5,000 words) 30%.

• 3. The Thesis (12-15,000 words) 100%.

•4
 . The Design Management Project Report (10,000
words) 100%. Intended in the main as the outcome for
students studying on the MA Design for Development.

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The Faculty of Art, Design
& Architecture
We have a thriving academic community here at Kingston,
with many staff members working as artists, designers and
architects alongside their teaching. This means you can
share their specialised and in-depth knowledge.
All of our art and design courses are closely linked with
the creative industries, while our planning courses have
strong links to the surveying industry’s professional
bodies – the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
and the Royal Town Planning Institute – and our
architecture courses have close links with the Royal
Institute of British Architects.
In addition, industry experts often teach and even contribute
to the design of our courses, helping to enhance your
studies and ensure that you graduate as a marketable
industry professional.
Our industry connections mean that:
• we can ensure that your work is seen
by eminent people in the profession;
• we run ‘live’ projects;
• we can arrange work placements within
prestigious companies or institutions;
• we often organise site visits;
• you will be able to carry out project work
with visiting expert lecturers; and
• you can attend workshops and talks with
industry specialists.
Facilities – Thinking Through Making
Whether we are speaking about fashion or architecture,
interior or product design, at Kingston all students are
grounded in the materiality of their disciplines; we are
still making things at Kingston and we have a hands-on
approach to everything we do. To support this emphasis,
we’ve recently invested heavily in our campus to provide
great workshops and the latest equipment.
Our 3D materials workshop enables you to work with
materials such as wood, metal, stone, plastic, plaster,
bio-resins, wax and ceramics. The workshop is open
to everyone – from fashion students using the leather-
cutting equipment to landscape architecture students
making models.
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Other facilities include:
• ArchiLab, our Architectural Science and
Technology Laboratory;
• a filming environment and animation suite, which
includes a large filming space (with infinity cove,
professional film green-screen and all the kit you need
to use it), plus professional-standard equipment for
post-production, animation and sound recording;
• a professional photography suite with two new
digital darkrooms;
• a print room for intaglio, lithography, screenprint
and collagraphy;
• a newly specified, open-access digital workshop;
• a new reception area that includes a gallery, art shop and
social space; and the light and airy glass-roofed learning
resources centre (LRC).
Our specialist support and technical staff will help you
get the most from our facilities. To find out more about
what’s on offer, visit www.kingston.ac.uk/fadafacilities
Location
Kingston upon Thames is a great place in which to
experience life in the UK. Kingston is located in south-west
London, around 12 miles (19km) from Trafalgar Square,
and central London is approximately 25 minutes by train.
Our location means you can study in a safe, attractive
part of the city, away from the crowds of the centre but
with still be within easy access to all its attractions. This
gives you access to all the inspiration and opportunities
the city has to offer – the creative industries, leading
cultural organisations, museums, galleries, exhibitions
and events – all within easy reach.
Although part of Greater London, Kingston is a busy town
in its own right, packed with historic buildings, great shops
and leisure venues. The town is situated by the River
Thames, very close to Bushy Park, Hampton Court Palace
and Richmond Park, so there is lots of open space nearby
to enjoy.
 M A S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N / www.kingston.ac.uk/pgsustainabledesign2015

Careers and industry WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

How we work with industry partners Please note that this course was previously known as MA
This course provides numerous opportunities to get involved Design for Development.
with organisations outside the University. This course is a great start to your future career – check
You will benefit from: out what our graduates have gone on to do.

• live projects with outside organisations; Name: Ann Brown

• site visits;
WHY KINGSTON? /I chose Kingston University
• visiting speakers; and
because of the MA course, it is a relatively
• t he option of undertaking a major collaborative project niche subject in the UK and yet the course
with an external partner or your own employer.
description seemed to speak directly to
We have exceptional links with major organisations involved me, it caters for exactly what I was looking
in socially and environmental responsible design, such as: for. Upon visiting the university, I liked
• Audi; the community feel of Knights Park
• Design Council; campus, it feels more personal and
creative than other university design
• Design Museum;
facilities. The small course size was also
• Greengaged;
an attraction for me.
• Green-Works;

• London Remade;
WHAT INSPIRES YOU? /I am very much inspired
by the power and reach of music and have
• National Trust 
a love for indie folk in particular, even
• [re]design;
more so if it’s live! I am also incredibly
• Remarkable Limited; inspired by experiencing and learning
• Royal Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce; about other cultures and how incredibly
• SEED Foundation; diverse they are.
• Sorrell Foundation WHAT NEXT?/Returning to design education
• ThinkPublic; as a mature student was very much about
• Thomas Matthews; me re-discovering where my design
• Transport for London;
thinking skills can play a more valuable
role in society, I’m still on this path of
• UsCreates
discovery. I would like to learn more from
• Waste Resource Action Programme; and
other cultures, so the next step is out of
• Workspace plc. the UK to practice design thinking in
You also benefit from being at the heart of things thanks unconventional settings, where to,
to the University’s London location – there is a wide range I’m not sure yet./
of networking opportunities in London and beyond, which
will help you develop your connections. An important
advantage of this programme is getting to know people
with a shared purpose – whether they are fellow students,
experts delivering lectures or the leaders in organisations
you collaborate with on a project.

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Name: Alex Clarke
WHY KINGSTON?/The course was exactly what
I was looking for – covering design for
sustainability issues and design for social
innovation too, as well as having a
published course leader with fantastic
links to those leading the field in industry.
/Meeting like-minded
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
people from all different walks of life, and
listening to and learning from
professionals who have extensive
experience.
WHAT NEXT?/I’m not quite sure yet – this
course has opened so many more doors
for me, that I’m still deciding where I
now want my career to go! Having all
these options for my future is a very
exciting prospect though./
Name: Rao Qingfang,  prepared to lay out innovative solutions
Audi Design Foundation Scholar
/“One of the most important benefits
of this course is that it builds on your
previous design background, adding the
sustainability advantage. You will be
inspired by lectures from eminent
designers and tutors. You will meet fellow
students from all over the world with
different backgrounds.
The experience of using design
approaches to solve complex sustainable
problems is challenging, but I feel
extremely motivated by working and
discussing with like-minded people. Their
different ideas and approaches are
invaluable to my projects and life in the
future. The course has not only shown me
the big picture of design and development, but
also helped me develop a more holistic
way of thinking.
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Studying at Kingston University has
also provided me the chance to join some
of the best design events and exhibitions
in London. This has let me see diverse
possibilities and grow my own ideas.
I believe the intensive study is helping
me to broaden my design vision,
knowledge and practices, and prepare
me as a designer ready to solve
real-world problems.”/
Name: Liani Van der Westhuizen, 
Audi Design Foundation Scholar
/“This course gave me the skills
I needed to connect designers with
communities in need, and to address
development issues using the design
process as a problem solving tool.
It also allowed me to hone my skills and
amplify my awareness so that now I feel
for a more sustainable future.
Value-driven designers need networks
and support mechanisms in the design
industry in order to share their ideas and
work more effectively in support of the
ideals in which they believe. Kingston
University presented me with enough
exposure in a dynamic international
environment to broaden my horizons,
and develop the necessary skills,
experience and spirit to achieve
these goals.”/
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WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY (CONTINUED) Start a Business – Kingston is top

in the UK for graduate start-ups
All our courses are designed to prepare you for professional
Name: David Singer
practice and our graduates can be found in leading practices
David Singer is now a senior service designer at across the world. Many have gone on to establish their
Innovation Unit. own businesses and, in turn, employ new Kingston graduates.

Graduating from the course was the key enabler for In fact, Kingston University figures released in 2014 show
David to cement his move into public sector service that we have the highest number of graduate start-up
design and innovation. companies of all UK institutions* — for the fifth year
running! We give lots of support to entrepreneurs at
/“For many years I’d sought a way to Kingston — for example, mentoring, knowledge sharing,
influence the system of health care and sponsored competitions, networking opportunities — so if
you’re interested in starting a business or marketing a new
support that I’d found so frustrating to
product, we can help.
work in as a front-line social worker. In
June 2011 I stumbled across my now For more information on entrepreneurship,

employer, Innovation Unit, and from that see www.kingston.ac.uk/entrepreneurship

moment on I knew I’d found the right

career to focus my energies and hopes for Learning support

a more vibrant system of public services When you arrive at Kingston, we will make sure you have
access to appropriate advice regarding your academic
and health and care infrastructures.
development. You will also be able to use the University’s
The course was a perfect fit to support services.

accelerate me, a once designer then public Personal training plans

sector transformation lead, into an We offer all students training sessions when they arrive at
innovation space with a strong design-led Kingston University, covering:
set of methodologies to strive to activate • project management;
sustainable public sector system
• communication skills; and
transformation.
• information research and retrieval.
I’m now working across a wide array The aim is to give you the chance to improve your study,
of different public sector transformation research and life skills.
projects. I’m designing a new model of
StudySpace
support for young people and families
StudySpace is an online learning management system.
living with learning disabilities, designing
It is a potentially limitless resource for lecture notes
a peer research programme for a mental and interactive teaching including:
wellbeing mentorship project, redesigning
• access to course materials such as lecture notes, backup
a hospital service system and designing materials, presentations and previous exam papers;
a multimedia impact measurement • online chatrooms and bulletin boards — so you can
programme to reveal the outcomes of interact with staff and other students; and
a health system founded on the principles • multimedia features — such as video tutorials.
of co-production. It’s a pretty perfect way
Because you can use StudySpace from any internet-
to spend my working day.”/ enabled computer at any time, you can choose when
and where you study.

*The Higher Education Business and Community Interaction survey 2012–13

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My Kingston
The Kingston University student intranet provides a fast,
easy way to find information online. It provides everything
you need to know about student life at Kingston including
direct links to StudySpace, StudentHUB, OSIS and the
iCat library search facility.
Entry requirements
Here you’ll find the entry requirements for this course.
Please read them carefully as they are very important for
your application. There is no formal deadline for receipt of
applications, and applications may be made at any time.
•A
 good honours degree, or equivalent, in a design
or design-related subject, and/or relevant professional
experience.
•A
 portfolio of design / creative work – ideally showing
thoughtful work across several fields or disciplines
(strong and original ideas are more important than
perfect realisation or execution).
•N
 on-designers are also eligible to apply for this course,
in which case the portfolio of design / creative work
should be replaced by a portfolio of relevant professional
practice or project work from other fields.
•A
 convincing personal statement about why you want to
study this course in particular, and what themes or
topics most interest you;
•E
 vidence of additional real-world or professional
experience that informs your choice and motivates you.
Prior learning – AP(E)L
Applicants with prior qualifications and learning may be
exempt from appropriate parts of a course in accordance
with the University’s policy for the assessment of prior
learning and prior experiential learning. Contact the
faculty office for further information.
International students
We welcome applications from international students.
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English language requirements
All non-UK applicants must meet our English language
requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 6.5
overall, with special conditions in all elements. Please
make sure you read our full guidance about English
language requirements, which includes details of other
qualifications we’ll consider.
Applicants who do not meet the English language
requirements may be eligible to join our pre-sessional
English language course.
Applicants from one of the recognised majority English
speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet
these requirements.
Fees
Please note that fees relate to the academic year in
question and will increase in future years. They are subject
to confirmation and may change.
For courses that can be studied part time, the part time
fees are for students entering year 1. The fees for students
entering year 2 in the following year will remain the same.
Fees may increase for students entering years 1 and 2 in
future years.
HOME AND EUROPEAN UNION 2015/16
• MA FULL TIME £5,900
• MA Part TIME £2,950
OVERSEAS (NOT EU) 2015/16
• MA FULL TIME £13,700
• MA Part TIME £6,850
Important: international students from outside of the
European Economic Area (EEA) are required to pay
a deposit in order to receive a Confirmation of Acceptance
for Studies (CAS) from Kingston University. This applies
to all full-time postgraduate taught masters courses.
How to apply
www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate-course/sustainable-
design-ma/apply-now.html
Further information
Visit: www.kingston.ac.uk/pgsustainabledesign2015
Postgraduate admissions administrator
Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 4646
Email: designpostgrad@kingston.ac.uk