Programme information
The focus of this programme is to communicate the latest knowledge and advances in design innovation practices. You will also learn how to enhance and develop innovative design skills and will discover how to replicate collaborative behaviour, through a mixture of active learning and team work.
All students will develop their knowledge by analysing and evaluating problems and responding to genuine industry challenges in real time. This learning environment will inform critical thinking and improve students’ effectiveness as innovation designers.
Entry requirements
2:2 (or above) in Design, Innovation, Business, Media, Technology or related subjects. Applicants from non-Design backgrounds require 55% and above in their final year.
Overseas qualification equivalenciesEnglish Language requirements
All applicants for admission to Loughborough University must have a qualification in English Language before they can be admitted to any course or programme, whether their first language is English or not.
English Language requirements: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in each subtest (Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking) or equivalent.
More on the Loughborough University websiteFees and funding
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. The standard tuition fees for this course for 2018/19 are:
- £10,250 (UK/EU)
- £23,300 (International)
University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Special arrangements are made for payments by part-time students.
View scholarships for 2018 entryProgramme aims
- To enhance design skills and knowledge through theoretical and practical application individually and in multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary teams
- Develop collaborative behaviour through active learning and team work, analysing and evaluating problems and responding to challenges in real time
- To enable graduates to develop their critical thinking and insight to improve their effectiveness as designers
- To enable graduates to develop their analytical and research skills through undertaking a substantial design and evaluation project with a focus on a particular area of design
Programme modules
This programme covers a wide range of topics; to give you a taster we have expanded on some of the core modules affiliated with this programme and the specific assessment methods associated with each module.
To complete the MA/MSc Design Innovation students must complete 8 x 15 credit modules (4 in the first semester and 4 in the second semester). In the first semester 3 modules are compulsory with the option to choose your final 1 module from another Institute. In the second semester all 4 modules are compulsory. All students must complete a Dissertation worth 60 credits.
Core modules
Identity, Culture and Communication
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the complex interplay between identity and culture and demonstrate these concepts through application to a relevant design context
- Analyse communication events, written texts and visual images to explore how culture and power relations work to produce particular meanings and communicate this in an appropriate language and report structure
- Discuss the concepts of identity and culture outlined in the course
- Apply outlined key concepts when undertaking the analysis of communication strategies observed within the student project teams.
- Develop and communicate ideas in a coherent sequence
- Use appropriate language and report structure
- Reference and attribute correctly
- Provide critical peer feedback
- Work in cross-cultural teams
- Use concepts from the module to inform their professional practice
Assessment
100% Coursework consisting of:
- 50% Individual Assessment
- 50% Individual Report
Design Thinking
Learning Outcomes
- Identify when and how to use range of Design Thinking tools;
- Select appropriate tools to inform project development;
- Appropriate use of the Design Thinking tools in a parallel module;
- Develop communication skills in diverse teams;
- Developed a systematic approach to tackle complex projects;
- Apply tools in a project context;
- Work with variety of stakeholders;
- Understand how to tackle `wicked' problems;
- Be able to deliver a succinct presentation to communicate key facts.
Assessment
- 10% Presentation
- 20% Peer Feedback
- 70% Report
Reflection and Action
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research and advanced scholarship and display evidence of understanding the requirements of focusing research ideas
- Understand what is a reflective practice and its role in design research
- Develop a feasible research direction
- Plan and pilot a research method suitable to the individuals dissertation
- understand the participatory and action research methodologies
- reflect, identify and agree a dissertation direction
- engage in a sustained piece of individual, academic research on a chosen research method
- articulate, carry out and reflect a feasible pilot project
- manage their time and resources effectively
- use initiative and take responsibility
- develop skills in pilot study planning
- display evidence of independent research skills
Assessment
- 10% Research Method Pilot poster
- 30% Presentation
- 60% Research Method Pilot Study Report
Meaning Making in Design
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate your understanding of how designers' practices are interwoven with elements of production and consumption of culture.
- Cultural processes which form the culture of circuit
- Display the interplay of elements within the culture of circuit in construction of meaning
- Identify relation between design and culture
- Explain the key concepts of `culture, cultural formation and production in relation design
- Analyse complex cultural issues and evaluate design processes and products
- Collect data and analyse these using the key concepts discussed in the module
- Provide peer feedback
- Respond to peer feedback
- Develop understanding of culture as non-essential
- Understand interplay of elements in construction of meaning
Assessment
- Case study (80%)
- Peer feedback (20%)
Foresight and Strategy
As part of the Introduction to Foresight and Forecasting module, you will research methods for trends in forecasting, create scenarios and personas, create speculative designs, explore science fiction in film and literature, and understand making films to `sell' concepts.
The aim of this module is to broaden your experience and skills as a designer to include knowledge of, and competence with, the deployment of foresight, forecasting and scenario writing to inform future design and business strategy.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
- Engage in research and analysis to gather key insights appropriate to the future strategy of a business, and propose design solutions which complement, inform and challenge that strategy, as appropriate;
- Research techniques for future forecasting;
- Persona and scenario development as techniques for generating insights;
- Persona and scenario development as techniques for generating stakeholder buy-in;
- Creating speculative and/or conceptual design solutions;
- The role(s) of speculative design concepts with a business;
- Use a range of techniques for generating key insights;
- Apply key insights to speculative and/or conceptual design solutions;
- Use a range of presentation techniques such as storyboarding, video, UX simulation, rendering and animation, as appropriate to the design concept;
- Present and document insights gained from research in a credible and convincing manner;
- Present 'hard-to-grasp' concepts in a compelling and convincing manner;
- Engage in critique of the work of others;
- Gather and analyse research material relevant to the future strategy of a business;
- Generate design concepts within the context of future business strategy;
- Present concepts in a manner which is understandable to non-designer stakeholders.
Assessment
- 30% Peer Feedback
- 70% Foresight & Strategy Scenario(s)
Design Innovation Project
The Design Innovation Project is designed so that students develop and gain experience in using key skills that will enable them to work successfully with various organisational project team members in the face to face and distributed product development process. The module will prepare the students to develop as culturally competent project leaders.
The aim of this module is to provide students with skills for working in design innovation work teams.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:
- Develop strategies to plan and execute a project across distributed collaborative teams.
- Understand the impact of distributed project teams on project management
- Develop and gain experience in using distance communication
- Explore cultural issues and concepts with exchanges and project evaluation
- Develop skills in generating and ev aluation of project briefs
- Demonstrate increased awareness of cultural issues and concepts
- Develop strategies to make a contribution diverse project teams
- Use distance communication tools
- Provide critical feedback to peers
- Articulate a project brief and project review criteria
- Use digital communication tools
- Develop teamwork skills
- Develop the means to implement and communicate the strategy to a 'client'
- Communicate effectively, with colleagues and a wider audience, in a variety of media
- Solve problems in creative and innovative ways
Assessment
- 30% Design Process Diary
- 30% Reflective Article
- 40% Project Deliverables
Collaborative Project
Learning Outcomes
- Work effectively in diverse and interdisciplinary teams;
- Undertake and contribute towards a project-based development process;
- Apply critical enquiry, reflection, and creative methods to identify, frame, and resolve issues and problems at hand;
- Identify user and stakeholder needs and value creation opportunities, whilst collecting and applying evidence-based information and knowledge to develop appropriate insights, practices and solutions;
- Identify, structure, reflect on key issues and propose solutions to problems in creative ways;
- Enhance your appreciation for diversity and divergent individual and disciplinary perspectives;
- Be able to provide structured, reflective and critical feedback to peers and other stakeholders;
- Plan and execute a project plan including scope, resources and timing;
- Effectively communicate ideas, methods and results to a diverse range of stakeholders;
- Use multiple, state-of-the-art date media and technologies to communicate with collaborators;
- Make informed, critical and reflective decisions in time-limited situations.
Assessment
- 20% Group project proposal
- 20% Individual reflection
- 30% Final Project Report
- 30% Project deliverables to the client
Dissertation
- A desk based research project that could be set by an organisation or could be a subject of the student's choice
- A project that involves collection of primary data from within an organisation or based on lab and/or field experiments
- An Internship within an organisation during which time students will complete a project as part of their role in agreement with the organisation (subject to a suitable placement position being obtained)
- By undertaking a dissertation at master's level, you will achieve a high level of understanding in your chosen subject area and will produce a written thesis or project report which will discuss your research in more detail.
Learning Outcomes
- The importance of project planning;
- The importance of a clear hypothesis or research question;
- The ethical implications of research;
- The relevant empirical data and methodologies for data collection or knowledge assimilation for the subject area;
- Methods of data analysis and their suitability for the intended data;
- The areas of expertise or publications of the major individuals or organisations in the subject or business area;
- The previous research or current knowledge in the specific subject or business area;
- Theoretical perspectives relevant to your chosen topic;
- The most effective methods of presentation for data or knowledge;
- Developing a clear, coherent and original research question, hypothesis or business problem in a suitable subject area;
- Synthesising relevant sources (e.g. research literature, primary data) to construct a coherent argument in response to your research question, hypothesis or business problem;
- Analysing primary or secondary data collected by an appropriate method;
- Critically evaluating data collected in context with previously published knowledge or information;
- Engaging in critical debate and argumentation in written work;
- Applying principles of good scholarly practice to your written work;
- Performing appropriate literature searching/business information searching using library databases or other reputable sources;
- Planning a research project and producing a realistic gantt chart demonstrating your intended timelines;
- Synthesising information from appropriate sources;
- Demonstrating rational use of research method tools;
- Selecting and using appropriate investigative and research skills;
- Demonstrating effective project planning skills;
- Finding and evaluating scholarly sources;
- Engaging in critical reasoning, debate and argumentation;
- Demonstrating effective report writing skills;
- Recognising and using resources effectively;
- Successfully managing a project from idea to completion;
- Demonstrating commercial awareness or the impact of knowledge transfer in a business or research environment.
Assessment
- 20% Literature review
- 20% Research proposal
- 60% Dissertation report/essay
Second subject modules (your choice of one)
Introduction to Digital Technologies
Learning Outcomes
- Receive an overview of the mobile Internet and cloud technologies with specific knowledge in media cloud applications on mobile devices, systems and Internet in general, and the challenges that are associated with making such applications available to the end-users via the mobile Internet and cloud technology
- The mobile Internet technology, media cloud applications, and the strengths and associated challenges by utilising mobile cloud technology and applications
- Mobile networking and media cloud topics
- Privacy and security issues in mobile cloud services
- Mobile Internet and cloud business models
- Gain experience with the understanding of mobile Internet architecture and access techniques, system performance and limitation
- Gain specific skills in media cloud applications and how the combination of mobile Internet with cloud computing technology will fast-changing the future of media applications for people on the move and the daily life of public in general
- Apply their knowledge of mobile Internet and media cloud technology in media service delivery and communication industry
- Tackle media cloud application and mobile communication networks related problems and deal with their possible solutions
- Equip themselves with the necessary understanding and essential knowledge that are required for service provider jobs in the cloud computing, applications, and mobile services provision domains
Assessment
- Coursework (30%)
- Exam (70%)
Principles of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management
Learning Outcomes
- Innovation as a process;
- Identify the academic theories of entrepreneurship;
- Identify the factors influencing the success of organisations;
- Relate innovation theory to the performance of organisations;
- Use investigative and research skills;
- Demonstrate effective report writing skills.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness.
Assessment
- 50% Report 1
- 50% Report 2
The Key Topics in Media and Creative Industries
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how and why the media and creative industries have been defined;
- Understand the importance of industrial structure in media and creative industries;
- Understand the implications of innovation and technological change for media and creative industries;
- Understand changing business models in media and creative industries;
- Understand the importance of copyright and how this is affected by technological change;
- Understand why media and creative industries cluster in particular spaces and cities;
- Understand the globalisation of media and creative industries;
- Understand media and cultural policy.
- Identify, debate and evaluate relevant critical perspectives on media and creative industries;
- Systematically assess the implicit theoretical assumptions of contrasting perspectives;
- Use critical perspectives to analyse emerging trends in media and creative industries;
- Communicate effectively in speech and writing, with academic and non-academic audiences;
- Engage in critical reasoning, debate and argumentation;
- Assess the empirical validity of competing perspectives;
- Manage time and resources effectively;
- Synthesise different sources of data and identify key arguments and issues at stake in particular fields of practice;
- Understand the behaviour of firms in media and creative industries;
- Understand emerging trends in media and creative industries;
- Apply skills in written and verbal communication that are relevant to this field;
- Be able to plan, organise and manage coursework assignments, demonstrating independence, initiative and originality.
Assessment
- 100% Coursework
Sport Media and Marketing
Learning Outcomes
- Assess the major theories, principles, and concepts surrounding sport media and marketing;
- Apply techniques and practices involved in conceptualising and developing a marketing plan;
- Gather, analyse, and present sport media and marketing ideas and concepts;
- Apply sport media and marketing principles that can be utilised in different sport environments;
- Demonstrate initiative and personal responsibility;
- Continue to learn independently and to develop professionally.
Assessment
- 40% Sponsorship Pitch
- 60% Marketing Plan
Introduction to Diplomacy
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate the historical evolution of the modern international system
- Critically evaluate the key concepts and theories of diplomacy
- Evaluate the role and behaviours of international organisations and states in the international system
- Evaluate the context of the present-day international political and economic relations within which diplomacy takes place
- Identify and assess the importance of such dynamics for their respective fields of study
- Construct reasoned arguments utilising concepts and approaches to the study of diplomacy
- Recognise established and emergent phenomena in the practice of diplomacy within the current global affairs
- Creatively and critically evaluate the possibilities of various intersections between diplomatic practice and the objectives and modes of delivery in their respective fields
- Via in-class team tasks, and in assessed assignments, apply such skills to empirically grounded case study materials
- Reflect on own learning and make use of constructive feedback
- Gather and organise evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and primary sources
- Work in small groups
- Develop research and presentation skills
- Develop a cross-disciplinary and collaborative research and learning ethos
Assessment
- 40% Presentation
- 60% Essay
Future career prospects
Upon graduating, you will be equipped with advanced knowledge to enhance your career opportunities in design and branding consultancies, in-house design and marketing departments as designers and design managers. You will become a professional versed with design skills and interdisciplinary teamwork. Graduates will also have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and career prospects further by undertaking an MRes or PhD programme.
Your personal development
Enterprise Through the Curriculum is an intrinsic element of every master’s programme at Loughborough University London and has been carefully designed to give students the best possible chance of securing their dream role. From employability profiling to live group projects set by a business or organisation, and from site visits to organisation-based dissertation opportunities, Loughborough University London is the first of its kind to develop a suite of activities and support that is positioned as the underpinning of every student’s experience.
Assessments
Modules are assessed by a combination of essays, group exercises, presentations and time constrained assignments. Subject to your choices, there may also be exams.
Students will be asked to produce project briefs, concept drawings, user scenarios, storyboards, project blogs and multimedia documentation. Take a look at our modules below to see what assessments you can expect to undertake.
Speak to a programme specialist
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