Ceramic Design

• Stoke-on-Trent – the centre of the UK ceramics industry, an infrastructure to support ceramic manufacture and a wealth of visual historical reference.
  
  
• Paid work placement opportunities
  
  
• NO course material costs!

Professor David Sanderson, his MA students and Charles Whait (business consultant) have successfully launched FLUX, the Faculty's very own ceramic design and production company at the Maison et Objet trade fair in Paris last week. 

Visit: FLUX website

THE ROYAL engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton has given a graduate of Staffordshire University her own time in the limelight.

Read more

• Design innovation for small and mass manufacture

• Ideas in ceramics and related materials

• Products for - food and drink; interiors/tabletop; sanitaryware and cladding

• Ideas for 2D surface/pattern and (or) 3D form/function

• Re-evaluating - redefining - challenging the convention.

Semester 1 constitutes two design ‘studio’ based modules. The first introductory module “Tools and Techniques” aims to establish a common methodology and practice of ceramic design. This is introduced through a prescribed project, which will serve also to encourage the acquisition of theoretical, technical and practical knowledge, and seek to develop skills from ‘traditional’ craft to new technologies via CADCAM. The second module “Collaborative Brief” introduces the activity of working with external clients. This practice is fundamental to the core aims of the programme. Fundamental business and professional skills will be embedded within semester 1 in preparation for the February trade fair visits, notably “Maison & Objet” Paris and “Ambiente’” Frankfurt. It is at this point that students will be expected to engage in business and commercial dialogue and as a consequence inform and drive individual study in semester 2.

In semester 2 the design practice ‘studio’ module “Professional Pathways” requires you to negotiate with course staff your own programme of design research and practice. This will build upon the foundation of semester 1 and prepare you for potential industrial placement opportunities in semester 3 or formulate logical project proposals appropriate for alternative professional aspirations. Running concurrently will be a contextual, theoretical study module. “Creativity & Innovation” will encourage students to consider a variety of business and enterprise activities within which their creative design practice may logically locate. This will provide students with the appropriate knowledge, acumen and enterprising skills related to their proposed career in professional design practice.

• Freelance designer/producer etc consultant; entrepreneur

• Commercial studio practice - design; sales; marketing; buying

• FE/HE lecturing.

MA Ceramic Design Graduate employment 1992 - 2010

• 204 graduates.

• 174 (85%) in design related employment.

• 141 (81%) of which in ceramic industries Worldwide.

“The experience gained on the course prepares the student for the ‘real world’ and puts them higher on the employment ladder. As a potential employer I look for designers with this kind of experience, designers who understand their material, the design process and manufacturing disciplines and can apply them within a commercial environment.”

Simon Stevens
MA External Examiner 2009 

• Stoke-on-Trent is the centre of the UK ceramics industry

• The opportunity we offer is unique and supported by substantial world of work facilities

• No course material costs

• Paid work placement opportunities

• Remuneration for your commercial design work

• Gain valuable CAD, entrepreneurial, business and employment skills

• Exhibit your work at a major international trade fair 

View the MA Ceramic Design Catalogue 2010 (PDF, file size: 6.35MB)

• MA Ceramic Design Programme Specification (PDF, file size: 187.8KB)

For more information about Ceramic Design please contact: