Study course

Product Design and Design of Porcelain, Ceramics and Glass

Master's course in the Design Faculty

The educational profile of the master’s course in Product Design and Design of Porcelain, Ceramics and Glass combines the skills of conventional product design with innovative strategies and the techniques of studio design and applied art – in other words: “Working like a craftsman – thinking like a designer”.

The focus of the course of study is the refining of materials-related design and presentation skills, with an emphasis on fine ceramic materials – mainly porcelain – and also on glass. In addition, master’s students are encouraged to develop intelligent product concepts using other relevant materials – in contexts such as tabletop, interiors or regional design, for example.

The course elements offered in the master's course are supported by a network of high-calibre practical partnerships (porcelain, ceramic and glass companies and studios) and by an equally comprehensive network of partnerships with international universities. At the Design Campus at Burg Giebichenstein, master’s students can work in an inspiring, interdisciplinary ‘microcosmos’ with a range of design disciplines with the associated workshops and labs. This course has a modular structure and is project-oriented, and it also allows students to formulate their own study goals. The aim here is to encourage the deliberate development of independent standpoints for design work in the future and of suitable start-up strategies.

Master’s students can select their semester projects from a range of options offered in the course. They work here with students from the final semesters in the bachelor’s programme on problems in the same areas; the master’s students, however, have tasks with a different focus. Master’s students may also suggest their own project topics in consultation with their professors.

The focus of the course of study is the refining of materials-related design and presentation skills, with an emphasis on fine ceramic materials (mainly porcelain) and glass. In contrast with the Bachelor’s course elements, the focus here is on research-oriented, playful-experimental approaches in project work. In addition, master’s students are encouraged to develop intelligent product concepts using other relevant materials – in contexts such as tabletop, interiors or regional design, for example.

Teaching content

The ability to select from among a large number of projects and from interdisciplinary, art/design and humanities course elements gives students the opportunity for detailed development of individual standpoints. The course elements offered in the master's course are supported by a network of high-calibre practical partnerships (porcelain, ceramic and glass companies and studios) and by an equally comprehensive network of partnerships with international universities. At the Design Campus at Burg Giebichenstein, students can work in an inspiring, interdisciplinary ‘microcosmos’ with a range of design disciplines with the associated workshops and labs. This course has a modular structure and is project-oriented, and it also allows students to formulate their own study goals. The aim here is to encourage the deliberate development of independent standpoints for design work in the future and of suitable start-up strategies.

Course of study

The two-semester master’s course can be taken after the eight-semester bachelor’s course in Industrial Design, Ceramic/Glass Design has been completed. The focus here is on a comprehensive master’s thesis on an individual design topic. The four-semester master’s course offers students conceptual project studies in the first two semesters; a study programme oriented towards individual focal areas can be assembled here from various elective choices. The course of study is completed by a master’s thesis that will document and visualise a complex concept.

Prerequisites

The master’s course is aimed at graduates with a bachelor’s or a ‘Diplom’ degree with an artistic/design emphasis. However, interested graduates of other disciplines who have relevant qualifications may also be admitted to this master’s course after taking the course-specific entrance test. 


Examples of typical careers of graduates:

Product designers for industry as salaried employees or freelancers

Studio designers in their own studios, production and sales of limited series and one-off products

Teaching positions

  • Dipl. Des. Knut Michalk, Fachlehrer Porzellandesign, Hochschule Niederrhein Krefeld
  • Dipl. Des. Yvonne Hoelderle, Fachlehrerin, Staatliche Fachschule für Produktdesign Selb
  • Dipl. Des. Claudia Zachow, Dipl. Des. Sylvia Kögler, Dipl. Des. Kathrin Geißler, BBI – Akademie für berufliche Bildung gGmbH
  • Dipl. Des. Steffi Auffenbauer, Dozentin, Kompetenzzentrum „Gestalter im Handwerk“
  • Dipl. Des. Claudia Zachow, Gastprofessorin UdK Berlin

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Prerequisites

Master’s courses at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design are aimed at graduates of bachelor’s or ‘Diplom’ courses with an artistic/design emphasis. All applicants have to take a course-specific entrance test; interested graduates of other disciplines who have relevant qualifications may also be admitted to a master’s course after taking this test. Most courses also require proof of relevant practical placements or comparable practical experience along with this test.

Standard duration of course

The duration of the master’s course is flexible and depends on the duration of the preceding successfully completed degree:

  • Two semesters: In the case of a preceding completed degree in the same subject after a four-year bachelor’s course with 240 ECTS points or a comparable ‘Diplom’ degree.
  • Four semesters: In the case of a preceding completed degree in the same subject after a three-year bachelor’s course or for graduates of art/design courses in a different subject area or other courses