Courses and structure

The programme consists of four interrelated areas: Studio Practice, Contextual Studies, Methods & Processes and Technical Studies.

Studio Practice – The studio element of the programme. It's taught through a variety of design briefs that allow you to develop and engage in a meaningful design practice. Each brief requires engagement with a different element of design, while allowing you space to experiment and learn through the use of multiple media and materials.

Contextual Studies – This is taught through a series of lectures and seminars that aim to complement your studio activities. Over the first two years of study you will engage in an eclectic mix of theories and ideas, from philosophy to literary theory. Each course draws on a broad range of influences.

Methods and Processes – These sessions are designed to support your studio practice. They'll help you to develop strong ideational, creative and professional skills.

Technical Studies – These workshops allow you to develop the skills that will allow you to express your design ideas. They move from basic skills in the first year to more discipline-focused advanced skills in the second year.

Year 1

Studio practice
Studio projects are formulated to allow you to develop your own ways of thinking. You will be challenged to push your ideas, and given space and support to develop an understanding of artefact, user, site and situation.

Contextual studies

• Histories and Theories – lectures, visits and practical exercises on the historical and theoretical context of design in the 20th century unravel the main theoretical influences on design and designing.
• Design and Meaning – lectures and practical exercises looking at the roles that psychology and semiotics play in design. You'll examine the complex nature of design thinking and creative techniques, and the ways in which these relate to actual practice. You'll also be encouraged to explore your own personal responses to the design process.
• Ecology and Design – you'll explore relationships between nature, culture, industry and other social systems, while highlighting possibilities for change in response to current environmental and cultural issues. The context for this course is the emerging field of Eco Design. It is broad-based to give an overview of key issues and ideas.

Methods and processes
Concentrating on the techniques and processes in research, modeling and drawing.

Technical studies
These workshops focus on specific areas within the discipline. They'll give both a critical and technical introduction into areas such as making, still image, graphic communication and textiles.

Year 2

Studio practice
You'll explore ways that the contemporary designer can negotiate a changing social, cultural, ecological and political terrain. You'll be encouraged to adopt a personal, ethical and ideological stance in tackling projects concerning the social, cultural, environmental and political domain.

In the spring term you'll work on ‘industry-based projects’, the briefings for which come from the commercial sector. These projects allow you to present to design professionals, gaining valuable experience and insight. The projects are set by a broad range of design professional and commercial sectors, such as Imagination, Pentagram, Hive, Raw Nerve and Lewisham Council.

Contextual Studies

• Ethics and Sustainability – This lecture programme asks why the ethical stances of designers, the moral features of the design process, and the value-laden nature of various objects and images, are important in design. You'll also explore ideas relating to ecological understanding of design and culture towards a widening of perspective and engagement in contemporary ecological concerns.
• Society and Culture – Lectures and practical exercises investigate design in the context of society and culture. You'll examine a number of socio-cultural influences on designers, design processes and design outcomes, and will be encouraged to explore the ways in which your own designs are framed by these influences.
• Material Culture – Lectures and practical exercises investigate design in the context of what has become known as material culture. You explore various attitudes to cultural production, examine notions of consumption and taste, and investigate the various practices that have been built around these attitudes and notions. You will be encouraged to explore the ways in which your own designs are framed by material culture.

Methods and processes – Professional Practice
This course asks you to engage in design as a professional practice. It opens up the extensive nature of the design industry, in order to increase your understanding of the role of a practicing designer.

Technical studies
These sessions cover a range of skills, which build upon the previous year. We offer workshops such as interactive design, moving image, electronics, object manufacture, rapid prototyping/CAD and graphic communication.

Work Placement
During the summer term all students are expected to secure and undertake a placement of at least six weeks in duration. You are required at the beginning of Year 3 to submit an assessable presentation based on your work placement.

Year 3

Studio Practice
In the final year you develop your own projects, supported by an individual ‘mentor’. Workshops enable you to formulate, develop and realise a project. Major projects must have a strong conceptual underpinning and be well founded and reasoned.

The final stage of Year 3 is the presentation and exhibition of design practice project work. This is an important part of the educational experience – calling for teamwork, organisation, management and design, developing a range of skills critical to future careers.

Contextual Report
This major piece of writing presents the contextual and theoretical framework for your major project. This 6,000-word report develops alongside your project and is a personal piece of work.

Skills and careers

Skills

The programme encourages you to:

• Develop as an independent and reflective learner
• Gain the skills that will enable you to play an important role in the discipline: now, and in the future
• Think systematically through issues, situations and topics
• Reflect on the social and cultural implications of design
• Understand and address key concepts and issues of sustainability
• Critique and develop your design methods and processes to arrive at sensitive and meaningful conclusions
• Represent, communicate and manifest your ideas convincingly
• Develop, refine and apply methods and strategies that create meaningful relationships between design and people
• Develop innovation and creativity skills, and personal and interpersonal skills

These skills are sought after in many areas of employment.

Careers

Most of our BA Design graduates find employment in the creative and cultural industries. The most recent National Student Survey marked Goldsmiths undergraduate Design students as the most employable in the country, with 98% securing a design-related job in their first year after graduation.

Our graduates have:

• worked for top London design consultancies (Pentagram, Heatherwick Studio, Imagination, Moving Brands)
• worked for major UK companies (Selfridges, Eden Project, Oxfam)
• set up on their own as freelance designers, developing their own individual practice
• progressed to become senior designers and design managers
• found employment in the public sector and NGOs
• had work commissioned for public spaces, private companies and charities

Awards

Our students and graduates have also been successful in national and international competitions. BA Design students have won:

• New Designer of the Year Award
• RSA Design Directions Award
• the Design Museum’s ‘Design Mart’
• NESTA’s Creative Pioneer Programme

Further information

• Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths
• Our alumni

About the department

The Department of Design

Design at Goldsmiths draws on a wealth of critical, theoretical and creative perspectives. We pursue distinct – and often radical – design practices, educational programmes and research.

We are known for pushing the boundaries of design, and have a strong reputation in the design industry. This is enhanced by the work of our design practitioners (staff and former students), who produce internationally acclaimed commercial and exhibition work.

The Department of Design is renowned for important research in sustainability, design and technology education, interaction design, critical practice, user experience, materials, design thinking and futures. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), 74% of our work was in the ‘internationally recognised’, ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world leading’ categories.

Facilities

Facilities within the department include:

• dedicated studio space for all students
• extensive workshops with wood, metal, plastics, casting and CADCAM/RP specialities, maintained by knowledgeable technical staff
• a textile studio
• a dark room for black and white photography
• computing facilities, including software for communication graphics, video, web-authoring and multimedia applications, and computer-aided design

Find out more about facilities in the Department of Design.

Staff

Teaching within the department is based on excellence in staff research and practice. All members of academic staff engage in research. This helps us remain at the cutting edge of theory and practice in design and in design education, meaning that your degree is dynamic and relevant to industry.

Find our more about staff in the Department of Design.

Annual degree shows

Our undergraduate student shows take place every summer. They attract significant positive attention in the media and in the design community.

Find dates for forthcoming shows, and explore the Design degree shows archive.

Open days

BA Design Open Days are usually held in October/November. Check forthcoming dates.

Please also see College-wide open days.

Student profiles

Henry, BA Design

Design and vision are born out of a critical engagement with the world; I’d say it’s about being perpetually curious. Although teaching objective design for people and contexts, the course has a wonderful balance to allow you the space to learn about yourself. Through engaging with photography, film, casting, design history and the study of culture (and much more) the course has developed my practical skills and understanding but ultimately it is about exploration, and generating a personal understanding of what design is and where you position your individual practice.

Design is the ultimate communication tool, it is a device aimed at change. In many ways I’d say that the BA Design course epitomises Goldsmiths’ ethos. Goldsmiths is provocative, it’s about a community that encourages creativity and freedom of thought. We challenge conventions but it’s not about irrationally and erratically pushing boundaries, it’s about understanding why convention is what it is and what it ought to be. Furthermore it’s a place to be heard and initiate change.

I have loved studying here and I think that I’m more passionate about my subject than ever."

Jane Ellen, BA Design (graduated 2010)

"When I decided to enrol at university, the BA Design at Goldsmiths was the only course I applied to. Where else would I have learnt such a variety of design skills? I’m a naturally good maker, I love getting my hands dirty and working on the materiality of an object.

Three years on the Foundry is still my favourite place, but I’m a good all-rounder now. In the process I came across practices I got really passionate about and the ones I didn’t find so immediate to get into, but it doesn’t matter, as it all contributed to make me into a better and more versatile designer. I’m much more analytical and aware of my responsibilities as a designer, but at the same time the course has enhanced my individuality. 

People here share a very open vision of what design is. I don’t think I’ve ever heard: “No, you can’t do this. This is not design!”. And this has given me an incredible sense of freedom."

Livia, BA Design (graduated 2010)