The course

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

• Dipl. Des. Barbara Schmidt, Kahla Thüringen Porzellan GmbH
• Dipl. Des. Heike Philipp, BHS Tabletop AG
• Dipl. Des. Cerim Manovi, Lego Group
• Dipl. Des. Henrike Stein, Villeroy & Boch AG
• Dipl. Des. Ursula Dendorfer, KPM Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin GmbH
• MA Jennifer Dengler, Steuler-Fliesen GmbH
• Dipl. Des. Romi Bohnenberg, ASA-Selection GmbH
• MA Claudia Bischoff, Eschenbach Porzellan Group / Triptis Porzellan
• MA Linda Prüfer, Porzellanmanufaktur Fürstenberg GmbH

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

• Dipl. Des. Susan Heise, www.susanheise-porzellan.de
• Dipl. Des. Johanna Hitzler, www.johannahitzler-porzellan.de
• Dipl. Des. Susan Liebold, GLASWERK, www.glaswerk-design.de
• Dipl. Des. Claudia Biehne, www.biehne-porzellan.de
• Dipl. Des. Jessica Dolny, www.edelweiss-porzellan.de
• Dipl. Des. Karin Sehnert, www.karin-sehnert.de
• Dipl. Des. Yvonne Penter, www.pennyvertone.de
• MA  Daniela Abendroth, www.abendroth-porzellan.de
• Dipl Des. Christina Salzwedel, Elke Pfeifer, MA Mira Möbius, Zum.Weissen.Gold

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.)

Brief information

• Subject-specific project
• Development of individual profile
• Work on the student’s own design projects or selection from a range of options
• Supplemented by course elements in theoretical elements and art and design studies
• Duration: Two or four semesters
• Degree awarded after one-semester master’s thesis