The Master's programme in Advanced Product Design develops you into a skilled industrial designer with the toolkit and mindset needed to create, develop and design new relevant product solutions. Students explore design through the lens of environmental and societal challenges. The education is hands-on and practice-based, and a majority of the projects are carried out in collaboration with external partners.
Hear students talk about their MFA APD experience
The Master's programme in Advanced Product Design develops your design competence by providing professional tools, hands-on work methods, creative challenges and an inspiring study environment. The programme combines the analysis of complex contexts with the identification of relevant design opportunities and a holistic ideation scope, using visualisation techniques and the tools required in the professional oriented practice of industrial design. The methods and techniques are integrated in relevant course and project challenges. During the education, the field of advanced product design is explored through a mix of individual studies and group work.
Applied design projects form the backbone of the APD programme. Projects usually include lectures, field trips and user studies, workshops and group work as well as studio work. Most projects target original problems identified by students, not problems that have been solved countless times by other designers. The projects can address anything from conceptualizing new technology solutions for specialists, to the design for upcoming consumer needs, to the design of professional tools within heavy industries.
The programme is international in its scope and all education is conducted in English. About 80 per cent of students come from abroad. For instance, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, France, England, Turkey, Spain, China and New Zeeland.
The fourth and final term is devoted entirely to the examination project. You will carry out your exam project in cooperation with a corporate sponsor or other external partner. It is important that the project is seen as a collaboration and not a commission. You are expected to define a problem area, establish contact with an external partner and write a project brief that includes aims, method description and anticipated deliverables.
All degree projects are presented at a big end-of-semester event - the UID Design Talks & Degree Show. Here, students from all programmes participate. In addition to students, relatives and friends, the audience includes representatives from NGO's and multinational companies from across the globe.
Ruben Eriksson created a starter kit for designing footwear
Internships allow you to develop your professional skills as well as your own professional networks in preparation for a future career in industrial design. The majority of the programme's students take advantage of the school's support and broad network of industry connections and do a full year of internships between the first and the second year of the programme.
Year 1:
Skills and techniques. CAID 1 and 2. Design for User Experience/People-Centred Design. Sound in Industrial Design. Product Analysis. Strategic design.
Year 2:
Visual Design Prototyping. Conceptual Product Solutions. Creative Reflections on Product Design. Degree project.
Our students become skilled at working with comprehensive holistic concepts as well as the small details of product design. Umeå Institute of Design is well renowned and the industry appreciates students from our school because the breadth of the education. Several well-known companies around the world have employed graduates from the Umeå Institute of Design.
After your degree you can continue to study at advanced level or pursue PhD studies.
Step 1: Through the national online application service https://www.universityadmissions.se/intl/start. Deadline for application: January 15.
Step 2: Portfolio is sent directly to Umeå Institute of Design. Information about application at www.uid.umu.se
How well should I be able to communicate in English?
Your English proficiency should be equivalent to English 6/English B from the Swedish upper secondary education.
More information about English requirements
Are there any grants or scholarships for design students?
Accepted students that come from non-EU countries are offered the possibility to apply for a reduction of the tuition fees.
More information about tuition and scholarships
More information about fees, scholarships, residence permits at University admissions
What should my portfolio contain?
The Master's programme in Advanced Product Design has special requirements for the portfolio. You can find more information on the Umeå Institute of Design homepage.
"I learned so much, met lovely people and developed a lot, both as a designer and a person."
