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PHILOSOPHY OF THE MASTER COURSE

Designers work in a changeable world. They are faced with complex themes, which cannot be reduced to readily solvable design problems. More and more often they will be crossing the boundaries of their disciplines in their professional practice, while the themes they work on deserve the critical view of well-informed creative minds. The three Master courses aim to offer students the tools needed to analyse complex questions and develop personal views on possible interventions, both to improve their individual design practice and to create (multidisciplinary) collaborations with others.

The Master course at Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE) focuses on research and the ability to transform concepts into challenging design proposals. Throughout the creative process there’s a strong link between research, reflection and design. The cultural and social contexts in which designers and their products ‘function’ is the guiding principle, but the domains the students will research may be technically, or economically oriented as well. English is the language of instruction.

We expect students have acquired proficiency in the design profession during their Bachelor studies. The Master course will reinforce both their research and design skills. Students will learn to reflect on (the limits of) the profession; reinforce their personal imagery, or signature; and research topical questions in order to come up with relevant design interventions, alone and in collaboration with others. The three programmes give ample attention to students’ personal development.

The minimum requirement for new Master students is a completed design course at Bachelor level. Students who have completed an art or architecture course and who possess a demonstrable affinity with design may also be admitted. Students who believe they are eligible for certain exemptions may submit their request to the coordinator. DAE will not deviate from the rule that the Master’s is a two-year programme and that a completed Bachelor’s programme is a requirement for admission, except in highly exceptional cases.

SOURCE

The Source Programme has been set up for all Master students and is headed by Gert Staal. The programme consists of weekly lectures and workshops by internationally renowned experts. The content of these lectures and workshops will be in keeping with the research themes within the three research programmes. We will regularly publish Source publications, related to the research programmes and the lecture programme. External experts will contribute to these publications alongside DAE tutors and students.

 

departments

MDES - then what?

Students finish the Master Course not only with a new title, they have also deepened their personal talents. The positions they acquire are as diverse as there are options for designers with a broad interest in autonomous thinking, concept development, research, interdisciplinary cooperation and teaching.

Some continue to work in their own design studios, alone (such as Tuomas Tolvanen, Therese Granlund, Thomas Gabzdil, Jose Rojas, Juan-Montero-Valdes), or with a partner (such as Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin: Formafantasma; Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler: mischer’traxler; Mario Minale and Kuniko Maeda: Minale-Maeda, Jon Stam and Maya Ben David). Some create incidental partnerships (such as Thomas Vailly and Itay Ohaly). Some continue to study (such as Alicia Ongay Perez; Joana Meroz and Giovanni Innella have taken up a scientific career). A number of masters have started to cooperate with scientists to work on visionary plans (such as Sonja Bäumel, Maurizio Montalti, Giacomo Piovan). Several alumni now hold leading positions within major companies in their homelands (such as Po-Ching Liao). Some work as project managers (such as Agata Jaworszka who works for Droog Design). Some work on research projects of DAE (such as Karianne Rygh). Many have become design teachers apart from their design research practices (such as Alvin Ho, Tal Erez and Irma Foldenyi).

DAE has a strong alumni programme, keeping track of the former students’ careers and now and then involving them in special projects. Most Master students come from abroad to study in Eindhoven; after their graduation many of them continue to stay in the Netherlands, for which special allowances have been created.

Location and facilities

Eindhoven is located in the south of the Netherlands, and with 250,000 inhabitants it is the fifth largest city in the Netherlands. Eindhoven was originally an industrial city, hometown to Philips Electronics and Lighting, and a city that emphasizes technology and engineering. It has developed into a centre for innovation, research and design. With its many educational institutions and with leading companies choosing Eindhoven as their base, Eindhoven is often referred to as the ‘brainport of the Netherlands’.

Eindhoven is strategically located in relation to the rest of Europe. It has its own airport and excellent rail and road connections. Amsterdam, Brussels and Cologne only take a 90 minutes train ride and Paris, London and Berlin are within easy reach by car, train or airplane.

Design Academy Eindhoven is situated in the heart of Eindhoven and occupies 10,000 m2 of the striking landmark ‘deWitteDame’ (the White Lady Building). Built in 1928 as Philips’ first largescale lighting factory, it has now become Eindhoven’s thriving centre for information, design, art and technology. Besides the academy it also houses a public library, several art galleries, the Philips design department and various commercial services for students and general public.