Design Futures Royal College of Art

Overview

You develop a transdisciplinary approach to design practice, exploring research methodologies, complex systems and alternative futures before developing your own Independent Research Project. Through a flexible combination of core and elective units, you learn to work with diverse forms of knowledge, stakeholders and perspectives, visualise near and deep futures, engage people in debate, and develop purposeful strategies for more sustainable futures. Alongside your independent project, you build professional and entrepreneurial skills to help take your ideas into real-world contexts.  Design Futures program is offered at Royal College of Art.

Key facts

Become involved with projects that open new ways of thinking about design. Start bold conversations about the future. Embrace uncertainty and complexity. You’ll learn how to help people visualise alternatives and to make a positive response towards a more sustainable future.

Through your independent research project, you can focus on social and environmental challenges that matter to you. You’ll also develop your entrepreneurial skills for professional contexts and strategies for taking your ideas forward.

The Design Futures MDes can be studied as a full-time or a part-time programme.