MA Design

LASALLE has a long tradition of practice-led research in art and design. The College aims to assume a significant role in Singapore for practice-led research in visual, performing and literary arts, and aspires to add the distinctive viewpoint of Singapore to research into artistic practice in the 21st century.

The Research Methods in Creative Arts module is a common module which all students are required to undertake. You will have the opportunity to interact with one another in the first term, to network with peers in other MA programmes and foster a stronger community of research practice that enhances your respective discipline of study as well as within the College.

You will be introduced to relevant professional methods of research and creation which may include profiles of and/or dialogue with creative professionals, critical/theoretical discourse, action research, visual object analysis, textual analysis, case studies, historical and ethnographic research, interviews, life-stories/autobiographies, etc. You will also be introduced to research practices such as literature reviews, process-based discovery, bibliographical searches, quantitative and qualitative methods, citations and the construction of research questions

Postgraduate students are constantly exposed to first-hand experience in current practices of research and creation, leading to the acquiring powerful knowledge and of a wide set of skills by the time you graduate. You will have opportunities to develop expertise in accordance with your research interests.

The programme focuses on helping you to develop a research-led design practice with developmental opportunities to stimulate interdisciplinary exchange. You will examine and contextualise analytical and systematic approaches to design research methodology and formulate a design discourse in three broad areas:

• Research in Design
• Research-based Design
• Research through Design

Through the programme modules, you will examine, critique, and propose contemporary, emerging ideas through design practice using one or more of four research themes:

Design for Social Change
Design is influencing the social world by presenting a construction of culture through common values and symbols. With a focus on how designers can transform the everyday experiences and world views of society, this research theme questions the ability of designers to influence change through notions of design citizenry to reimagine and redefine social, economic, political and environmental spaces of inquiry. As today’s societal challenges become increasingly complex, there is a growing urgency for designers to collaborate and work across communities and sectors to develop new transformative processes and identify potential spaces for intervention. Design goes beyond problem-solving and requires a sense of social responsibility to address contemporary issues such as climate change, mental health or societal challenges. This research theme champions the practice of design for social innovation through inclusive design, service design, interaction design, design activism and transformation design.

Systems Design
The study of design has long been rooted in historical and cultural research, focusing on material culture as the relationship between people, objects and representations. In today’s interconnected world, interactions within social relations need to address the systemic challenges of how design actions affect individuals, networks and communities of practice. This research theme shifts away from the Western canon of mainstream discourses towards the practice of decolonising design to propose new epistemologies, methods and practices. Working beyond the traditional paradigm of design, systems-based thinking provides the ability to respond to changing behaviours and perceptions through the linking of concepts, developing frameworks and structures, and establishing common goals. Research in this area pushes the boundaries of material culture and the notion of human experience beyond the designed object towards a systems perspective for the decolonisation of design, critical issues around sustainability, studies on intangible culture and heritage, policy design and systems design.

Technology & Design Innovation
Designers are positioned to propose future-oriented activities that transform the world through material and immaterial interventions. These propositions focus on emerging technologies to produce meaningful innovations addressing the growing uncertainty and complexity of today’s design issues. This research theme questions the future of design through speculation, critical thinking and devising appropriate design and innovative strategies. Design leads to transformations that improve the built environment and the human condition, requiring the creation of transdisciplinary knowledge to redefine the role of designers, the transferability of design processes and practices, and establishing market relevance. Aided by new technologies and sensory modes of interaction, design can propose innovations to change how we live, work and play. 

The MA Design programme at LASALLE builds upon the dynamically evolving design culture in Singapore and the region. As part of an increasingly important but scarce pool of talent, you will participate in the positioning of Singapore and Asia as a rigorous environment and connection point for innovative design-based education.

As a graduate of the programme, you will be sought after for your ability to understand the multi-faceted cultural, communicative, production, management and business demands so as to contribute across a spectrum of creative industries and business contexts.