Professionally oriented

Full-time study

2 years

doc. MgA. Mikuláš Macháček

Chairman :
doc. MgA. Mikuláš Macháček
Vice-chairman :
doc. Mgr. Václav Magid
Councillor internal :
doc. Mgr. Jan Zálešák, Ph.D.
doc. MgA. Filip Cenek
MgA. Lenka Veselá, M.A., Ph.D.
PhDr. Ladislav Jackson, Ph.D.
prof. Mgr. A. Lenka Klodová, Ph.D.
doc. MgA. Barbora Klímová, ArtD.
MgA. Katarína Magid Hládeková, Ph.D.
MgA. Vojtěch Vaněk
MgA. Jakub Polách
Councillor external :
Mgr. Terezie Petišková

The professionally oriented follow-up master's degree program in Design is aimed mainly at graduates of bachelor's degree programs in the same or similar field, but it is also open to applicants with a completed master's or doctoral degree. The goal of the study program is to deepen theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of design. Graduates demonstrate their professional mastery, but are also able to apply and develop them in their own unique way. Graduates are also equipped with strong reflexivity and critical thinking, they know how to search for new topics, problems or opportunities. The content of the study is adapted to the main goal, which is the education of complex creative personalities capable of establishing themselves both in the field of design and in related fields, or continuing successfully in the doctoral degree.

The design of the professionally oriented follow-up Master's degree programme in Design is focused on the deeper development of knowledge, professional competences and skills, creative abilities and critical thinking of students. Graduates of the professionally oriented follow-up Master's degree programme in Design have mastered the design process and are aware of its impact on society and culture, as well as its economic or ecological implications. They have theoretical and practical experience in developing design concepts, and are able to critically analyze them and solve related problems with various stakeholders. Graduates are well positioned for careers in various areas of design practice such as product design, graphic design, game design, human-centered design and many others. Thanks to their skills and education, they can work as independent designers or as members of design teams.

Graduates' professional knowledge
- They know the history, current state and perspectives of the field and are able to relate to them in their own practice.
- They are familiar with the local and international context of design practice, know important personalities, studios, etc.
- They know the methodology of the design process and confidently apply it in their own practice.
- They are able to think critically, plan analytically and strategically, and solve design problems.
- They know how to communicate, present and collaborate with colleagues, clients and users and how to gain the experience needed to lead a team.

Graduates' professional skills
- They have practical skills and expertise in a variety of design areas that they can apply in business, industry, cultural production, community service projects and other design-related fields.
- They are oriented in the field of research design and are able to articulate their own creative-research intentions.
- They are proficient in the processes of designing, producing and presenting their own design projects.
- They can design and implement sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.
- Can apply ethical and professional industry standards in their practice.
- Possess innovation skills.

General competencies of graduates
- Ability to present their creative work at a professional level (shows, exhibitions, competitions or public presentations, for grant applications).
- Ability to lead professionally informed discussion of one's own work as well as disciplinary discussion of design topics.
- Ability to defend one's work as socially relevant.
- Ability to apply the ethical and professional standards of the field to one's practice.
- Readiness to work in a multicultural environment.
- Willingness to continue to learn and develop acquired knowledge and skills.

The graduates of the professionally oriented follow-up Master's degree programme Design are primarily prepared for careers in various areas of design practice. They can be employed as independent designers and as members of design teams. With the knowledge and skills they have acquired, they find employment in a wide range of cultural production as well as in a variety of industries; they are well equipped for interdisciplinary and intergenerational collaborations.

The general conditions for successful completion of studies are set by the Brno University of Technology’s Study and Examination Regulations. To successfully complete the program, a total of 120 credits must be earned, including at least 60 credits for compulsory courses and at least 14 credits for elective courses. The study program is concluded with the State Final Examination (SFE).

The State Final Examination in the Master’s degree program in Design consists of two parts – the presentation and defense of the Diploma Thesis in the field of design, and a discussion on the design process, which constitutes the professional part of the SFE. The Diploma Thesis is a practical, original project that demonstrates the ability to independently conduct a design process, resulting in an outcome that may be recognized as a new and innovative contribution to the field of contemporary design. The Diploma Thesis is evaluated in accordance with the Brno University of Technology’s Study and Examination Regulations, using the A–F grading scale.

In the professional part of the SFE, the knowledge acquired in the theoretical foundation courses – Design for Social Change, Systems Thinking and Design, and the Diploma Seminar – is tested. This knowledge is applied in the description of the design process as documented in the Diploma Thesis. The professional part of the SFE – the discussion on the design process – assesses the depth and complexity of this knowledge and the ability to reflect on professional issues not only in close relation to the Diploma Thesis but also in broader contexts. The professional part of the SFE is evaluated in accordance with the Brno University of Technology’s Study and Examination Regulations, using the A–F grading scale.

Study at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the BUT is governed by the Study and Examination Regulations of the BUT and the BUT Information System is used for its registration. The creation of study plans is governed by the internal regulations of the University - the Regulations of Study Programmes of the BUT.

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is used at Brno University of Technology. The standard period in the follow-up Master's degree programme in Design is 2 years and is determined with regard to the expected study load, the content and aim of the study and the profile of the graduate*ta. This is also reflected in the credit evaluation of the courses determined in accordance with the ECTS. The curriculum is spread over four semesters in two academic years. The total number of credits required for successful completion of the Master's degree is 120 ECTS credits. The recommended annual curriculum is set at 60 credits; however, 50 credits are sufficient for advancement to the next year. The duration of the class is 50 minutes.

The courses in the curriculum are divided into compulsory, compulsory elective and elective courses. The total number of credits for compulsory subjects is 91 (of which about one third are theoretical subjects). The follow-up Master's degree programme in Design is structured in such a way as to enable concentrated and long-term work on the diploma project - a significant part of the compulsory courses is related to its preparation and execution. The two groups of compulsory elective courses taught in English are situated in the first two semesters of study. There is a requirement to take at least 1 compulsory elective course from each of these groups. The curriculum includes a varied range of elective courses, situated almost exclusively in the first three semesters of study (the last semester should ideally already be devoted to the development of the thesis).

The Faculty of Fine Arts makes effort to integrate disabled students. In cooperation with the Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI), the faculty provides support to students with special educational needs. Special educational needs mean special needs on the grounds of: Specific learning disorders (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dysorthography, etc.); Disability (visual, hearing, or locomotive impairment); Autism spectrum disorders (eg. Asperger syndrome); Mental disease; Long-term somatic disease. Support in studies means adapting the study conditions by the FFA and/or making the support services of the Institute of Lifelong Learning available for students. Information on the support services provided by the LLI is available on the website of the Alfons Counselling Centre.  Barrier-free access is not possible at the Faculty of Fine Arts right now.

https://www.favu.vut.cz/en/international/special-needs

The Master's study program Design is a continuation of the bachelor's study program of the same name accredited at FaVU BUT. Graduates of the program can continue studying the doctoral study program Fine Arts accredited at FaVU BUT, but also at other universities in the Czech Republic (e.g. AVU, UMPRUM, FUD UJEP, etc.) or abroad.