**Course outline** Develop your passion for designing contemporary ceramics, jewellery and interior objects using a diverse range of materials and making, using both traditional and digital technologies. Whether you want to be a ceramicist, jeweller, furniture or lighting designer, this multi-disciplinary degree helps you develop your practice with confidence. Learn the essential skills to prepare you for a career as an independent designer-maker or a designer in industry. There is a strong emphasis on experimentation in making innovative objects through industrial processes with high levels of craftsmanship, giving you the chance to become a more informed contemporary maker. Guest speakers from industry, educational visits and responding to live briefs will help you learn and develop skills ready for industry. **What you’ll do** Working in your own dedicated studio area, with access to a broad range of industry-standard workshop facilities, you will learn a variety of hands-on making processes and techniques including both traditional and digital technologies. These span different materials such as wood, metal, ceramics and plastics, reflecting current trends and practices in the ever-changing world of the designer maker. We aim to develop your knowledge within your chosen material affinity, enabling you to become a more informed contemporary maker and someone who can use specialist skills professionally and effectively. The emphasis is on high-end skills, experimentation and craftsmanship. This course will enable you to create innovative design solutions and develop your ability to contextualise your design practice within a global arena. In your second year, you will start to develop your own independent professional working practices, undertake ‘Live’ briefs with brands such as Wedgwood and Royal Doulton, taking on increasing responsibilities for your own creative journey. You will also be given the opportunity for an industrial placement with leading sector corporations such as Fiskars group, or Milton Bridg . In your third year, you’ll consolidate your knowledge and skills to produce your final exhibition pieces. Alongside your studio work, you will gain an insight into design futures/business set-up and branding yourself ready for the world of work and given the opportunity to exhibit at the external venues such as the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester. With your final year projects, you are encouraged to generate innovative objects for the contemporary design arena. This culminates with your annual Degree Show exhibition for academic, public and professional audiences at the end of year. Some students also take up the opportunity to show work at New Designers, London. **Course features** • Intense skills set taught to high levels of craftsmanship • ‘Live’ Projects • Industrial Placements • Material Investigation & Design Histories • Material Enquiry: Form & Surface • Designer Maker in Context – Interfaces and Exchanges • Design, Make, Manufacture • Digital Design & Prototyping • Professional Practice • Design Futures • Children’s Literature **New Designers 2018:** • Best Overall Stand Award • The Denby Highly Commended Award • National Trust Artisan & Craft Award **Degree Show 2018:** • 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize for work with outstanding excellence generously provided by Valentine Clays • The Keith Brymer Jones ‘Promising Young Designer’ award • Potclays National Awards • Winner of the Caroline Gardner placement at the National Student Stationery Design Competition. In addition, two of last year’s graduates were invited to take part in February’s Artistar Jewels exhibition in Milan sponsored by Vogue Accessories.