Program Overview

Studying Ceramic Design in Stoke puts you at the centre of UK excellence in the industry. Enhance your career opportunities through this internationally recognised award.

MA Ceramics at Staffordshire University is recognised worldwide as one of the leading postgraduate programmes in ceramics for small and mass manufacture. Taught in Stoke-on-Trent, the home of UK ceramics for over 2 centuries in the Potteries, this long-established course consistently produces career-ready graduates that are in demand by leading ceramic companies both in the UK and overseas. With world-famous ceramic manufacturers quite literally on the doorstep, Stoke-on-Trent provides a unique venue for the study of ceramics.

This course provides a design-led creative experience of ceramics within a broad subject context. Designing through intelligent making allows you to access ideas through a unique material. The deep knowledge of one material helps you to appreciate the opportunities in ceramics but also its translation into other materials and professional opportunities. Whether your personal aspirations are embedded in 2D surface and pattern, and or 3D shape, form and function.

The relationship between the course and the global ceramic industry is mutually beneficial and is primarily responsible for the unique character and international reputation of the course. The strength of this award lies in the accumulated wealth of specialist knowledge and practical skills, which are the essential tools of the ceramics designer; and in the good working practices developed over many years. In the close working relationship with industry, and in the clarity of purpose that ensures academic coherence, and the credibility of the award.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed on the submission of coursework for each module. It may consist of any one or a combination of the following components:

• Workbooks, sketchbooks or visual diaries
• Research files or folders
• Finished design work
• An essay or report
• A seminar or presentation

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of a subject before completing the formal assessment that counts towards your final mark. The practice or 'formative' assessment is carried out in tutorial and critique situations and feedback is usually provided to you orally, with a written record kept by the award leader.

The formal or 'summative' assessment is provided in the form of a grade point (on a scale of 0-15), at the end of each module which is accompanied by written feedback from the module tutor.

Careers

Whether aspiring for a career as a studio-based designer or industrial ceramicist, you’ll be equipped with the required digital and business skills as well as creative knowledge of materials for work in the following roles:

• Freelance studio ceramic designer/ producer
• Designer in industry
• Shape designer
• Surface pattern designer
• Retail product developer or in-house brand designer
• Retail buyer
• Sales managers
• Lecturers and teachers.