https://www.upc.edu/en/masters/advanced-studies-in-design-barcelona-mbdesign
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Master's degree in Advanced Studies in Design-Barcelona (MBDesign)
Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB)
Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT)
Vilanova i la Geltrú School of Engineering (EPSEVG)
The master's degree in Advanced Studies in Design-Barcelona (MBDesign) (master's degree website) is a multidisciplinary degree in which creativity, innovation and research are applied as tools for knowledge and for proposing the designs of the future. It is conceived from a comprehensive, wide-ranging and cross-disciplinary perspective that is characteristic of design in Barcelona, which has become an international benchmark in recent decades. Its approach is propositional: it contributes new views on theory, participatory network strategies and the most innovative trends in new product design. Teaching takes place in settings such as design workshops, projects on various topics, materials and technology research laboratories, collaborative work, and digital manufacturing laboratories.
The master's degree consists of a compulsory, cross-disciplinary stage of 15 ECTS credits and an optional stage of 30 ECTS credits that includes five specialisations:
These specialisations all end with a master's thesis of 15 ECTS credits that can be focused on a design project or research. In addition to these five specialisations, optional courses covering business, entrepreneurship and intellectual property are also taught.
The master's degree consists of a compulsory, cross-disciplinary stage of 15 ECTS credits and an optional stage of 30 ECTS credits that includes five specialisations:
- Contemporary Design (taught in English)
- Design, Innovation and Technology (taught in English)
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Art Direction in Design
- Design Research (a cross-disciplinary specialisation that covers the other four)
These specialisations all end with a master's thesis of 15 ECTS credits that can be focused on a design project or research. In addition to these five specialisations, optional courses covering business, entrepreneurship and intellectual property are also taught.
Specialisations
- Contemporary Design
- Design, Innovation and Technology
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Art Direction in Design
- Design Research
- Duration and start date
- 1 academic year, 60 ECTS credits
- Timetable and delivery
- Face-to-face
- Fees and grants
- Approximate fees for the master’s degree, excluding other costs (does not include non-teaching academic fees and issuing of the degree certificate):
€1,660 (€6,331 for non-EU residents).
More information about fees and payment options
More information about grants and loans - Language of instruction
- Check the language of instruction for each subject in the course guide in the curriculum. The Contemporary Design and Design, Innovation and Technology specialisations are taught entirely in English.
Information on language use in the classroom and students’ language rights.
- Location
- Barcelona School of Architecture
Vilanova i la Geltrú School of Engineering
Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering
Faculty of Fine Arts - Universitat de Barcelona
- General requirements
- Academic requirements for admission to master's degrees
- Places
- 75
- Pre-enrolment
- Pre-enrolment period open.
Expected deadline: 01/07/2025.
How to pre-enrol - Enrolment
- How to enrol
- Legalisation of foreign documents
- All documents issued in non-EU countries must be legalised and bear the corresponding apostille.
- Complete list of subjects by speciality + course guide
-
- Specialisation in Specialisation in Art Direction in Design
- Specialisation in Specialisation in Contemporary Design
- Specialisation in Specialisation in Design Research
- Specialisation in Specialisation in Design, Innovation and Technology
- Specialisation in Specialisation in Industrial Design Engineering
First semester
- Architectural Graphics and Typography 5
- Art Direction in Design Projects 5
- Design, Project and Environment 5
- Design, Technology and Innovation 5
- Design, Theory and Criticism 5
- Theoretical and Critical Research Areas and Methods in the Humanities and Social Sciences on Design 5
- Creativity, Invention and Emotion in Design 5
- Design and Materiality 5
- Design, Project and Environment 5
- Design, Technology and Innovation 5
- Design, Theory and Criticism 5
- Reality and Sustainable Future: Environment and Product 5
- Design, Project and Environment 5
- Design, Technology and Innovation 5
- Design, Theory and Criticism 5
- Reality and Sustainable Future: Environment and Product 5
- Research Methods and Processes in Design, Innovation and Technology 5
- Research, Development and Innovation in Product Design 5
- Theoretical and Critical Research Areas and Methods in the Humanities and Social Sciences on Design 5
- Data-Driven Design 5
- Design and Society 5
- Design, Project and Environment 5
- Design, Technology and Innovation 5
- Design, Theory and Criticism 5
- Research Methods and Processes in Design, Innovation and Technology 5
- Advanced Geometry in Design 5
- Design, Project and Environment 5
- Design, Technology and Innovation 5
- Design, Theory and Criticism 5
- Research, Development and Innovation in Product Design 5
- Study and Technical Analysis of Materials 5
Second semester
- Aesthetics and Theory of Design 5
- Graphic Applications 5
- Information Design 5
- Master's Thesis 15
- Comprehensive Design: Systems and Programmes 5
- Design Culture: Architecture and Exhibition 5
- Master's Thesis 15
- Representation and New Formats 5
- Aesthetics and Theory of Design 5
- Design Culture: Architecture and Exhibition 5
- Innovation and Research in Design and Technology 5
- Master's Thesis 15
- Research Methods and Processes for Industrial Product Design 5
- Innovation and Research in Design and Technology 5
- Master's Thesis 15
- Networked Creativity and Technology 5
- Process Design in Complex Systems 5
- Master's Thesis 15
- Practical Application of Materials in the Design Process 5
- Prototyping 5
- Research Methods and Processes for Industrial Product Design 5
- CompulsoryECTS
- OptionalECTS
- ProjectECTS
Professional opportunities
- Professional opportunities
- Academia and theory-focused settings. Doctoral degrees in Design.
- Agencies and organisations devoted to applied design for social, health and/or welfare purposes.
- Companies and industries, new product development offices, application of design in new fields and and implementation in emerging sectors.
- Public and private bodies related to markets, products, consumption and local areas.
- Communication, social networks, image and communication. New media and overall message design.
- Cultural organisations related to society, culture and objects, as well as the dissemination of these organisations and reflection and debate on these themes.
- Competencies
-
Generic competencies
Generic competencies are the skills that graduates acquire regardless of the specific course or field of study. The generic competencies established by the UPC are capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and social commitment, knowledge of a foreign language (preferably English), teamwork and proper use of information resources.
Check the degree’s main quality indicators in the University Studies in Catalonia portal of the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency. Find information on topics such as degree evaluation results, student satisfaction and graduate employment data.
Further information
Further information
- UPC school
- Vilanova i la Geltrú School of Engineering (EPSEVG)
Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT)
Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB) - Participating institutions
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) - coordinating university
Universitat de Barcelona (UB) - Academic coordinator
- Josep Maria Fort Mir
Jordi Voltas Aguilar - Academic calendar
- General academic calendar for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees courses
- Academic regulations
- Academic regulations for master's degree courses at the UPC
Pre-enrolment
Pre-enrolment for this master’s degree is currently closed.
Use the “Request information” form to ask for information on upcoming pre-enrolment periods.