Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Practice

course overview

Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Design Practice course, validated by the world-renowned University of the Arts London (UAL) is a three-year course that will propel your career in the design industry.

Develop mastery in your technical competencies in one of the four design domains (3-Dimensional, Communication, Fashion, and Spatial). You will also broaden your multidisciplinary perspectives, and a robust set of transferable skills necessary to navigate the design landscape of today.

Acquire knowledge, skills and professional attributes in one of four domains:

  • 3D Design
    This domain explores 3-dimensional design in an engaging creative process of discovering materiality, form and technique. Through hands-on experiences and experimentation, students will be exposed to a variety of craft and design practice in furniture, object, and jewellery.

  • Communication Design
    This domain focuses on crafting visual content, including the manipulation of image and type from a static state to motion. Students will be exposed to a variety of design briefs that range from brand expressions to communication design for digital media.

  • Fashion Design
    This domain introduces fundamental skills and knowledge of fashion design through a creative process of artistic exploration and development. Students will be exposed to key learnings in textile studies and design, garment construction (pattern making, draping, and sewing), and fashion drawings.

  • Spatial Design
    This domain explores the creative process of design through the conceptualisation and creation of spaces. Students will gain an understanding of spatial relationships in their creations as well as design sensitive and appropriate responses through the creation of human-centric occupancies.
Attending lessons as one cohort, you will collaborate across domains where you will engage in research-based studios. You will also spend seven weeks in the UK as part of the international placement at UAL.

Grounded on a practice-led and industry-based learning pedagogy, you will work on client projects and also gain exposure through a 10-week internship in your final year.

Please watch this webinar to learn more about the BA (Hons) Design Practice course from our faculty and students.

Please click here to view the English course brochure and the Chinese course brochure.

 

Practice-Led and Industry-Focused Curriculum
Students will experience live client projects or internship as part of the course requirement. Such work experience aims to deepen students’ skillsets through industry application and attaining mastery by integrating theory with practice. Modules such as Design Studio and Design Futures and Insights, will enable students to develop skill sets that relate to their design toolkits while responding to real-world challenges in creative manners.

Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Learning
Students will be equipped with skills from their chosen domain and progress to explore interdisciplinary opportunities, learning to see design as a synergetic fusion of different perspectives. A student-led transdisciplinary project will be undertaken in the final semester of the course.

Understanding Current Issues and Future Trends
The reading of cultural issues with emergent political, economic, social, technological, legal environmental contexts will be woven into the curriculum as students study the impact of design with its integration in the community. Students will apply design thinking to explore interventions, test ideas, and assess their design impact.

The NAFA Spirit and the Southeast Asian Arts Dimension
The course will have a strong Southeast Asian arts focus to drive research inquiries, raising critical discourse while opening new perspectives that will broaden and contribute to practices and cultural research around the region. A Southeast Asian masterclass kickstarts the beginning of every semester that serves as stimulus to the learning journey, with aspects of cultural heritage incorporated into the course.

Live-Client Project/ Internship
All students will have the opportunity to undertake a live-client project/internship in the final year for a period of 10-weeks that will provide students with insights and knowledge of professional practice, that enable their alignment of skills and capabilities to the real needs of the industry.

Central Location within Singapore’s Arts and Heritage District
NAFA is located within the Bugis Arts Belt in the city centre, within walking proximity to the National Design Centre, museums, galleries, and arts groups, where a vibrant surrounding environment serves as active catalyst for engaging discourse, dialogue, teaching and learning of the arts.

International Placement at UAL
The course offers students the opportunity to spend seven weeks on an international placement in London, studying with international practitioners and experts in their fields. Students will benefit from the immersion in a lively cultural capital with opportunities to experience design from fresh perspectives. The studio modules will be conducted by faculty from London over this period, adding to the multicultural integration and collaboration.

The UAL-NAFA Partnership
The UAL-NAFA partnership is the first for the University of the Arts London, ranked first in art and design undergraduate programmes according to the 2021 QS World University Rankings. It is Europe’s largest specialist art and design university, with over 19,000 students from more than 130 countries. This partnership marks the first time that the University is offering validated programmes outside the UK.

BA (Hons) Design Practice is offered in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage consists of 28 teaching weeks. Students are expected to commit an average of 42 to 44 hours per week to the course, including taught hours and independent studies.

The learning and teaching methods for the BA (Hons) Design Practice are anchored on equipping students with the know-hows via various inputs from industry professionals. The selected methods will balance encouraging students to be independent learners while working collaboratively and interdisciplinary.

  • Technical inductions and workshops
  • Individual or group tutorials and critiques
  • Group and collaborative projects
  • Interdisciplinary projects
  • Live projects with industry partners
  • Internship
  • Field trips and visits
  • Guest lectures
  • Independent study
  • One-to-one tutorial support in report writing
  • Online learning
  • Student discussions and presentations
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Studio Practice
  • Southeast Asian arts masterclasses
  • Professional development
  • Self and peer assessments

Formative and summative assessments across a range of written and practical work are used to monitor and evaluate students' learning through:

  • Individual and group presentations
  • Research and evaluative reports
  • Design Portfolio
  • Skills and technical exercises
  • Journals, research and process development portfolio
  • Written assignments and proposals
  • Projects
  • Peer assessment
  • Degree show

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Develop technical, creative and critical thinking skills that are the planning, executing and managing of intradisciplinary, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary design projects;
  • Utilise knowledge and understanding of materials, processes, techniques, and technologies to produce innovative design solutions while focusing on user-centricity;
  • Plan and execute projects independently and in a team, and apply the principles of service design, experience design and business management to create experiences and products;
  • Expand their understanding of the evolving roles of design that may be transcending beyond the creative and cultural industries;
  • Analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information to initiate relevant design solutions that sustainably respond to current and emergent political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental issues and contexts, leading towards future trends;
  • Articulate and communicate effectively through a range of media, to facilitate and document their design practice.

Course Modules

Code Title Semester Credits






DP1411 Drawing and Making A 1 20

The unit introduces students to the fundamental design principles, techniques, and key skills in your chosen design domain. You will develop knowledge and skills across different mediums, acquire critical thinking and learn through discovery, material exploration, and processes to support ideas development within art and design.
DP1412

Design Studio 1A

 1 40

This unit introduces you to a multidisciplinary study of Design Theory and History, Design Thinking and Design Aesthetics.

It comprises of various critical content to boost your current understanding of key methods and principles of design. You will also gain insights to Southeast Asian arts and design content and contexts conducted through masterclasses.

DP1421 Drawing and Making B 2 20

This unit builds on the foundation from unit 1 and will further orientate you to the practices and knowledge within your chosen domain. You will continue to deepen and hone your technical knowledge, while learning the cross-application of specialised processes and methods.
DP1422 Design Studio 1B 2 40

This unit continues to apply studio practice in a multidisciplinary environment. You will further explore practical and theoretical knowledge of design practice with focus on other design approach and processes. The projects will further strengthen your research skills in design development and professional practice.
DP2511 Design Insights 1 20

This unit offers the opportunity to develop long-range strategic thinking towards designing for a sustainable future. Design Insights will deepen your awareness and critical understanding of ethical issues and sensitivities with critical and cultural matters of difference.
DP2512 Design Studio 2A 1 40

Design Studio 2A will engage you in a multidisciplinary environment, developing skills that transcend normative design domains. Your practice as a designer will include experience and service design, with knowledge of tools in human-centred approaches, enabling your creative development of holistic user experiences.
DP2521 International Placement 2 20

This unit will see you spending 7-weeks in the creative capital of London, UK. You will benefit from being immersed in a rich and lively cultural capital with opportunities to experience art and design from fresh perspectives.
DP2522 Design Futures 2 20

Leveraging on your learning from Design Futures and Insights A, Design Futures and Insights B will continue to stimulate you to envision multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary futures scenarios strategically driven by forces likely to shape change in broader design and business operating contexts.
DP2523 Design Studio 2B 2 20

Design Studio 2B is conducted in a studio-based learning environment to develop practical work to cultivate creative knowledge and attitudes.
DP3611 Live Client Project/ Internship 1 40

This unit will provide opportunities to experience the working climate, pace, atmosphere, and professional disciplines of working within your subject area or related area. You will also broaden your practical experiences in the various roles, functions, and operations in the industry.
DP3612 Design Studio 3: Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Practice 1 20

Initiating the student-led project (Graduating Project), this unit aims to expose you to an intensive month-long workshop engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration to critically research, plan and formulate a design proposal for informed alternatives for the future in various emergent Southeast Asian contexts. At the end of the unit, you will pitch your ideas to industry stakeholders.
DP3621 Student-Led Project 2 60

The Student-led Project (Graduating project) will kick off from the design proposal developed in Design Studio 3.

In discussion with your supervisor, you will decide on either collaborating with your fellow students from different practices to work towards a shared project outcome, or to work individually on a student-led project (or a combination of both). Culminating in a substantial body of creative work presented to a professional and the project partner, it will be showcased as part of your Graduation show at the end of the semester.

Entry Requirements

 

  1. Portfolio and Statement of Intent

    All applicants are to demonstrate their potential through the submission of the following:

    1. A Portfolio which consists of 10-15 pieces of the applicant’s best works. These works should demonstrate creativity, passion, and curiosity and are a reflection of the applicant’s view of the world.
    2. A Statement of Intent (250 - 300 words) which communicate the applicant’s purpose in pursing a Design Practice degree course.

  2. Group Interview

    All applicants are to attend a group interview session where they are expected to communicate their motivations in applying for the BA (Hons) Design Practice course, and share their views on specific topics given.

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are one or a combination of the following qualifications:

Entry into the first year (any one of the following):

  • Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level: Minimum 2 A-Level/ H2 subjects with a pass in General Paper
    GCE A-Level students in their final year of study may use their mid-year examination results to apply for the degree Early Admission Exercise (EAE).

  • Polytechnic Diploma (Singapore)
    Graduating Diploma students from a local Polytechnic may apply for the Degree EAE with their latest cumulative GPA and examination results.

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
    Graduating IB students may use their mid-year examination results to apply for the Degree EAE.

  • Equivalent of Year 12 qualification (e.g. Senior High School Leaving Certificate Examination, National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), also known as “Gao-kao” in China.)
    Current Year 12 students may use their mid-year examination results to apply for the Degree EAE.

Direct entry into the second year:
  • A relevant Diploma from NAFA, local Polytechnics, Lasalle College of the Arts, or other recognised institutions.
    *Diploma transcript must indicate passing grades in equivalent modules in NAFA’s Diploma

    Graduating students from local Polytechnics may apply for the Degree EAE with their latest cumulative GPA and examination results.

Confirmation of Conditional Offers for Degree Admission
Successful applicants for the Degree EAE will be given conditional offers and are still required to submit the following results, as applicable:
  • GCE A-Level results with minimum 2 A-Level/ H2 subjects with a pass in General Paper
  • Certificate and Academic Transcript for Polytechnic Diploma
  • IB Diploma and Transcript
  • Final Result Slip/Proof of completion of Year 12
Applicant who fails to provide documentary evidence of having met the admission requirements will have his/her conditional offer withdrawn.

NAFA hopes to attract applicants with the potential to become excellent arts practitioners. Applicants are selected by merit, based on the following criteria:
  • Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity
  • Educational Qualification
  • Language Proficiency
  • Special Factor
  • Age Requirement
Selection is competitive and is subject to the availability of places.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases.

The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional references
  • A combination of these factors
Each application will be considered on its own merit, but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case. In such cases, approval by the University of the Arts London will be required prior to final acceptance into the programme.

All classes are taught in English. If English was not the applicant’s primary medium of instruction throughout his or her school education, the applicant must provide evidence at enrolment of the following: IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Click here for other acceptable English language qualifications.

Applicants should be 18 years of age or older in the year of admission to Year 1.

GCE A-Level or Polytechnic/IB/NAFA/LASALLE students in their final year will be able to use their mid-year examination results to apply for UAL degree courses at NAFA.

Eligible international students in their final year will be able to use their mid-year examination results to apply for UAL degree courses at NAFA.

Applicants will be given conditional offer if they are successful in their portfolio interview/audition selection. Applicants are still required to submit their GCE A-Level/year-end examination results and meet the admission requirements of the respective courses. Any applicant who does not meet the admission requirements will have his/her conditional offer revoked.

At NAFA, we are committed to providing full and equal educational opportunities to all students. The Academy firmly believes that every individual deserves a supportive learning environment. Applicants are invited to inform us in advance of any specific needs, and/or type of physical facilities or support you might require. Please include this information in your application form, supplemented with the relevant medical reports. This will allow us to plan the appropriate learning support for you. 

Fees

Course fees for students entering NAFA in the academic year of 2023 is available at here.

How to Apply


Apply online here from 3 January 2023. 

  1. Print out the Application Acknowledgement for your reference and submit copies* of the following documents to the Student Admissions Office, NAFA Campus 1, for verification within five working days from the date of your online application.
    *You will need to bring the original NRIC/Passport and academic documents for authenticity check during submission.

    1. NRIC for Singapore Citizens (SC) or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR), passport and valid Student’s Pass card (if applicable) for international students
    2. English qualifications (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL iBT), if applicable
    3. Certified true copies of academic certificates and transcripts:
      • For NAFA Diploma students
        • If you are currently in your final semester, please submit your Year 3 Semester 1 academic transcript
      • For Local Polytechnic Diploma students
        • If you are currently in your final semester, please submit your academic transcripts of your first 5 semesters. Subsequently, please submit your Diploma certificate and full academic transcript (all semesters) within 5 working days from the official release date
      • For other international qualifications
        • Please submit your most recent school examination or preliminary examination results, which must be certified by your school if you have not received your final results. Subsequently, please submit your final results and certificate within 5 working days from the official release date

  2. Make payment of the Application Fee at the cashier counter in NAFA or online at https://payment.nafa.edu.sg/Students. Applicants who are paying online will be required to upload the above documents during application.

  3. Upload your portfolio at https://pss.nafa.edu.sg/

  4. You will receive an email from the Student Admissions Office on the details of your portfolio interview upon receipt of all required documents and portfolio.

  5. Receive a letter by post/email on the outcome of your application within 4 – 6 weeks after your Interview or Audition.

 

Teaching Faculty

Potential Careers

Upon completion of this course, you may look forward to the following career options:

  • Content writer
  • Creative Technologist
  • Design Facilitator
  • Designer
  • Project Manager
  • Researcher
  • Storyteller
  • Visualiser

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Tel: 6512 4071

Please write to us at:
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