Please note this course will not be recruiting students for entry in January 2012.

A ground-breaking course exploring the relationships between physical & virtual environments and information.

Information Environments is a relatively new field of design exploration. It is concerned with physical or virtual spaces where information is generated, processed, received and experienced. Examples include urban spaces, architecture and the built environment, exhibitions, museums, the internet and learning environments.

This new Masters course, the first of its kind at University of the Arts London, builds upon interdisciplinary approaches established by the internationally- recognised research unit for Information Environments at the University. The intention is to establish an exciting forum for new thinking about what is meant by information.

On the course you will promote the development of new design methods and approaches. The aim is to enable artists, architects and spatial and graphic designers to contribute to interdisciplinary teams and projects that take into account innovative ways of using and facilitating communication within physical and virtual spaces. You will be encouraged to take advantage of our strong links with professional architects and spatial designers, cultural theorists and specialists in information and graphic design.

This course is taught within the School of Design

Phase 1

• Strategies for Interdisciplinary Research
• Information in Practice

Phases 1 and 2 of the course will establish key research methodologies and will provide students with a ‘toolkit’ through which to develop their independent Major Project, which will lead to completion of a Major Project together with a Research Proposal indicating potential routes for further enquiry at MPhil/PhD level or within a professional context. The Strategies for Interdisciplinary Research unit will introduce students to both theoretical and applied (or ‘live’) research routes including quantitative, qualitative as well as hybrid methods of analysis (for example design/geography, design/ethnography).

The Information in Practice unit introduces a range of practical research methods through which to test visual strategies (materials, modelling techniques within physical and virtual environments, information hierarchies and generative systems design) and to prototype models and visualise outcomes. Together, these units help students to structure a clear research question, which is further underpinned by solid foundations in a theoretical, cultural, historical and material context. During Phase 2, the research question will be further developed through critical evaluation against a range of presentations by external practitioners within the field of Information Environments.

Phase 2

• Exploring Physical & Virtual Information Environments

During Phase 2 (Exploring Physical & Virtual Information Environments), students engage with a series of key presentations by members of the UAL Information Environments (IE) Research Network, as well as external academics and practitioners within the design subject area. During this phase, students begin to focus on specific areas of enquiry within the field of Information Environments, in order to develop a Major Project proposal and specific research question to progress to Phase 3 of the course. During Phase 2, appropriate supervisory teams will be selected who will then guide students during Phase 3 toward completion of the Major Project. Students must pass all units in Phases 1 and 2 in order to move through the progression point at the end of Phase 2 and on to the final Major Project.

Phase 2

• Major Project (Practical + Report OR Thesis)

Phase 3, the Major Project, incorporates a study proposal and outline of potential further work as a Unit outcome, allowing students to propose either a route to further study at PhD level, or development within a potential commercial or professional context.

Research skills developed through the course will provide graduates with expertise applicable to professional design within the fields of information graphics, signage and wayfinding, planning, architecture and user-centred communication. But these skills are also applicable to people intending to work in public policy making, social networking and other areas under the broad heading of information environments. Graduates will also be well-equipped for either further research (such as a PhD).

Please note this course will not be recruiting students for entry in January 2012.

An Honours degree in a relevant subject, or a professional or academic qualification recognised as equivalent to an Honours degree. If you do not have the required qualifications, but do have professional experience you may be eligible to gain credit for previous learning and experience through the AP(E)L system. Your experience is assessed as a learning process and tutors will evaluate that experience for currency, validity, quality and sufficiency.

International and EU students: If your first language is not English you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English.

Portfolio advice

Your portfolio should cover your most recent commercial or academic activity, showing your aptitude and ability in design. This can be supported with documents showing your working processes and research (i.e. sketchbooks). Also include any other projects that indicate your personal areas of interest in the field of communication with particular relevance to the field of information environments.

Please note this course will not be recruiting students for entry in January 2012.