MA Make-up and Hair Design Futures

ABOUT THE COURSE

Explore the rapidly evolving field of designing for future bodies, beauty cultures and creature design using speculative design strategies and augmented realities on this fascinating master’s programme.

This course intends to produce designers and artists who aspire to be at the forefront of this new discipline. The programme of study supports creative investigations enabling you to enter critical dialogue, contributing original insights to the world of beauty ideals; the grotesque, gender politics, creature design and the changing face of body identity.

Based in our industry standard make-up, hair and prosthetics studios, you will work with both practice and theory, and be presented with the principles of speculative and critical design for future bodies using make-up, hair and prosthetics. Each scenario will allow you to explore the key themes of future focused thinking surrounding the dynamics shaping the body of tomorrow. By showing alternative futures are possible, you will learn how to prototype and demonstrate complex design and application concepts.

You will explore and develop creative application skills to generate an enhanced research and design proposal through envisioning new futures. Based on sub-cultures, cutting edge experiences, speculative design projects, biotechnology and even science fiction, your outcomes can materialise through studies, magazines, artefacts, film, digital and online platforms, objects and performances – culminating in an end of year postgraduate showcase.

Thanks to the course team’s close links with industry, you’ll benefit from a range of guest lectures from across the contemporary design landscape, with representatives from fashion, film, media, beauty and other creative industries. Recent speakers have included Terry Barber - MAC’s Director of Makeup Artistry, Pablo Rodriguez - Illamasqua’s Director of Make-up Artistry, Burton Nitta – Interdisciplinary Design Studio, Helen Casey – Deputy Head of Wigs, National Theatre, and Neill Gorton Studios.

You will also be encouraged to create industry collaborations and take up work placements throughout your studies, and will have opportunities to apply to work with our professional make-up teams at events such as London Fashion Week, Graduate Fashion Week and a range of TV, film and theatre productions.

What does this course lead to?

This master’s course will transform your understanding as a practitioner who uses their specialisms to question cultural, social and ethical implications surrounding future bodies. With the knowledge and experiences gained while studying, including the creative skills to formulate, design and present self-initiated outcomes, you will cement your design identity and become prepared to enter this innovative and ever-evolving industry.

Graduates may find themselves working with make-up and beauty brands, catwalk beauty, fashion and beauty editorial publication, film and media production, TV, performance, advertising and communication, speculative design agencies and trend forecasting.

Who is this course for?

An undergraduate degree, or industry experience in make-up and hair design would be a technical advantage but your design thinking is more important, applications will be considered from individuals with diverse backgrounds.

Through the consideration of the environment, changing social needs, science, politics, sub-cultures, avant-garde experimentations and the dynamics of change regarding the body, these insights will inform design scenarios and research led speculations for the beauty, fashion, film and speculative design industries. There is also a strong emphasis on learning through making and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Students can study this course part time also.

An honours degree at 2:2 or higher. Applicants will be required to submit a digital mini portfolio providing evidence of artistic aptitude and potential; this will form an important part of the selection process. If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.