Designer Maker

UCAS code: W202

Here's what East Sussex College says about its Designer Maker course.

Our Designer Maker course will help you to develop all the skills you need to establish yourself as a craft practitioner. You'll be able to study the course over 3 years full time or 6 years part time, benefiting from the strong emphasis on design practice and making, giving you a solid understanding of materiality and function. You will develop your creative thinking and experiment with a range of materials to produce installations, prototype product design, and retail ready pieces. Use our fantastic facilities to learn technical skills in ceramics, stained glass, kiln-formed glass, metals, and textiles and print.

• You will be able work in your own dedicated space in our new University Centre, with access to a fantastic range of equipment and facilities including, dedicated jewellery and metalwork studio fully equipped with professional tools, printing presses, pottery wheels, large glass and ceramic kilns, glazing facilities and dedicated plaster room.

• Our Designer Maker course will give you an abundance of transferable skills, reinforcing the vocational aspects of the course, to provide you with intellectual flexibility and sustainability to take into your future career as a crafts practitioner.

• You will have the advantage of being part of smaller class sizes giving you increased contact time with your tutors, providing you with real value for money.

• Our tutors are passionate, creative professionals who all active designer makers and exhibitors. They specialise in jewellery, ceramics, textiles, print and glass, and have their work exhibited internationally, featured in blockbuster movies, in New York department stores, and in many craft publications.

• You will be able to raise your profile as a practitioner during a number of live projects, work experience placements, entering your work into local and national competitions, and exhibiting your work at our end of year degree show.

• You will be taught alongside the full-time course allowing you to benefit from the full student experience, engaging in seminars and group discussions to debate, critique and review your works and work of your peers.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need? Minimum of 64 UCAS points (160 old system) from a BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma / A Levels / Foundation Diploma / Access Diploma in a related subject; if English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.5 with a 6 in writing; proof of qualifications; a satisfactory reference.

What can I do after completing this course? Once you have graduated, you will have a diverse range of transferable skills that will enable you to start your career in this exciting industry. You may have found your specialism, or you may wish to continue working with a diverse range of materials, but one thing that is sure, you will be fully equipped to seek out roles and apply your knowledge as a designer maker. Other options could include further study onto MA programmes or complete a Post Graduate Certificate of Education.

In 2024 we were awarded an exceptional 94% National Student Survey (NSS) rating. Every university in the UK takes part in the NSS, as do many colleges. This survey gathers students’ opinions on the quality of their courses which helps to inform prospective students’ choices and provide data that supports universities and colleges to improve the student experience. East Sussex College University Courses is very proud of our extremely high score. The NSS is managed by the OfS on behalf of the UK funding and regulatory bodies.

During your first year of the course we will introduce you to the essential craft knowledge and technical skills you’ll need to become a crafts practitioner. You will have the freedom to explore and experiment with a range of materials, helping you to find an area you love to work in. You will explore the skills and science behind working with glass and ceramics, metals and textiles, and drawing, painting and design.

Core modules in Year 1: Glass & Ceramics Metal & Textile Draw, Print & Design Contextual Studies 1 Designer Maker

The second year will build on your contextual understanding of crafts and design. You will study studio practice and begin to critically analyse your designs and prototypes to develop your work, ready for batch production. There will also be an opportunity to undertake a 10 day work placement to work on live projects and client briefs. Core modules in Year 2: work experience Design Development Studio Practice Contextual Studies 2 Batch Production

In your third year you will be able to fine-tune your innovative approaches in design and practice, undertake your extended essay project, and prepare your work for the end of year exhibition project, where you will be able to demonstrate your personal vision and artistic maturity. Core modules Concept Refinement Extended Essay Professional practice Exhibition

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.