Transformation Design (M.A.)
Design is more than just the creation of artifacts—such as brochures or websites, chairs or sneakers. Design is the shaping of social change processes, new ways of life, and cultural practices. That is precisely what our master’s program in Transformation Design is all about. It empowers students, as designers, to independently identify, reflect on, and articulate socially relevant issues. And it motivates you to conceive, creatively implement, and communicate innovative solutions for social transformations.
By combining scientific-analytical thinking with aesthetic-experimental forms of insight, you will learn to understand the complexity of modern society in order to arrive at nuanced and well-reasoned judgments and solutions to problems.
Career Prospects
The Transformation Design master’s program not only prepares you for high-level roles in traditional design fields, but also opens up new career paths for designers: instructional communication design, process and innovation management, the design of transformation processes in nongovernmental organizations, public-benefit enterprises, corporate social responsibility and sustainability departments within companies, consulting firms, and the public sector—all the way to interface management between business, society, and culture.
Furthermore, the master’s program lays the groundwork for a doctoral degree and an academic career in teaching and research. You can find information here about doctoral opportunities at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, such as a collaborative doctoral program.
Course Content
In our master’s program, we promote and teach a problem-oriented, contextual, transdisciplinary, and socially relevant understanding of design. We aim to support you in developing into self-assured and reflective design professionals who want to help shape the transformation of our society—in the spirit of ecological, social, and economic sustainability.
The program consists of three module clusters. In “Methods & Tools,” you will acquire a fundamental methodological framework through both practical and experimental workshops as well as theoretical courses (e.g., participatory design, change management, agile management, design thinking, service design). The core courses in “Design & Transformation” are practical, design-oriented project seminars, whose varying topics are explored in greater depth through accompanying theory modules and Experience Labs. In “Research & Supervision,” the focus is on your own personal master’s project, the topic of which you will develop in the first semester and which will—or may—lead to your master’s thesis in the third semester.
SHOWCASE
from this degree program
Course of Study
| Semester / CP * | 0 | 10 | 20 | 30 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Module A1 Methods & Tools 1 1 (5 CP) | Module B1 Design & Transformation 1 2 (12 CP) | Module C1 Research & Discourse 1 3 (13 CP) | 30 CP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Module A2 Methods & Tools 2 4 1 (5 CP) | Module B2 Design & Transformation 2 5 (12 CP) | Module C2 Research & Discourse 1 6 (13 CP) | 30 CP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Module D Master's Thesis 7 (30 CP) | 30 CP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 90 CP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* CP = Credit Points
1 Process Management 1 / Workshop 1
2 Transformation Project 1 / Experience Lab 1 / Critical Thinking 1
3 Research Project 1 / Supervision 1 / Social Discourses 1 / Research Skills
4 Process Management 2 / Workshop 2
5 Transformation Project 2 / Experience Lab 2 / Critical Thinking 2
6 Research Project 2 / Supervision 2 / Social Discourses 2
7 Master’s Thesis / Supervision 3
Application Process
Admission Requirements
- a completed bachelor degree with at least 210 credit points in design-oriented, media-related, or artistic degree programs (degrees in unrelated fields may also be accepted upon decision by the admissions committee)
- successful completion of the program-specific aptitude assessment
Application Process and Entrance Exam
Steps
Time Period
through January 16
Documents
Please upload the following application documents to Nextcloud in a single PDF file no larger than 30 MB between December 1 and January 16, inclusive:
- resume in table format
- a statement of purpose in which you describe your personal interest in social transformation processes and in the Transformation Design master’s program
- Proposal for your potential master’s thesis topic (please explain, in 1 to a maximum of 2 pages, the thematic focus you would like to address in your master’s project (Research Project). Of course, you can change your master’s thesis topic at any time during the program.)
- portfolio featuring a selection of your own work (3–4 representative projects are sufficient)
- degree certificate (diploma or bachelor’s degree). If not yet available, please include a current transcript.
- certified proof of a language proficiency test at the A2 level (applies only to non-native German speakers)
Please use the following format for the PDF filename:
LastName_FirstName_TFD_Application.pdf
Please do not embed videos in the PDF portfolio. However, you may include download or streaming links to videos posted online in your portfolio.
Late January
Colloquium
A decision regarding your admission to the colloquium (a rather informal interview) will be made based on the application materials you submit. You will be notified in a timely manner as to whether the colloquium will take place as a video conference or on campus. It will be held in late January or early February.
Academic Advising
If you would like to discuss questions about the program, the admissions process, or career prospects in person, please contact the program coordinator to schedule an individual consultation.
FAQs
Course of Study
Yes, you can be admitted to the program-specific aptitude assessment process. Once you have successfully completed the process, you must earn the remaining credit points needed to reach the required 210 credit points through additional coursework within the first year after enrollment.
Applicants from abroad
Nothing. Unlike applicants to other degree programs, applicants who earned their university entrance qualification abroad are not required to have it recognized by Uni-Assist.
You must provide certified proof of a language proficiency test at the A2 level. Without this, you cannot be admitted or enrolled.