Elements of design

The 2-year Master course is based upon your own proposal of study. Your proposal is evaluated in the entrance examination and it will be the guiding line throughout your complete study. This concept of study guaranties an ultimate level of individuality in the professional profiles of our graduates.

At a glance

Degree: Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Start of studies: summer and winter semesters
Standard period of study: 4 semester (120 ECTS)
Application deadline: until 1 May and 1 November
Tuition fee: none
Type of study: Master's programme
Study location: Campus design | Idar-Oberstein

Course Contents

The course is structured in modules. In each module we have scheduled different learning and teaching methods. By specifically applying these, it will lead to an optimised development of competence. Basically, the very good mentoring relation in each module almost enables a one to one learning-teaching-situation as well as a very good knowledge transfer.

The methods and generation of knowledge inside a project module are based on post graduate programmes of universities and establish the foundation of a master project plenum. 
Here the project participants meet for discussion: Students and teachers discuss project development, methods, aims and solutions. The discussion forum is open to all students. This is how an individual network of social, theoretical and design oriented questions and knowledge can grow for each project. This is how methods, philosophy of science and creative development of the professional approaches are initiated and accelerated. It is also our goal to encourage our students to gain an early scientific independence.

Course Structure

The principles of self-determination and organisation are integrated into the MFA programme and help the students achieve a high form of competence while attending these courses. Knowledge in form of advanced organisational and self reflective design tasks is turned into a part of the course of studies. Naturally the students will not be left alone with these special requirements and challenges. They can rely on a very well accompanied system which helps them organise their course of studies.

For the MFA programme you need 120 ECTS credits, which have to be acquired within semester clusters of 30 ECTS credits with a semester workload of 900 hours. The internationalisation of single modules by integrating external modules up to 30 ECTS credits is possible and plays an important role. The examination board decides over the accreditation of these external modules. 

The workload of the core project’s module covers about 60% of the individual semester workload. This contact time is divided into three units: 15% percent is accounted for plenary sessions, 60% for individual support of the project development and 25% for preparation and post processing in study groups. The study groups are divided depending on the thematic orientation of the projects. In particular cases the contact time can also be used for individual support. The plenary sessions can also be held in groups and are scheduled during the semester according to the circumstances and the project-specific requirements. 

The organisational plan will be settled in a course time schedule. The workload of the theory and context modules covers about 40% of the individual semester workload.The MFA programme of the Department of Gemstones and Jewellery provides a pool of specialized courses. The students are responsible for the interaction of their major with the other courses during their course of studies. However, the development of interaction between the different modules and integration of the content is a systematic and integral part of the whole programme. 

This integration in form of defining one’s personal style within a relevant social context is of important significance. Out of the qualifying and competence units of this programme, which accompany the core project module, structured contributions will give feed back to enable the development of high skills, main topics and projects.

Aims and Outcomes

This MFA course in Gemstones and Jewellery enables its graduates to contribute to the contemporary national and international gemstone and jewellery scene with the aim to become an active and decisive part of it. It also combines creative development in the field of gemstone and jewellery design and its co-related subjects with design theory and the specific topics of gemstone and jewellery design.

This course orientation also considers that the job expectations require innovative thinking and advancement, which can be achieved by interpreting the course contents in a broad manner. These versatile assignments range from elaborating fine-art-related topics to interdisciplinary design projects and to pure market-oriented analysis. Therefore, creative developments are initiated in the scope of the MFA course and students are encouraged to effectively and critically reflect their individual expressed solutions and conclusions.

The graduates will be qualified for the complex development of  ideas, concepts, designs and the production of marketable products in the field of Gemstones and Jewellery. In addition to the specialization and extension of knowledge in art and design, acquired interdisciplinary abilities and critical reflection play major roles. The accumulation of competence and qualifications is part of the framework in which art, art history, technology and economics are combined. This qualifies the graduates to incorporate an independent professional function in the field of commerce or fine arts.

This MFA course is project-orientated aiming to prepare the students for the professional world. The field of activity will be defined carefully and individually during the project proposal. The freelance authorship will play a decisive role in the later profession emphasising on gemstones and jewellery. Furthermore, you will find following career prospects integrated in the programme:

• Freelance authorship in the field of gemstones and jewellery
• Employed or freelance designer
• Artistic line-producer, studio management and art director
• Design-management
• Teaching and education
• Publishing

Requirements

• Proof of a finished BA or BFA
• English proficiency
• Passing the entrance examination

Application

• Step 1: digital application with:
  • the application form
  • a recent CV
  • a portfolio
  • a project proposal
  • a letter of motivation
• Step 2: take an interview
• Step 3: matricualte online

Deadline of application:
for the next winter semester: 1st of May and
for the next summer semester: 1st of November