Master in Design Futures (MA)

The Design Futures MA at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen approaches design as an activity that is fundamentally oriented toward the future, while also treating the discipline of design itself as something that can be examined, challenged, and reshaped. The programme sits at the intersection of design practice, social analysis, and scientific discourse, with a particular emphasis on openness of outcomes and on the personal responsibility of the designer. The two-year curriculum is structured around six studios that present a range of design cultures, methods, and theories. Students develop their own design identities through seminars, workshops, and project units. Cross-participation in specific seminars from Communication Design and Photography programmes is possible. One strand of the programme focuses on sustainable, resource-light, and circular design practices through the Space for Sustainability by Design initiative established in 2023. The programme starts in the winter semester, runs over 4 semesters, and carries no tuition fees. Instruction is primarily in German, though the programme lists English B2 as an accepted language level. The degree is offered at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany.