Course summary
Digital technology continues to disrupt and transform how we design and build with sustainable materials. Our Digital Craft in Architecture MA is a unique transdisciplinary course that will equip you to engage with an evolving industry, as part of a vibrant community of practice. You will learn to craft designs with advanced digital tools, drawing on traditional knowledge of building to innovate with sustainable materials. You will gain skills in:
- 3D printing
- CNC Manufacture
- Mixed Reality Making
- Parametric and Computational Design
- Generative AI
- Digital prototyping
- Computational design
- 1:1 making with digital fabrication
- 3D visualisation
- Technical drawing for manufacture and assembly.
Modules
Advanced Digital Practice (30 credits) This module is designed to teach you how to design using a range of geometry, data, and scripting methods. It will also help you develop an understanding of the role of computational design in both theory and practice, and enhance your skills and control of digital tools to generate and rationalise complex geometry. Additionally, the module will assist you in developing the ability to systematically work through complex design problems using digital tools and communicate your process and key principles effectively. Design for Digital Manufacture and Assembly (30 credits) This module offers you the opportunity to learn and develop skills in both analogue and digital manufacturing techniques, as well as develop an awareness of materials and their uses, performance, and application in an industrial setting. You will develop your skills in transforming digital geometry into manufacture-ready information and designing parts and components with automation and digital manufacturing in mind. Throughout the module, you will build prototypes to test materials, processes and assembly, gaining an understanding of tacit knowledge of construction and embedding that in your design. Contextual Theory (30 credits) You'll attend lectures and seminars on the history of the master builder and the aspects of:
- The significance of building tectonics from the perspective of anthropology
- The relationship between designing, making and knowing
- The 'modern' approach to materials and details in buildings.
- Research skills
- Technical skills
- Design skills.
Assessment method
Digital Craft Skills
- Design for Digital Manufacture - understand different methods of digital manufacturing. Develop a critical attitude in design. Understand the role of the digital model in manufacture and assembly.
- Computational Design - show an ability to turn design modelling steps into an algorithmic tool for design. Understand how data can drive a digital design model and be a platform for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Test - set up design experiments that test known and unknown parameters.
- Appraise - integrate results from digital and physical experiments into a body of knowledge
- Synthesise - integrate design research into a design project.
- Create - original designs and ideas. Explore the role of tectonics and digital fabrication in design and construction.
How to apply
International applicants
Please see the University's standard English language requirements.
Entry requirements
Admission to the programme will be open to applicants who hold a minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2), or an equivalent overseas qualification, from courses covering skills in design, making, graphic communication, architecture, industrial design or fashion. Alternatively, applicants will be considered with an appropriate background working in a design practice, with a portfolio demonstrating 3 years of experience. Please also see the University's general entry requirements on the relevant course page of our website. All applicants will be invited to submit a portfolio for review. You can make your submission via Google Drive or similar and then share the link as part of your admission. Information on portfolio specifications & how to submit it, will be emailed separately upon initial processing of an application.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £9700 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9700 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9700 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9700 | Year 1 |
EU | £16600 | Year 1 |
International | £16600 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Oxford Brookes University
Gipsy Lane
Headington
Oxford
OX3 0BP