The aim of the degree is to provide students with:

1. good theoretical and general knowledge of as well as artistic and practical expertise in their field of study as well as a general knowledge of the field of arts;
2. knowledge and skills needed for independent and demanding artistic work and for multidisciplinary collaboration as well as knowledge and skills needed to apply scientific knowledge and scientific methods;
3. knowledge and skills to perform, both independently and collaboratively, demanding expert, development and management duties of the field, and to cooperate internationally;
4. knowledge and skills needed for education leading to a Doctor of Arts (Art and Design) degree and for lifelong learning;
5. good language and communication skills for work in the field of arts and for international operations and cooperation.

The education shall be based on scientific research and artistic activity and professional practices in the field.

Learning Outcomes for the Master's Programme in Design for Theatre, film and Television

A student who graduates from the Master’s Degree Programme in Design for Theatre, Film and Television is able to

• understand the complex demands of performance and production design and the skills required in special areas of creative collaboration, concept development, design and realisation
• master broad artistic processes through either specialisation and/or diversification across disciplines
• apply, extend and enhance existing artistic and design skills and specialist knowledge acquired earlier
• develop new working methods and processes, including experimental or research-centred approaches
• explore his/her creative potential and develop a personal and/or collaborative artistic vision
• demonstrate initiative and take an active role as a creative team member in artistic explorations and productions
• reach a level of proficiency where further external or doctoral studies can be undertaken

Content of the Studies

The master studies in the programme deepen the student’s artistic practice, creative enquiry and professional skills. Students’ abilities are developed on both personal and collaborative levels. A student can either specialize in his/her own area in production and/or performance design, or widen his/her expertise in different areas.

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on March 25th 2020.

Code: ARTS3027
Credits: 90 ECTS
Responsible Professor: Professor Sofia Pantouvaki

Learning outcomes

The Costume Design Major of the Master’s Degree Programme in Design for Theatre, Film and Television focuses the student’s personal development in artistic practice through creative enquiry and collaboration, theoretical and critical thinking, and aims at their professional competence as costume designers in projects for screen and the performing arts. The studies are continuously enriched and updated by new design practices, new technologies and cutting-edge new research in the field.

A student who graduates from the Master’s Degree Programme in Costume Design is able to:

• Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of costume within contemporary creative practice in live and media-related performance.
• Take an active role as costume designer in artistic productions in diverse fields of the performing arts, in film, television and other camera- and media-based projects, as well as in creative projects within a broader performance context.
• Experiment on new concepts for the creation of costumes, initiate and propose new artistic ideas in costume design in various time and space contexts.
• Explore his/her artistic potential and develop a personal artistic vision in costume design.
• Reflect on prior learning and develop new working methods by returning to the core issues of costume design enquiry through a research-centered approach.
• Master diverse artistic processes and technologies for media and live performance productions, applying and extending artistic and design skills and specialist knowledge in costume design.
• Work as a creative team member in artistic explorations and productions.
• Lead and motivate the team that collaborates in the realisation of the costume designs.
• Investigate existing film, media and performance design traditions and provide critical and creative input that extends the boundaries of costume beyond traditional roles in contemporary culture and practice.
• Reach a level of proficiency where further external or doctoral studies in costume design can be undertaken.

Education Content

The major studies in Costume Design enhance the development of the students' artistic expression and conceptual thinking, and expand their creative, professional and technical skills and competency as visionary costume designers. The students have the possibility to experiment on advanced concepts for costume design in special areas of performance and media, and to reflect and respond to artistically demanding productions through the design and creative processes of costume design.

The studies include entrepreunial aspects, time and budget management skills, training in developing collaborative artistic work and in communicating ideas to a technical team. If interested, the students can focus on the history, theory and research of costume, and enrich their research skills. The learning is based on a practice-led research approach, where the students’ personal strengths and interests are taken into consideration in planning the content of the studies. The studies are organised in collaboration with the Master’s Programme of Film and Television and with the University of the Arts/Theatre Academy, as well as with external institutions, individual artists and professional companies.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

Courses

The Bachelor and Master of Arts degree programmes in Design for the Performing Arts, and Design for the Performing Arts as part of the Master’s Programme in Design for Theatre, Film and Television will be transferred from Aalto University to the University of the Arts Helsinki as of 1 August 2021.

Further information

Code: ARTS3085
Credits: 90 ECTS
Responsible Professor: Professor Liisa Ikonen

Learning Outcomes

The major in Design for the Performing Arts trains artistic designers who are responsible for the visual, spatial and operational concept for a theatre or other performance or event. The aim of the education is to find and enhance the student’s personal artistic vision, to extend his/her professional competence and/or specialisation and to provide the skills needed for pursuing doctoral studies. The aim is no longer purely to acquire vocational skills but also an ability to develop one’s own artistic expression creatively and with initiative. Master’s degree students are expected to work independently and to play an active role in planning their own studies.

A graduate of the Design for the Performing Arts major will be able to

• work as a scenographer in demanding productions in the theatres and other areas of performing arts
• manage the special areas of design for theatre, film and television that were the focus of studies
• manage broad artistic entities
• lead and motivate a working group that is implementing the designs
• deepen his/her artistic expression independently
• expand his/her competence according to development and new requirements in the field
• develop new work methods by means of experimental and investigative work
• renew the field with other people who have artistic responsibility for productions in theatres and other areas of performing arts
• continue his/her studies in a programme leading to a doctoral degree

Content of the Studies

The Master’s studies continue the BA level teaching by returning to the core questions of scenography with a research-oriented attitude, extending and enhancing the professional skills and knowledge, artistic and technical skills acquired earlier. The student is encouraged to plan his/her individual study path on the basis of personal interests and strengths. All theatre work studies and part of the scenography studies are organised together with the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

Courses

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on March 25th 2020.

Code: ARTS3025
Credits: 90 ECTS
Responsible Professor: Professor Kaisa Mäkinen

Learning Outcomes

The major in production design involves training artistic designers who are responsible for the visual, operational and productional entity of a film and TV productions.

The aim of the training is to deepen one's own artistic view, to deepen and / or specialize his / her professional skills and to prepare him / her for further studies. The major subject studies enhance the student's ability to respond to extensive, demanding professional productions.

During the studies, students are also encouraged to express their own views on the artistic collaboration as a whole and the ability to develop their own field creatively and spontaneously.

Master students are required to work independently and play an active role in planning their own studies.

A graduate of the Production Design major will be able to

• work as a production designer in film and television productions
• manage broad artistic entities
• guide and motivate the working group implementing the plans
• deepen his/her artistic expression
• expand his/her competence according to development and new requirements in the field
• develop new work methods by means of experimental and research-based work
• renew the field in collaboration with other people responsible for artistic content in film/TV productions
• continue his/her studies in a programme leading to a doctoral degree

Content of the Studies

Master studies include specializing into the special areas of production design, familiarizing with the latest technologies and techniques in the professional field, and include them into artistic work.

Master’s degree studies include delving into the research-related studies to develop conceptual thinking relating to design for theatre, film and television.

Studies include artistic and creative thinking in an advanced level, understanding the responsibilities of Production Designer, time and budget management skills relevant to the profession, coaching for artistic collaboration: communicating ideas to both the artistically responsible team members and to the technical team.

The core content of the major is to encourage the student to express his or her views on the artistic collaboration as a whole, and to give him or her the opportunity to reflect on what he or she has learned as a member of another creative team.

The students can take research-based and theoretical studies that are an introduction to doctoral studies in the Degree Programmes of both Film and Television and Design for Theatre, Film and Television.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

Courses

To graduate, students must meet the aims set for the thesis. The aim of the master's thesis is that:

• Students demonstrate command of the field of the master's programme and ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the programme independently;
• Students demonstrate ability for research-oriented work on an artistic, theoretical or applied research topic and demonstrate ability to use data and source material for research purposes;
• Students demonstrate good communication skills for work in the field of study.

The thesis may be a piece of theoretical, artistic or applied research, a work of art or a combination of these; it may also include a production component. The production component may be, depending on the field, for instance, a design, a work of art, an exhibition, or project. Theses always include a written component. If the thesis consists of a design or other production component and a written component, the student must specify the emphasis to be given to the different components in the evaluation. However, the thesis is always evalu-ated as a whole, with all the components of the thesis included in the evaluation.

The recommended extent of the written component of the thesis is 25–70 pages (approx. 50 000–140 000 characters) depending on the extent of the possible production component.

For more information on completing your thesis see: Completing your master's thesis