Sustainable Art and Design | Master of Arts (Art and Design)

During the studies, insights from fields of environmental art, public art, socially-engaged art and service design are introduced. Students are encouraged to find methods and tools that intersect between art and design. In their two-year master’s degree programme, students carry out project-based studies that have strong working-life orientation. Art-based research and/or action research is implemented in to these projects. The main focus is to work in real environments with real stakeholders outside the university. Arctic nature and culture form the frame and context for the studies.

The Sustainable Art and Design (AAD) master’s programme has been developed to respond to the changing role of the creative professional in society. The content is designed to harness the potential of service design and applied visual arts in social, community or business contexts. Service design and applied visual arts are used by our students to work with clients and community groups to identify problems and create solutions - It’s creative collaboration.

What will you learn?

During the degree, students will develop their skills and competence in

• socially engaged art, public art, applied visual arts and service design
• collaborative and interdisciplinary working
• community and environment centred design and art
• identifying and making the most of entrepreneurial opportunities
• interdisciplinary and arts-based research in Arctic

The degree aims to develop:

• professional expertise at the intersections of art and environmental issues, art and social work, art and regional development, art and design practice
• competence in interdisciplinary working with business and community groups
• advanced skills in project design and management
• expertise in place-based artistic and development strategies, especially in Arctic communities
• research and evaluation skills in art, design and sustainable development

In short, service design and applied visual arts are used by our students to work with clients and community groups to identify problems and create solutions - It’s creative collaboration.

Career Opportunities

Due to the focus on art and design skills coupled with practical project experience in interdisciplinary settings, a wide range of career options are open to graduates, for example:

• project management in the creative industries
• educational project working
• independent creative consultancy
• environmental art in partnership 
• public art 
• community-based art
• education (adult and community based)

Employers could include tourism companies, local or national government, creative industries (galleries, museums etc) social services or educational institutions.