Decorative Arts BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- Start Date(s): September 2018
- Duration: Three years full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
On this contemporary design crafts course, develop all the skills you need to become a designer-maker, exploring ceramics, textiles, metals, wood, print and glass. Learn the skills required to produce 2D and 3D products for the interior, home and fashion sectors, or for the gallery or luxury giftware market.
Decorative Arts at NTU remains one of the foremost 2D and 3D design craft-based degree courses in the UK and is accredited by the Chartered Society of Designers.
Develop your design and making skills, learning techniques in drawing, mould making, kiln forming, and jewellery making. Embrace new digital technologies as well as more traditional methods of making.
This course is ideal:
- if you have a love of fine art, hands-on making and / or product design
- if you’re aspiring to launch a career within retail, buying, design, marketing, merchandising, art direction and consultancy
- if you want to become designer-maker. You’ll gain the commercial knowledge required to start your own enterprise
- it also provides an ideal route into teaching art and design at all levels.
Key features
- Work with a range of media including ceramics, textiles, metal, wood print and glass.
- We're delighted to be ranked 8th in the UK for Design and Crafts (Guardian University League Tables 2019).
- Our students are in high demand within the industry - 94% of graduates in employment or further study within six months (DLHE survey 2016/17).
- Learn traditional and digital methods of making on our workshop programme and enhance your drawing skills in dedicated drawing classes.
- Be inspired by Nottingham’s art community and creative places to visit, such as Nottingham Castle, Nottingham Contemporary and Lakeside Arts.
- Opportunity to be nominated for competitions such as the Society of Dyers and Colourists’ annual colour competition and Texprint.
- Go on study trips to places like Denby, The Design Museum, Tom Dixon and Heals in London.
- Opportunity to exhibit and sell your work at our NTU Christmas Fair.
- Showcase your work in our Degree Show, and be selected to exhibit at New Designers, London, where students have won high-profile prizes, such as the Denby Associate Prize.
- Learn commercial skills to help you set up your own business, should you wish to.
- Apply to join a business development programme at The Hive, NTU’s purpose-built centre for entrepreneurship and enterprise.
Student work
What you’ll study
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Video Gallery
Careers and employability
Employability is excellent for students from this course, with 94% of graduates going on to employment or further study within six months of graduating. (DLHE 2016/17)
Graduates from this course regularly feature in the UK’s most influential style publications, including Elle Decoration, Vogue, Wallpaper* and World of Interiors. Many have gone on to set up their own businesses as designer-makers, with recent success stories including:
- Brittany Delaney (Brittany Delany Ceramics)
- Esther Patterson (Curiousa & Curiousa)
- Anna Collette Hunt (Anna Collette Hunt Contemporary Fine Crafts)
- Rosie Norman (Rosie Olivia Millinery).
Other recent graduates work as designers, studio practitioners and stylists for companies such as:
- Burberry
- Paul Smith
- Vivienne Westwood
- Emma Bridgewater
- Heals
- Hugo Boss
- Dunelm
- Alessi
- Joules
- Harrods
- Fired Earth
- Habitat
- Ikea
- Adidas
- Next.
This course also prepares you for a career in teaching art and design at any level, with the addition of a postgraduate teaching qualification.
YouFirst – working with our Employability team
Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course.
Connecting with industry
This course offers experiences that will enhance your understanding of working in industry, through visiting practitioners, live projects and the opportunity to raise your profile through industry competitions.
Recent live projects include:
- the Johnson Tiles design challenge
- an industry design project with Denby
- the Craft Council’s Hothouse programme; and
- a project inspired by the Nottingham Castle collection.
Competitions our Decorative Arts students have been involved with include Texprint design competition and the Society of Dyers and Colourists’ International Design Competition.
NTU also hosts an annual Day of Colour, which is run by the Society of Dyers and Colourists, and features guest lectures by prominent colour and creative professionals.
This is the only craft-based degree course in the UK that is accredited by the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD), giving you free membership during your studies which means you’ll have access to CSD online careers advice, guidance, and job vacancies.
If you’re interested in setting up your own business after graduating, you can apply to join a business development programme at The Hive, NTU’s purpose-built centre for entrepreneurship and enterprise. They run mentoring and training programmes, and can offer support with your business planning.
Work placement and internship opportunities
You’ll be encouraged to undertake work experience alongside your studies. Course staff and the NTU Employability team will support you with tips on how best to approach companies, designers and makers, and how to get the most from your experience.
Recent placements have included Joules, Saatchi Gallery, F&F at Tesco, SCP Furniture, Dunelm Mills, Atomic Interiors and British Ceramics Biennial.
Campus and facilities
How to apply
Application for this course is through the UCAS application form.
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Selection for this course takes place through UCAS application form and, where invited, online work submission, interview and portfolio.
If you are invited to attend an interview at the University, you will need to bring your portfolio with you for assessment. For more information about what we look for during an interview, and some useful tips for your portfolio, download our BA (Hons) Decorative Arts interview and portfolio information.
Application deadline
This course starts in September and applications should be submitted by the UCAS deadline – 15 January.
Applications received after this date will only be considered if places are still available, after all applications received by the deadline have been assessed.
Mature students
We welcome applications from mature students (over the age of 21) for this course. We will assess applicants of this nature on an individual basis.
If you are a mature student, you will still need to apply to us by UCAS form, but you don't necessarily need to meet our minimum entry requirements. You must, however, have a portfolio to present at interview.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember that we can only make a decision based on what you tell us, so include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application – it's your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place. You've got 4,000 characters to impress us, so make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you're applying for.
For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions team or call +44 (0)115 848 4200.
Application for this course is through the UCAS application form.
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the international entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Selection for this course takes place through UCAS application form and, where applicable, online work submission, interview and portfolio.
If you are resident in the UK and invited to attend an interview at the University, you will need to bring your portfolio with you for assessment. For more information about what we look for during an interview, and some useful tips for your portfolio, download our BA (Hons) Decorative Arts interview and portfolio information.
If you aren't resident in the UK, we'll ask you to make an online work submission. Download our BA (Hons) Decorative Arts work submission information.
Application deadline
This course starts in September and applications should be submitted by the UCAS deadline – 15 January.
Applications received after this date will only be considered if places are still available, after all applications received by the deadline have been assessed.
Mature students
We welcome applications from mature students (over the age of 21) for this course. We will assess applicants of this nature on an individual basis.
If you are a mature student, you will still need to apply to us by UCAS form, but you don't necessarily need to meet our minimum entry requirements. You must, however, have a portfolio to present at interview.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember that we can only make a decision based on what you tell us, so include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application – it's your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place. You've got 4,000 characters to impress us, so make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you're applying for.
For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Please also take a look at our International students page and our application guide for international students, which are full of advice and information about the University.
If you need any more help or information, please contact our International team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our staff at the International Development Office, who are always happy to help. Or speak to one of our official NTU representatives for your country.