Application Deadline: 25th May 2026

Duration: 24th September 2026 - 7th January 2027

This course is currently offered in collaboration with Creative Futures Academy (CFA). CFA is a ground-breaking partnership between: The National College of Art and Design, University College Dublin, and the Institute of Art, Design + Technology. Our tailored programmes and micro courses offer access to expertise and networks across the three leading creative institutions and our industry partners. Learn with us as we experiment, innovate and respond to change.

What is Critical Design Philosophies?

Our postgraduate certificate explores recent design history from a critical perspective and proposes new theoretical frameworks for design that are matriarchal, eco-centered, and non-anthropocentric.

The course begins by examining the philosophical foundations of design, particularly those of the Enlightenment period, and their impact on contemporary design practice, and contribution to the multiple crisis in the Anthropocene.

We will then introduce alternative design philosophies and frameworks that centre on ecological sustainability, social justice, and more-than-human perspectives.
These approaches challenge the modernist and anthropocentric assumptions that underpin traditional design practices and offer new ways of thinking about design that prioritize care, interdependence, and collective sustainment.

This course is offered within the MA in Design for Change which was developed with George Brown College in Toronto. The MA programme is now affiliated with the Brookfield Sustainability Institute which works with industry and government partners and engage, the programme also works with projects through IADT’s Public Design Lab.

What will I do on the course?

Drawing on a range of interdisciplinary theories and approaches, you will critically analyse the role of design in perpetuating global crises such as environmental destruction, social inequality, and political instability.

Through a series of lectures, seminars, and independent research, you will develop a nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between design, power, and social change.

Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to apply these theoretical frameworks to your own design practice through a series of practical exercises and case studies.

By the end of the course, you will have a deeper understanding of the historical, social, and philosophical contexts of design and will be equipped with the tools to develop and apply more ethical, sustainable, and socially just design practices.

The course aims to:

• Critically analyse the philosophical foundations of design and their impact on contemporary practice.
• Examine the role of design in perpetuating global crises such as environmental destruction, social inequality, and political instability.
• Introduce alternative design philosophies and frameworks that centre on ecological sustainability, social justice, and more-human perspectives.
• Provide you with the tools to develop and apply ethical, sustainable, and socially just design practices in your own work.

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