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Master of Design for Performance (MC-DSNPERF)

Masters (Coursework)Year: 2020 Delivered: On Campus (Southbank)

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Overview

Award titleMaster of Design for Performance
Year & campus2020 — Southbank
CRICOS code085429A
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level 9
Credit points200 credit points
Duration24 months full-time or 48 months part-time

The Master of Design for Performance provides a substantial professional development opportunity for designers, visual artists and theatre makers to further develop their creative, conceptual and technical abilities in design for live performance specialising in Set/Props, Costume or Lighting. This structured coursework program provides an enriched and comprehensive pathway into the profession encompassing formal classes, workshops, studio-based learning as well as placements on actual stage productions professionally produced in the industry and those mounted within VCA. Students are able to gain experience in a variety of live performance forms.

A core principle of the program is that collaboration is at the heart of design for performance. In developing this skill, students will continually be interacting with other performance makers, in particular Directors, Choreographers, and other Designers. As such this course also provides a unique opportunity to develop creative partnerships that can lead to future collaborations in the profession. Students are provided with the tuition and facilities to develop advanced skills in a range of 2D and 3D visualisation techniques both by hand and using new technologies. These skills are employed to not only document and communicate ideas but also to produce graphic props and projected image on stage. In small studio-based classes students explore the role of design in performance and are led through theoretical projects with one-to-one feedback from lecturers and industry professionals to assist in developing their own unique approach to the design for performance process.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• either
– an undergraduate degree or equivalent with a weighted average mark of at least H3 (65%) in the last two years of the degree; or
– at least 4 years of documented relevant work experience related to design and/or making of live performance, with evidence of artistic ability and practice comparable to that expected of undergraduate degree holders in relevant disciplines.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance or professional experience; and
• a selection project which may include written and visual elements; and
• a folio of previous work by the applicant; and
• an interview (for short-listed applicants only).

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Communication: Students must be able to participate in and produce performances and exhibitions as required; they will also need to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms. Communication with fellow students, professional and academic staff, and the wider public about their knowledge and application of practising Arts disciplines is essential.

Creative, Intellectual and Organisational Abilities: Students require the capacity for high-level creative performance or production. They are also expected to have the ability to develop problem-solving skills and to comprehend disciplinary and cross-disciplinary information. Students must have the ability to establish study plans and prioritise training objectives and outcomes.

Behavioural and Social Attributes: Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. They must take full responsibility for their own participation and learning. Students also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative environments and must therefore demonstrate a wide range of interpersonal skills which consider the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

Disability: Students who have a disability which may prevent them from participating in tasks involving these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability; however, students will need to participate in the course in an independent manner

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will have developed:

  • advanced technical and creative skills and understanding in design;
  • understanding and use of theoretical frameworks to evaluate and critique specific elements used in the development of a performance, including but not limited to design;
  • a capacity to evaluate, discriminate and make informed choices within both a pragmatic and artistic framework, as a senior member of the collaborative team;
  • abilities to collaborate with other members of the design and performance team;
  • an understanding and exploration of the performing arts as a communicative mode;
  • an understanding and exploration of the potentials of diverse media in performance.

Generic skills

At the completion of the course students should have:

  • the ability to create and organise aesthetic material ;
  • the ability to solve problems ;
  • the ability to apply theory to practice ;
  • the capacity to interpret and analyse;
  • the capacity to communicate orally and in writing.

Course structure

200-point program of core subjects

Year 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
DNCE90005 Performance Research Approaches 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV90004 Design Realisation and Collaboration A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV90005 Design Documentation and Communication A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR90006 Applied Project A (Design)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV90008 Design Realisation and Collaboration B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV90009 Design Documentation and Communication B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR90007 Applied Project B (Design)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25

Year 2

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FLTV90011 Graphics for Stage and Screen
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV90015 Industry Investigation Project A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV90012 Industry Investigation Project B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV90013 Professional Practice
July (Online)
 12.5
THTR70014 Design Projects 1
Year Long (On Campus - Southbank)
 50

Last updated: 10 September 2021