Craft

Our BA (Hons) Craft course welcomes students from all creative backgrounds who are curious about design, materials, objects and making. With a material-led, experimental philosophy through a thinking-through-making approach, our programme equips each student with the tools to express their unique perspective and skills, empowering them to shape the future of contemporary craft.

Through a hands-on exploration of the material world, you will learn how to become a designer and maker of objects that enhance everyday experiences embracing both traditional handmade approaches and contemporary machine and digital manufacturing. Creative experimentation is at the heart of this course, giving your ideas a material voice while considering both the concept and execution of objects.

From addressing social issues and global challenges to responding to local needs, your work will reflect the importance of thoughtful design and sustainable processes. By experimenting with strategies, materials, and processes, you'll gain the creative and professional skills needed to launch a successful career in contemporary design and craft making.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• Globally recognised: We are ranked in the top 100 schools for art and design in the world (QS World Rankings 2025).

• Workshops and labs: Our course offers fabrication techniques. You will have access to specialist facilities for working with ceramics, glass, metal, wood, and plastics, as well as cutting-edge digital tools such as CNC routing, bioplastic/clay and glass 3D printing, laser cutting, and a state-of-the-art virtual reality cave.

• Live projects: There will be regular live projects throughout the course. These have previously included Bury Art Museum, the Whitworth Art Gallery, The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and Manchester Craft and Design Centre.

• Study trips: You may have the chance to participate in study trips to major design cities. Recent destinations have included Berlin, the Venice Architecture Biennale, Milan Design Week, Copenhagen, and New York.

• International exchange: Students have previously participated in exchange visits to Canada, the USA and Europe.

• Visiting expertise: Visiting artists and designers assist in the course team via lectures, projects and practical workshops.

• Design competitions and awards: We also have success within design competitions, previous students have participated with awards such as the Cor-unum Ceramic Award, Pewter Live, Goldsmiths student awards and the Contemporary Glass Society Awards.