The City of Edinburgh is the perfect location for the MA Heritage and Exhibition Design. Edinburgh is a UNESCO world heritage site, and arguably one of the most picturesque cities in the UK. Its world famous medieval Old Town has hundreds of historic sites, buildings, and monuments. The Regency New Town boasts some of the most import neo-classical buildings in the world. Beyond Edinburgh, we have access to Scotland’s extensive heritage industry with thousands of historic sites and buildings.
Developing exhibition, interpretative and lighting design skills, you will learn how to create user/visitor experiences and installations in key historic areas. With a strong sense of integrity, you will develop an understanding of and sensitivity to the authenticity and preservation of historic sites for visitors.
The two year MFA offers students the opportunity to extend project work through an in depth, research-led creative enquiry. The first year of the programme is aligned to the MA and you will undertake six modules developing subject specific-skills and knowledge, external research and entrepreneurial collaboration, and practice-based research.
In the second year, you will extend your practice with two large modules: the self-directed Major Project with specialist supervisors, and Professional Practice with portfolio mentors. You will end the programme with a highly professional portfolio that enhances industry and employment opportunities or (with an emphasis on research) offers a robust gateway into PhD-level study.
Members of the programme are actively engaged in research, knowledge exchange and/or consultancy work as part of the Art & Design Research Centre (ADRC), as well as professional practice. The programme is supported by the Edinburgh Napier design team with specialist input from Euan Winton , Malcolm Innes and Dr Kirstie Jamieson, as well as input from industry based specialists and partners.
Malcolm Innes is a world-renowned expert in lighting design education. Euan Winton has expertise in digital imaging and light art and projection. They have both worked on a variety of heritage projects, most notably at the city’s Botanic Gardens, and with Edinburgh World Heritage on the revitalisation of some of the “closes” (the old medieval thoroughfares) that criss-cross the Royal Mile. Malcolm has also worked with Historic Scotland, most recently at Elgin Cathedral.
Dr Kirstie Jamieson is currently working with the Deaf Heritage project on inclusion of deaf culture in Scottish public life provide.
You'll study a variety of subjects on the course, including:
- Design for Heritage and Cultural Spaces
- Design Interpretation
- Light Art and Projection