COOP Design Research MSc Programme

The programme builds on the experimental, material- and technology-focused spirit of the Bauhaus Dessau — a legacy that rejected outdated design conventions in favour of direct research into materials, science and innovation. Since autumn 2014 the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation and Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, together with the transdisciplinary Cluster of Excellence "Matters of Activity. Image Space Material" at Humboldt University Berlin, have offered this one‑year Master of Science that examines and extends that heritage through design research.

You will study design as a transdisciplinary, cooperative practice that brings together material studies, social sciences, design anthropology, cultural and technology studies, architecture, and design history/theory. The programme provides a broad overview of academic approaches in the field and aims to strengthen a research-led design practice. Teaching emphasises critical reflection, academic discourse, theoretical analysis of material phenomena and clear academic writing, supported by introductions to methodologies such as theory reading, field research and analysis.

Courses are delivered cooperatively by Anhalt University of Applied Sciences and the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation in collaboration with Humboldt University Berlin. Instruction takes place primarily at the Gropius Bauhaus in Dessau, with additional sessions at Humboldt University in Berlin. A diverse faculty — professors, lecturers from the partner institutions and international guest teachers — supports the programme’s three core thematic strands: Design as Research, Design as Education, and Design as Projection. The interdisciplinary and transcultural structure also promotes inclusion, diversity and critical thinking.

Graduates receive an MSc and are prepared for careers in research and teaching in design and cultural studies, curatorial work, or for further doctoral study. The programme also aims to foster international exchange, personal development and socially engaged practice.

Requirements / applicant profile (concise)

• Prior academic study and/or professional experience in design or related fields (used as the basis for research-led work)
• Proficiency in English (programme language: English)
• Readiness to engage in interdisciplinary, critical design research and academic writing
• Willingness to attend coursework primarily in Dessau, with some sessions in Berlin

Curriculum overview

This programme is structured as a sequence of practical laboratories, taught modules, and research milestones that progressively develop your capacity to conduct independent design research. It begins with a three‑week preliminary laboratory that introduces key positions and research methods in design, then moves into a 12‑week Design Research Laboratory where design is examined as research, as education, and as projection through lectures, seminars, and studio exercises. Early work culminates in a six‑week self‑directed Proposal that tests your ability to formulate an original design‑research argument.

Complementary courses run alongside the labs: a weekly lecture series and seminar on the histories, theories and methods of scientific work (including literature and archive techniques, data and qualitative methods), and an intensive COOP module that brings partner universities’ research topics into the programme. International exchange and critical discussion are emphasised through the Master's Talks and Research Colloquium, where guest researchers and students debate approaches and deepen project insights. The programme concludes with a 20‑week Master’s thesis, supervised by mentors, and presented in a public colloquium.

Key learning outcomes

• Ability to situate design research historically and theoretically and to analyse different modes of design knowledge production.
• Mastery of a range of research methods (literature review, archival work, data analysis, interviews, participant observation, and material studies) and a reflective approach to choosing and combining methods.
• Proven capacity to develop and defend an independent, original design‑research argument from proposal to a fully realised Master’s thesis.
• Experience in presenting research publicly and engaging in international, interdisciplinary exchange through guest talks, colloquia, and the COOP module.

Core modules and requirements (concise)

• Introductory Phase / Preliminary Laboratory — 3 weeks; introductory access to the programme; part of the Design Research Laboratory ECTS.
• Design Research Laboratory — 12 weeks; 10 ECTS; three thematic blocks (design as research, education, projection); coursework includes lectures, seminars, exercises and presentations.
• Proposal — 6 weeks; 5 ECTS; an independently chosen thematic project serving as a test phase for original design‑research argumentation.
• Lecture Series & Seminar: Theories and Methods of Scientific Work — weekly; 5 ECTS; overview of modern design‑research history and methodological training (literature, archives, qualitative and quantitative methods).
• COOP Module — intensive sessions; 5 ECTS; partner universities present their research areas and broaden the programme’s thematic scope.
• Master’s Talk / Research Colloquium — 5 + 5 ECTS; guest researchers present approaches for discussion; accompanying colloquia allow students and guests to deepen topic‑specific understanding.
• Master’s Thesis and Colloquium — 20 + 5 ECTS; 20 weeks to develop the full thesis from the proposal under mentor supervision; final public presentation in a colloquium.

The MSc prepares graduates for research and teaching roles in design and cultural studies, positions in curatorial practice, and other fields that require critical, research-led design expertise. Its strong methodological focus and the requirement to produce a substantial thesis also make the programme a suitable stepping stone for those who wish to pursue doctoral study.

Alumni may also apply the programme’s theoretical and methodological training to applied design research in industry, cultural institutions, NGOs and interdisciplinary research projects where material inquiry, critical reflection and cross-cultural collaboration are valued.