Undergraduate

BA(Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Cost

    £9000

  • Course code

    W900

  • Institution code

    H18

Freya Bain Degree Show

We are makers - with a sensitivity and understanding of materials, design and context. 

Overview


This course blends design principles with an innovative approach to process and material through hands-on making. 

You will be given plenty of opportunities to gain professional experience over your three years at HCA, participating in live briefs, presenting your ideas and products to national and internationally recognised companies and crafts people within the sector and entering respected competitions designed for up-and-coming makers. You will also regularly take part in exhibitions, gaining valuable experience in industry.  

We work collaboratively across a range of disciplines, creating the opportunity for exciting innovations. Empowering you as a maker to create sustainable, workable business models and prepare for a variety of post programme trajectories.  

fill me in

Insight from outstanding artists, designers & makers

  • Studio Morison
  • Jin Eui Kim
  • Lin Cheng
  • Emily Kidson
  • Verity Howard
  • Seetal Solanki
  • Gareth Neal
  • Jennifer Collier
  • Christina La Sala
  • Sheng Zhang
  • Katie Treggiden
  • Fritz Fryer

Make work that gets noticed

We support you to innovate within your practice and explore new technical skills and conceptual ideas that break new ground and make you stand out as a designer.

In the last few years, HCA students have been spotlighted in Crafts magazine and Dezeen as new talent, they have been selected as Green Grads and Creative Conscience changemakers and have scooped various awards at New Designers, the UK premier showcase for design grads.

92.05

In the 2023/2024 NSS Survey HCA students rated the teaching on their course at 92.05. This is significantly higher than the sector average and something we aim to continuously improve on. 

NSS 2024

What you will learn

INVESTIGATIVE, EXPERIMENTAL AND ANALYTICAL

The first year focuses on providing a thorough grounding in technique together with research and exploration for interdisciplinary and mixed media design. 

The programme is based around studio and workshop-based projects that encourage creative thinking, experimentation and becoming more articulate about design crafts. 

Emphasis is placed upon the development of drawing, design and material skills. You will use personal visual research and learning journals to develop a reflective, analytical and evaluative approach to your practice. 

ESTABLISHING PRACTICE

The second year of the programme encourages you to specialise in particular materials and processes. 

You will gain greater knowledge of materials, combining traditional approaches with new technologies. Structured projects offer live and research-led projects as well as professional work experience opportunities. 

RESOLUTION OF PRACTICE

This final year provides you with the intellectual and creative space to fully realise your creative ambition. 

Emphasis is placed on students’ ability to evaluate and make informed choices when selecting techniques and processes, creating innovative outcomes. Your work will become increasingly self-directed, to a professional standard, as you produce a body of work for public exhibition. 

The professional and entrepreneurial skills you need for a self-sustaining practice are embedded in the final year. Students participate in a series of business seminars, create a professional portfolio, and develop an online digital presence. 

Meet the team

My time at HCA was incredible, giving me the freedom to find my voice through my making. I would say so often that I look forward to Mondays more than Friday.

Tracey Caldah - BA(hons), Contemporary Design Crafts

Make your mark


Be part of a crafts resurgence that is committed to shaping a better future, rooted in material understanding. Participate in an ongoing dialogue between independent makers, designers and entrepreneurs, whilst advancing your skills within our specialist workshops. 

With regular sessions in wood, metal, ceramic and textiles you will develop expertise in key making practices - and get the space, access and feedback you need to become a master of your craft.

A community you can make your own


As a student of The School of Materials and Design, you will be surrounded by likeminded creatives with a broad range of skills and knowledge. You will also have the benefit of a packed programme of visiting lecturers from around the world sharing their cutting-edge practice with HCA students on a regular basis.

You will get the opportunity to show your own work from the year one, building your confidence and your portfolio within a supported environment.

Your connection to the industry will be reinforced through HCA's active honorary fellows which include furniture designer John Makepeace OBE, materialist Seetal Solanki, Ceramicist Edmund de Waal and artist-designers Heather Peak  and Ivan Morison (Studio Morison).

As part of your Contemporary Design Craft Degree, you will explore the interface of new and old technologies in the intellectual and creative context of an arts college. 

We are at the forefront of education in multidisciplinary design, participating in a vibrant community of practice. You will have the unique opportunity to learn to use a wide range of materials and combine them with creative design skills and critical thinking.  

In one day you can experience the materiality of Wood, Metal, Textile and Clay, and then switch to exploring design possibilities in our new £1m Digital Skills Centre.

You’ll discover design tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers and scanners and a professional suite of software to enable you to visualise, iterate and test outcomes quickly, and to convey your intention before bringing them to life back in the workshops. The next day you’ll be drawing and designing in your dedicated space in the design studio followed by an afternoon lecture or seminar that will hone your critical thinking skills through analysis, evaluation and debate, supported by our dedicated Art & Design library. 

While studying for your degree, you will connect with the larger world, through visiting lectures and master classes, featuring nationally and globally known designers and artists.

You’ll have opportunities to network within the Contemporary Craft community, building connections that you can draw upon as you build your own practice. Those include independent designer-makers, national craft event organisers and gallery owners.

This course gives you the opportunity to build your influences and technical skills across disciplines, and opportunity to test and pursue those areas you enjoy most - in preparation for a fulfilling career as a designer, maker, artist or creative professional.

This is a course tailored to those people who like to think with their hands. You aren't assessed through exams, because the course is designed to mirror contemporary practice within the industry. 

However the Contemporary Design Craft programme is designed to help you both find your voice and develop your skills. 

Throughout your study will become adept at drawing on contextual research to enrich and inform your ideas. Historical and contemporary making will be analysed and scholarly ideas debated in studio and seminar sessions. 

You will establish a practice of critical thinking, enabling you to identify your authentic individual creative practice and articulate it with confidence. Your abilities will be honed in the creation of your own body of work, the development of a dissertation, your participation in the annual degree show, and your involvement with creative industries’ events. 

As part of the CDC degree programme you will:

1 / Learn multiple material disciplines

You are not asked to choose a specialism on Day One or in Year One or ever. 

You will be able explore and access all the workshops throughout your time at HCA and develop a practice that is individual to you - whether you want to master a distinct craft, or explore a more interdisciplinary practice.

2/ Discover community

You will develop a strong peer network with highly-motivated students in the programme and in the arts college as a whole. 

This is a dynamic atmosphere, with the opportunity to exchange ideas and collaborate across disciplines. HCA is located in a region known for outstanding making, and you will be working in a heartland of independent craftspeople.

3 / Connect with the design world

Connect with the wider world through visiting lectures and master classes, featuring nationally and globally known designers and artists.

You will have the opportunity to visit major design collections and events, both in the UK and abroad.

4 / Design the life you want to lead

On this course you will master design and creative process, develop your own voice and practice, learn to articulate your work through theoretical conversation.

You will build up a portfolio that will stand out by exhibiting your work, and developing networks with galleries and makers.

5 / Make an impact

Find your own path and learn to make a difference through making.

The impact you have through your work may be personal - shaping your own life - or tied to something bigger. Making can be a vehicle to explore and communicate social issues, from sustainability to representation, identity and accessibility.

Course news

Applying to HCA

  • Minimum age 18.
  • UCAS Points: For anyone applying for September 2025 entry and beyond, we are looking for applicants who have achieved at or beyond 96 – 112 UCAS Tariff Points. 

    However, whilst qualifications are important, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We may make offers based on other evidence of talent and suitability for the course –  for more details about UCAS Tariffs please see tariff explanation and advice on the UCAS website

  • Mature students: Applications from mature students with relevant experience will also be considered.
  • Recognition of Prior Learning Opportunities: the college welcomes applications from students with prior learning and/or previous experience. Further details on eligibility can be found on page 15 of our Admissions Policy.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English – proof of IELTS overall score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all sections (reading, writing, listening & speaking) is required.

If you are unsure or have any questions, please contact us at registry@hca.ac.uk and we can offer further advice on HCA and the UWTSD awarding body requirements.

You can apply at any point during the year directly to HCA, or you can choose to apply via UCAS.

We receive a high number of application all our subject areas so we recommend that you make your application as early as possible.

You can find out out everything you need about the application process using the link below. If you have any questions, just email registry@hca.ac.uk

As soon as you apply, our Registry team will be in touch to let you know they have received your application. At this point they will also send out information on portfolios or auditions.

Portfolios and auditions are a chance for you to showcase yourself in a different way. They give us an idea of what excites you about the subject, and what you might want to explore further on the course. 

We will send out guidance on how to submit your portfolio, or book and audition date, and if you have any questions you will always be able to reach out to us for assistance or clarification.

After submitting your portfolio online, your work will be reviewed by a course lead, and you will receive personal feedback alongside your offer.

Studying is an investment in yourself, and in your future. It’s important to understand the financial support that is available to you, and to be clear about any fees or funding associated with the course you want to study.

Follow the link below to visit our Fees and Funding pages. These pages are designed to help you plan for your future, so you can start your course with confidence in your financial situation.

Everyone’s personal circumstances are different. If you can’t find the information you need, our Student Finance team can offer additional advice.

Term dates (HE)

Term Enrolment
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 23rd September 2024 – Friday 27th September 2024
Term Semester 1
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 30th September 2024 – Friday 13th December 2024, Tuesday 7th January 2025 – Friday 31st January 2025, Monday 3rd February 2025 – Friday 7th February 2025 (Research Week)
Term Semester 2
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 10th February 2025 – Friday 11th April 2025, Monday 28th April 2024 – Friday 13th June 2025

More information

Your degree

All undergraduate degrees at HCA are validated by University of Wales Trinity St David.

You can view a detailed breakdown of the course content in the Key Information Document.

This can be downloaded below.

How to apply

Everything you need to know about applying to HCA - and starting the next stage of your journey as an artist

Find out more

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