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Northumbria School of Design

Our School of Design covers Industrial, Fashion, Communication and Innovation Design, with our design community examining design in the context of use, beauty and social and cultural contexts.

Embarking on a design journey at Northumbria University is an unparalleled opportunity to nurture your creative prowess and professional potential. Our undergraduate degrees in Design provide a robust foundation, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and technical skills that are crucial for success in the competitive design landscape. Our postgraduate degrees in Design offer a chance to dive deep into specialized areas, honing expertise that is highly sought after in the industry. Our Design department's exceptional faculty, industry collaborations, and cutting-edge facilities set the stage for your creative growth and professional success. Join us at Northumbria University and unlock your potential to shape the future of design. Explore our Design Department's excellence:

  • Ranked 4th in the UK for research power in Art and Design in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and our research environment is rated 100% work leading.
  • Ranked 11th in the UK for Design & Crafts in The Guardian University Guide 2022
  • Northumbria’s design programmes are delivered internationally, with partnerships including the BINUS-Northumbria School of Design in Indonesia and the Academy of Design in Sri Lanka.
  • Northumbria boasts an illustrious design alumni list including Sir Jonathan Ive (former Senior Vice-President, Apple), Rob Law MBE (Founder, Trunki), Nicola Morgan (Designer, Lanvin, Paris) and Tim Brown (Chief Executive, IDEO).
  • Partners include household names such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Microsoft, Mars, Dunhill, Mulberry, Samsung, Unilever, Phillips, Nike and Intel – to name a few.
  • Our Design researchers engage in developing new and innovative practices within Design, and in innovation and research through Design. They are located across specialist areas which include Craft Futures, Design Fiction, Fashion Cultures, Human-Computer Interaction, Participatory Design, Responsible Innovation, Service Design and Social Design.


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Our Courses

Undergraduate and postgraduate study options available at the Northumbria School of Design

Research at Northumbria
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Research at Northumbria

Research is the life blood of a University and at Northumbria University we pride ourselves on research that makes a difference; research that has application and affects people's lives.

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Undergraduate Open Day Events

Looking to study in with us in September? Our Undergraduate Open Day Events are the perfect opportunity for you to find out as much as you can about our wide range of courses and world-class facilities.

Latest News and Features

AHRC banner, showing different people involved doing different activites.
Generic Image from Unsplash. Gothic style university library.
Postgraduate design portfolio work displayed in the school of design at Northumbria university.
Abandoned fashion factory, Generic Image from Unsplash.
Guardian University Guide 2024, Top 40 text graphic.
Story Chair launch. Andrew Weatherhead, National Trust; Pearl Saddington, National Trust; Dawn Harrison, Changing Lives; Jon Canessa, Newcastle Cathedral; Dr Angelika Strohmayer, Northumbria University; Nick James, Nick James Design.
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Upcoming events

Violence Against Women and Girls: Research into Practice
Professor Anne Pierson-Smith Inaugural

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