MArch Design for Performance and Interaction by The Bartlett School of Architecture

This new 15-month Master course teaches design in 4 Dimensions. Students will design the performance and interaction of objects, environments and people using the latest fabrication, sensing, computation, networked and responsive technologies. Emphasis is placed on prototyping, from interactive objects and installations to staged events, and performance architecture.

Download the course information sheet

Why chose The Bartlett School of Architecture UCL Faculty of the Built Environment
140 Hampstead Road
London
NW1 2BX

T+44 (0)20 3108 9646

• The Bartlett School of Architecture is one of the world’s leading schools of architecture (2nd in QS World University Rankings 2016, 1st in Guardian league table 2016, 1st in AJ100 employer survey each year since its initiation), situated within The Bartlett faculty, the UK’s built environment research heavyweight (Ranked 1 for research strength in 2014 REF) in UCL.
• The School is located in London on two sites; Bloomsbury and at Here East on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – East London’s most dynamic neighbourhood and a destination for creativity and invention
• The School has established links to world leading industry partners in performance and interaction design, including Ciminod Studio, Jason Bruges Studio, Intel, Marshmallow Laser Feast, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Soundform, Stufish, Scanlab Projects, Troika and Umbrellium,

Who should apply

Graduates with enthusiasm for hands-on design and fabrication from a diversity of backgrounds in art, architecture, performance, scenography, light and sound, digital media, electronics, and engineering. A strong portfolio that demonstrates a high level of creative ability and/or evidence of substantial professional experience is required.

About the course

On this course you will:

• Design and make individual and collaborative projects that feature in an end of year public exhibition of design work, installations and performances that attracts 1000’s of visitors.
• Gain a working knowledge of technical systems including sound, lighting, interactive computation and electronics.
• Gain an understanding of parametric tools required when designing or adapting large performance spaces including acoustics, lighting, seating (spectator line of sight), and simulating occupant behaviour in normal and emergency scenarios.
• Learn how to manipulate software and physical hardware to create both simulated and actual 1:1 performance space and performances in an architectural context

Programme summary

Design for performance and interaction, is a novel interdisciplinary programme which invites students from a wide range of artistic and technical backgrounds. There are very few institutions that offer anything similar, and none that are set amongst the range of related programmes which The Bartlett School of Architecture also hosts. The core of the programme is the belief that the creation of spaces for performance and the creation of performances within them are symbiotic design activities. Design using interactive technologies enables us to consider objects, space, people and systems as potential performers. Design for performance and interaction has relevance across spatial and urban design, interface and systems design, auditoria and scenographic design, lighting and sound installation, performance and event design and virtual and physical environments that draw people together. At The Bartlett School of Architecture, we believe this provides an unprecedented opportunity for informed, skilled and trans-disciplinary designers to define, and also deliver, spaces and systems for performance and interaction in the 21st century.

Affiliated practices and groups

Our staff are very closely linked to several creative practices and institutions, in particular:

• Arup
• Bompass & Parr
• Ciminod Studio
• Jason Bruges Studio
• Intel
• Marshmallow Laser Feast
• onedotzero
• Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
• ScanLAB Projects
• Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company
• Stufish
• Troika
• Twitter
• Soundform
• Umbrellium