Design and Technology Future (D&TF) is built on the notion that a deep understanding of modern technology, an appreciation of cultural diversity, and a creative mind-set are the main driving forces of any successful innovation. It is a transdisciplinary programme merging the competencies and skills of technology and design.

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Students for this study programme are admitted based on the admission threshold. The maximum score for the motivation letter, portfolio, online interview and the supporting information in your DreamApply application form (=CV) is 10 points. An applicant who receives the minimum of 5 points is admitted.

Please find the programme specific admission requirements below:

ADMISSION DEADLINES AND HOW TO APPLY

Design and Technology Futures is combining education and innovation into an enabling platform which at one hand collaborates with industry and government partners to search new ways out from the modern complex challenges and on the other hand, engages students with new and unique experiences out of their comfort zones in order to create innovation and new thinking. To find out what the future might be.

The challenges in the program are presented in an open format, encouraging students’ personal creative development and self-expression.

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Why this programme?

• The programme offers an opportunity to acquire integrated practical and theoretical knowledge in design-driven innovation with an ability to spark, lead and perform future-oriented tech-intensive product, and service concept development;

• Exiting cooperation projects with industry, government partners or society looking for new opportunities for technology development into promising product-service systems;

• Teaching staff with high theoretical and practical experience.

CURRICULUM OUTLINE (120 ECTS)

• General studies - cover cultural theory and visual literacy that helps to understand inter-relationship of culture, science, technology and economic development.
• Core studies - include courses about design (human-centred design, corporate entrepreneurship and design), engineering (production digitalisation, concurrent product development), entrepreneurship (entrepreneurship and business planning), etc.
• Special studies - students learn about service systems design tools, methods and practices that are tested and polished in action during real development projects.
• Free choice courses - students can choose from a wide variety of courses offered at the university.
• Graduation thesis - a research project that will define problems and offer a set of innovative methods and scientific principles to solve them.

Entrepreneurs, innovation leaders, product and service developers and managers who are able to work in a wide scope of creative integrated development teams and run design-driven innovation projects integrating together the technological possibilities provided by industry with opportunities found on the market and in the society.

Tinatin Dzirkvadze

Georgia - Alumna - Interior Designer/Owner, Tinatin

Design and Technology futures is a truly interesting but also challenging course. As it's a joint programme of Taltech and Estonian Academy of Arts, you will get to study and work with lecturers from both engineering and design faculties. As a designer, I really value that this programme helped me to understand engineers better and gave me a more profound understanding of technologies, especially through the many group works and projects we had to do, which created a lot of synergy. I was also given the opportunity to study as an exchange student at TalTech's partner university in Barcelona, which broadened my experiences even more.

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Aigar Tälli 

Estonia - Alumnus - product development engineer

For me, this programme was a real eye-opener regarding various topics from user-centred design, product branding, user interfaces to innovation management processes and many more. All of these which are necessary for a person who wants to call himself a designer engineer - a multidisciplinary approacher with innovative ideas. All of the courses are led by professionals in their field with real-life experiences and are an absolute pleasure to hear and discuss with. Students with various backgrounds bring different ideas and perspectives to all of the works and discussions. I would recommend this programme to people who are fond of product and service development, are open-minded and would like to experience a world where design and engineering work together for creating a better tomorrow.
 

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Tea Tüür 

Estonia - alumna - Design Thinker, Satellite Applications Catapult

Design and Engineering is a truly unique study programme in Estonia, transmitting skills and knowledge that are relevant and sought-after in many modern international companies. It opened up my worldview, enabled me to gain international contacts and cross-disciplinary teamwork experience. I loved the topicality and diversity of the projects we could work on – no semester was alike. I was uncertain about my career path when I started the programme. The most important thing I gained from D&E is the discovery of what I’m good or not-so-good at and what are the things in life I really care about. In addition to learning to analyse the cultural, social and economic changes in society, every student received feedback and support to assess their personal development. I would definitely recommend D&E to a wide variety of people – whether at the start of their career or well-established; passionate about tech, design, business, psychology or all four. You are guaranteed to get a new perspective on things, learn a lot and meet a bunch of great people along the way!

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Sofia Vega 

Mexico - alumna - Strategic designer, Velvet Design Agency

The best skill that came out through this program is ‘Reframing, reframing and reframing’, which is changing the way we look at a situation or a problem. I have also learned about new technologies which opened my eyes for more possibilities. From the design perspective, I expanded on my already existing knowledge and got a more unobstructed view of how design can have a systemic impact and strategic value.

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Arnav Khan 

India - alumnus - Project manager, Ericsson

Design thinking has been a game-changer in developing a holistic line of thought in me & the clarity with which I approach problems & define trajectories in coming up with a feasible and viable outcome. Also, empathy has helped me a lot in profoundly understanding the perspectives of various natures. I see it as a critical tool when dealing with stakeholders, colleagues or building up a case ground-up.

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Rainer Lepik 

Estonia - alumnus - Product Manager, COMODULE

When I look back on the school years then probably one of the most useful skills I acquired was design anthropology. In my mind this has become the basis of creating products - to create products you have to keep your eyes open, observe, ask the right questions that will lead you to a problem that is worth solving.

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Manan Anwar 

Pakistan - alumna - Developer engineer, Stoneridge, Inc.

The best result of this degree is how to learn about collaborating across multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. In addition you don’t just learn how to think like a designer but you also learn how to communicate effectively. I can feel the difference from the day I came here to when I gave my final thesis presentation and it made me realise how much I have grown in that time.

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Denizay Apusoglu 

Turkey - alumna - Multidisciplinary designer

Design studios were great learning experiences for interdisciplinary collaborations where designers, engineers and industry partners worked together to find forward-thinking solutions. Being involved in the whole process of design, from problem framing to solution, enabled me to combine my skills and learn the importance of versatility.

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Martti Rosenblatt

Estonia - alumnus - Agile coach, Ericsson

The more we create, the more complex our world becomes. Novel ideas are needed to sustain our progress, and Design & Technology Futures offered me an opportunity to learn how to steer this complexity in the wanted or needed direction. This unique program has accelerated and amplified my growth to dance with the ever-increasing complex world in a meaningful way.