• Practice-as-research – where the creative output itself (and integrated or contextual scholarly articulation) constitutes the research contribution
• Practice-led research – where creative practice guides the research process, generating new knowledge that is contextualised through a treatise
• Practice-based research – where creative practice is informed by traditional research methodologies (research-led practice), and both the treatise (e.g. a research article) and the creative output are assessed in the context of the other (unified consideration of the research project)

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE:

The Master’s of Applied Arts in Creative Arts & Technologies is a ‘Master’s by Practice’: Practice-based / Practice-led / Practice-as-Research, and is structured in two phases:

1. Preparation Phase – Comprising the Proof of Concept component (15 credits). The preparation phase ensures sufficient support is provided to researchers for their planning, development of methodological strategies, and theoretical grounding – in anticipation of achieving institutional approval before advancing to the final research project. The institution may host workshops to guide insights, and assist researchers in thinking about the positioning and progression of their studies and the role of the components of the preparation phase, which would also assist Open Window in preparing graduates adequately if they are interested in pursuing a PhD.

2. Research & Development Phase – Comprising the co-constitutive components making up the ‘single advanced research project’ or ‘research mix’ (165 credits), made up of the Treatise (55 credits), Creative Output 1 (55 credits) and Creative Output 2 (55 credits). This phase provides the structure for developing, refining, and presenting the Master’s-level research through practice, with supervision. While the components allow for an unpacking of the research by utilising various structures and processes, the pertinent research question/concern articulates as a golden thread through the various outcomes. The outputs thus work in a co-constitutive relation that culminate in a final evaluation opportunity undertaken in the context of the transmodal research practice, which comprises diverse modalities without hierarchical order.

DISCIPLINES & OBJECTIVES

The programme accommodates diverse creative disciplines, primarily drawing from Visual Communication, Game & Animation, Creative Technologies, and Film Arts, while remaining open to emerging fields within Creative Arts and Technologies praxis.

The primary objective is to cultivate practitioner-researchers who can:

• Develop and articulate their creative practice as advanced research, demonstrating intellectual independence and scholarly rigour.
• Contribute to epistemological and professional discourse in their field through public dissemination and critical engagement.
• Advance their professional, managerial, and communicative competencies, ensuring their creative expertise is positioned within both academic and industry contexts.
• Contribute to the related epistemology of their creative field, adhering to the transformation agenda by actively positioning practice as knowledge production in a way that can contribute to research relevant to their creative field.

Possible areas of expertise could include Communication Design, Illustration, Photography, Film & TV, Sound Design, Production Design, Screen Acting, Screenwriting, Motion Design, 3D Animation, Game Design, User Experience Design, Interactive Development and Industrial Product Design.

*Please consult the OW Postgraduate Studies sales guide for more information

NB – This programme is positioned as South Africa’s first Master’s programme that explicitly integrates creative technology with a practice-as-research framework, ensuring graduates emerge with the academic, professional, and creative competencies required for leadership in their fields. This programme meaningfully addresses an existing gap in the higher education landscape in ways that echo postgraduate innovation in an international context.