Prosthetics and Special Effects Design

Push the limits of your creative boundaries on this dynamic prosthetics and special effects degree. With a hands-on approach to design for a range of contexts, you’ll be supported to develop the skills and experience to enter a range of careers in the creative industries after graduation.

You will be encouraged to take an explorative and technical approach to prosthetics application, use of materials and creative development processes to produce innovative and contemporary special effects design work. This will include sculpting, moulding and casting for character and creature effects, refined application of make-up and hair effects and designing with 2D and 3D modelling.

While the emphasis is on problem solving and critical thinking, you will be encouraged to embrace the breadth of the potential within and beyond the discipline of special effects for TV, theatrical performance and film.

You will be taught by an academic team with excellent reputations as practicing professional designers or researchers, as well as an extensive range of visiting lecturers and international visits to gain vital industry insight.

You will study in our well-equipped studios and workshops, ranging from make-up, hair and special effects studios to photography studios, IT suites and a comprehensive Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to support your learning.

Situated within the Department of Art and Music, the course also provides you with the opportunity for cross-programme collaborations to help you contextualise your place within the prosthetics and special effects industry, offering you a rich and stimulating education and preparing you for future employment.

In your final year there is the opportunity to work with our professional SFX team at the Prosthetics Event, across a range of national theatre productions or at IMATS in London.

Critical debate surrounding design is central to the teaching programme, which involves all students in wider debates about making and thinking about design practice for the creative industries.

What does this course lead to?
This course will transform your understanding of prosthetics and special effects practice within the TV, theatrical performance and film industries. It will provide you with a wide range of career options after graduation, such as special effects make-up designer, prosthetics artist, prosthetics sculptor, mould maker, creature concept and character designer, casualty simulator, project management, event management, digital sculpting designer, special effects technician and multi-media artist.

Who is this course for?
Solent’s prosthetic and special effects programme is ideally suited to students who want to explore and design conceptual ideas through a wide-ranging and hands-on approach to drawing, digital conceptualisation and research.

Applicants should have previously studied a creative subject and will be required to present a portfolio of design work at interview. Previous experience in prosthetics and special effects is not required.

YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Design Practice
Professional Application
Image Construction
Character Design
Visual Narrative
Culture and Context

YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Extending the Body
Visual Cultures
Horror, Film and Media
Deviant Narratives
Professional Practice for the Creative Economy

YEAR 2 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Digital Bodies
The SFX Morgue

YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Creative Research Project – Proposal
Work Based Learning
Dissertation
Creative Research Project - Development and Realisation

YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Speculative Design
Creature and Concept Design

This course is assessed via design projects, sketchbook research, formal timed assessment, trade tests, presentations, pitching of ideas, collaborative work, design development portfolios and written assignments. Students are also required to participate in graduate level work based learning in their final year of study.