Course summary

As we have moved into a world of positions and services rather than slogans and artefacts, this Masters is a timely response to the changing role and increasing worth of communication design. Its distinctive repertoire of research themes and live collaborative briefs provides you with the opportunity to challenge, change and make a positive impact on social, environmental and economic issues. The programme’s focus on issue-based design research and cutting-edge practice acknowledges the increasing complexity and convergent nature of contemporary design practice. You will explore and address complex challenges by drawing on skills and expertise honed by an increasing awareness and knowledge of approaches and methods used in a range of related disciplines, such as graphic design, interaction design, branding, information design, typography, image-making, user experience design (UX) and human computer interface (HCI). You will learn through studio-based projects, working collaboratively with your fellow students, with our research-active staff and with a diverse range of external partners. For your final project you can choose a theme and a collaborator that inspires you, giving you a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on a social or environmental area you’re truly passionate about. You will graduate with firm grounding in advanced theory, practice and professionalism that underpin modern day communication design. In the process you will develop a critical awareness of how communication design both shapes and is shaped by the forces of social, technological and economical change. On successful completion of the programme, you will be ready for advanced practice in the creative industries or for further practice-based design research.