Contemporary Typographic Media

Content

MA Contemporary Typographic Media at LCC offers the opportunity to investigate the inherent ambiguity and dynamism of visible language through the intensive study of type and typographic design. The programme is nationally and internationally unique in its provision, taking a wide multi-disciplinary and exploratory approach to two closely related, but distinctive, fields of study: type design and typographic implementation. This reflects sustained, intense interest in both areas from undergraduate and postgraduate students over several years and is motivated directly by the requirements of the design profession.

Focusing on your particular interests, MA Contemporary Typographic Media builds on the design skills, knowledge and interests already gained through degree studies and/or professional practice in graphic design, typography or a related field. You are encouraged to explore and develop your individual approach to the production and communication of messages.

The course builds on LCC's long-standing and widely acknowledged reputation as a national and international centre of excellence for typographic design education.

Structure

MA Contemporary Typographic Media is structured around a major self-initiated project which is informed by a series of related study programmes providing a wide range of opportunities for gaining specialist knowledge and developing a range of transferable skills. The programme is divided into three phases.

Phase 1

Phase 1, Text/Media involves practical projects that allow you to examine the form and function of the visible word. It is based on studies of two contrasting artefacts central to all visual grammar: the stroke, which can be seen to represent humanist approaches to making, including linearity, drawing, calligraphy, aesthetic traditions and kinesis; and the dot, which can be seen to symbolise systemic models including nonlinearity, printing, structuralism, mechanical reproduction and generativity. Practical work throughout the course will be predicated on the dialectic between these approaches to mark making and will address the transformative potentials of physical, print, virtual, moving and interactive environments with close attention to both input and output technologies. Also during Phase 1, Text/Context explores contemporary typographic design issues and the theoretical study of visual language, helping you to formulate a personal position relative to the wider social, cultural, historical, semiological, literary, and/or professional context of your practice.

Phase 2

Phase 2, Text/Performance helps you to develop personal approaches to the subject of type and typographic design which will inform your contextual knowledge and practical methods to be undertaken in the Major Project in Phase 3. Building upon the work undertaken in Phase 1, you will investigate subjects central to contemporary typographic practice such as the design and application of signs, symbols, signaries and fonts for communication, identity, audience, branding and purpose, through a cyclical reflective process of research, experimentation and contextual study. Work at this stage of the programme is supported by workshops, lectures and group seminars. From the start of this Phase a self-initiated Major Project proposal is developed with support from your course tutors.

Phase 3

Phase 3 allows for the intensive research and development of a self-initiated Major Project. The testing of ideas in practice, through critical reflection, tutorial guidance, peer review, appropriate industrial collaboration and mentorship is key to the development of the project. This work culminates in the presentation of a practical Major Project outcome together with a supporting Major Project report. Alternatively you may elect to submit a Major Project thesis with supporting practical work.

All three phases of the course are underpinned by a core postgraduate lecture programme from key practitioners and postgraduate staff and workshops in areas such as Letterpress, Printmaking and Photography, together with opportunities to visit museums, galleries and design studios.

Dedication

1 year, full-time.