Online Masters Degree in Graphic Design

MA

You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.

PGDip

You will need to complete four 30-credit modules (120 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. A dissertation (major project) is not required.

Core Modules

• Contemporary Practice
• History and Futures
• Studio and Entrepreneurship
• Application and Interactions
• Major Project (MA only)

Contemporary Practice (30 credits)

This module introduces students to the development of graphic design today and the variety of contexts in which it is made and understood. As with the central ethos of the course, it seeks to examine local and global perspectives of the subject and the emergent skills required to address problems and deliver messages for both regional and global audiences.

Learning is delivered through an experience of three core projects, each providing a foundation for the rotational period of study and address both personal and group reflection on the topics delivered. Fundamentally, it is concerned with design and designing and the academic and research skills to enable effective and fully engaged participation in the course. It seeks to establish the fundamental essence of being a graphic designer today and the ability to use curiosity, risk, play and care in the delivery of a message.

History and Futures (30 credits)

This module introduces students to how graphic design interprets narrative, to distil, reform or remodel stories for a new purpose. It also is a central module to students understanding a more in-depth critical and contextual understanding to their practice, providing the opportunity for connecting theory and practice (praxis), in conjunction to key themes and issues facing the subject and those who collaborate within it today. This module also begins to question the role that design and the designer have to play in society and the creative community and networks it is part of.

Studio and Entrepreneurship (30 credits)

Having already studied emergent fields of practice within the first module, students can now examine some of the building blocks of studio practice from a business perspective. This gives them the fundamental constructs of managing the day to day aspects of a studio’s life but also provides opportunity to reflect on innovative ways of working at distance and collaboration with other partners around the world. Students will be able to reflect on the subject through specific design studio case studies, structure and strategies for project work and intellectual property guidance required to develop a creative service or product today (although specific financial and taxation detail will require students to study this independently with regard to rules for their own specific country). The latter part of this module sees students develop an actual artefact or entrepreneurial idea that will be personally or culturally inspired, but rooted firmly in a graphic design field.

Application and Interactions (30 credits)

This module allows students to engage with a variety of opportunities to apply their own practice and knowledge to specific graphic design projects. The briefs allow a scoping of interests but also to question the role and ethics of working as a designer today; how ideas can be applied and how respective audiences can be understood and reached. Throughout this module, students will engage with skills development pertinent to their areas of interest.

The module also examines the relationship between personal and highly strategic briefs and this is achieved by examining self-initiated projects, competitions and industry set briefs; the latter being collated from annual opportunities from design studios or client set opportunities. These client set briefs (as with the design studio) will be drawn from global organisations that enable students to respond to challenges beyond their normal experience and share learning and differing international perspectives.

Major Project (60 credits)

This module allows students to construct and develop their final MA project that is built on learning from previous modules and allows them to position themselves and their work for next steps following graduation. Project work therefore can develop from a number of perspectives; being research or theory led (for further research study at PhD level) or personally or professionally orientated (for independent or studio practice).

Assessment

You will be assessed through written coursework and practical activities, such as

• Practical assignments, for example designing a digital tool or process to aid collaboration.
• Written assignments, for example writing a business plan for your own business.
• Work-based assignments that are grounded in your existing practise where you apply tools such as storytelling or market research.