Northumbria University Newcastle - Communication Design MA

Northumbria University Newcastle

Communication Design MA

This MA in Communication Design is a timely response to the changing role and increasing worth of communication design. This masters will prepare you for an innovative and exciting career in an ever-changing industry.

The course features a multidisciplinary approach to expose you to the various areas of communication design. You will work on live collaboration briefs to help make a positive impact on social, environmental and economic issues.

This full-time programme has a focus on issue-based design research and contemporary design practice. You will explore complex challenges by drawing on expertise learnt throughout the various modules. Your awareness and knowledge of how to approach design challenges will gradually improve during the programme. You will cover topics such as typography, interaction design, branding and user experience.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant design discipline such as graphic design, interaction design, illustration, photography, film, fashion communication, advertising, animation or similar studio-based disciplines. Applicants with appropriate work experience and/or a relevant professional qualification will be considered.

Applicants are required to submit an online portfolio with their application.

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

Career Prospects

You will graduate from this course with independence of thought, maturity of thought articulation and an aptitude for collaboration – traits highly valued by every employer in the creative marketplace.

Northumbria is based in the heart of Newcastle – a thriving creative capital, with a vibrant and growing digital industries sector. It is an ideal city in which to study and launch your creative career, with a much cheaper cost of living than London.

The course has been developed in consultation with industry,and you will engage with practitioners throughout your studies, through live briefs, guest masterclasses and networking opportunities. As such it provides you with the experience, portfolio and contacts which form an ideal basis for advanced professional employment.

Course Details

Communications Design at Northumbria employs a studio-based learning by doing approach, drawing on your existing design skills. It champions an interdisciplinary approach drawing on expertise, methods and experience of staff from a range of areas such as co-design, user experience, brand innovation, data-driven visualisations, service design, AI, information design and visual storytelling.

Reflecting the integrated nature of communications design as a discipline, the course consists of three broad modules which offer a flexible and transformative learning experience:

  • Stage 1 ‘Situate’ During this exploratory phase you will work on set briefs to explore various themes and practices. The emphasis is on experimentation within a context of narrative, identity, promotion experience and service.
  • Stage 2 ‘Challenge’ The visionary phase will expose you to inspirational pioneers of change. Through live collaborative projects and the development of your self-directed brief, you will seek to challenge the status quo and set a new direction for your practice. 
  • Stage 3 ‘Change’ Working with increasing independence, you will realise your final self-directed project and demonstrate how you have achieved your intended impact. Your final project should be engaged with the real world and have a collaborative element, and can be international in scope.

Year One

Situating Practice (Core,60 Credits)
Challenging Boundaries (Core,60 Credits)
Changing Direction (Core,60 Credits)
Academic Language Skills in FADSS Level 7 (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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