COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Design (Visual Communication) program is a one-year, three-trimester course designed to develop advanced creative, technical, and professional skills in visual communication. In the first trimester, students are encouraged to explore playfulness and take creative risks, producing work that responds to various instructions while developing primary and secondary research to inform their practical projects. This stage introduces key issues in design and communication, fostering critical thinking, professional skills, and collaborative practice, and forms the foundation for developing individual projects. The second trimester focuses on consolidating learning and refining practice within the chosen pathway. Students work closely with academic staff, technical demonstrators, and specialists to evaluate their progress, hone conceptual, technical, aesthetic, and contextual elements, and ensure their projects engage effectively with audiences. The final trimester is dedicated to the self-directed Master’s Project, a double-weighted practice module culminating in the MA Show exhibition at the Locksbrook Campus. Students work independently in the studio to produce a cohesive body of work that demonstrates advanced knowledge, creative skill, and professional practice. Modules such as Research Methods, Theory and Professional Context, Practice 1 and 2, Research Practice, and Theory and Professional Practices guide students in integrating theory with practice. The program equips graduates with the professional expertise, creative confidence, and practical skills required to succeed in visual communication and the wider creative industries.