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 Dept/School | Bath School of Art and Design, Bath Spa University  | |||
| Duration | 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time | |||
| Entry Requirements | Admission is normally based on a good undergraduate degree in a design or media discipline together with an interview. Applicants with a good honours degree in a related discipline and/or with relevant work experience will also be considered. Applicants will also be asked to write a 500 word statement about what they wish to achieve on the course. Overseas applicants with a design background should send a digital portfolio. | |||
| Course Fees | £4,260 (UK/EU) £9,360 (non EU) | |||
| Course Contact | Admissions | Study Options | Full-Time/Part-Time | |
| Start Month(s) | September | Taught/Research | Taught | |
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MA Design: Communication Design |
 INTRODUCTIONVisual communicators have a pivotal role to play in an increasingly complex environment, working across the boundaries between languages and cultures as analysts, interpreters and shapers of knowledge. This programme offers versatile, interdisciplinary study, with supporting cultural, social, and commercial partners. We have specialist design teachers/practitioners and theorists/historians to support your research and practice. The programme is based in the UNESCO world heritage city of Bath at the School of Art and Design Sion Hill campus and Elizabethan Corsham Court, home to the University’s Research and Postgraduate Centre. Our facilities are well equipped and we host frequent visits from leading practitioners and theorists. The programme will develop your ability and inclination to assess real world situations and effect positive change through communication design. COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT The course is offered in both full and part-time modes. It is normally one year (3 trimesters) in duration in full-time mode or 6 trimesters in part-time mode. The first two trimesters comprise taught sessions and assessed projects, while the Master’s Project in the final part of the course is by negotiated project only. Completion of the first 2 modules on the course lead to the award of the Postgraduate Certificate, and completion of the first 4 modules leads to the award of the Postgraduate Diploma. Subsequent completion of the MA double module leads to the award of MA Design: Communication Design. The course combines theory and practice through assignments, case studies, and the application of analysis and research to communication design themes and projects. Sustainable, ethical and inclusive design practices underpin our approach. A module in Research Methodologies for all MA Design students introduces generic principles and methods of research, followed by four modules that take you through the process of discovering, defining, developing and delivering your practice. The course will enable you to demonstrate a balance of critical design practice and theoretical content. Written work will provide a context and evaluation of your work, and encourage you to reflect on your personal and professional aims. MODULES • Research Methodologies - A common programme for all MA Design students introducing generic principles and methods of research relevant to the study and practice of art and design, including theoretical frameworks appropriate to specific design disciplines. • Discover - You will explore communication design methods, histories, theories and technologies. Contextual debates concerning ethics, inclusive design and sustainability are investigated and used to review and synthesize personal experience with research methodologies. You will explore themes through studio practice, supported by workshops and master classes. Opportunities for interdisciplinary and collaborative practice provide a framework for discovering new approaches to practice, shaping your individual direction. • Define - The focus is on defining and formulating a communication design research question, through independent, collaborative or interdisciplinary studio work and research as appropriate. Guided teaching with staff and discussions with relevant external organisations will lead to a practitioner statement made by oral, visual and written presentation, which defines a research question and locates your work in relation to contemporary practice. • Develop - You will develop a response to your defined research question through studio practice and debate, supported by the external and internal expertise of academics, designers, industry, government and cultural entities (such as museums, galleries). External placements, embedded working or live projects may be included to test and evaluate concepts and practice. You will work with external partners across social, commercial or cultural sectors to build your understanding of collaborative working and professional engagement, and produce a body of work to prepare and support your proposal for the MA project. • MA Project (double module) Deliver - A major, self-initiated project enables you to demonstrate a balance of critical design practice and theoretical content. Written work will provide a context and evaluation of your work, and encourage you to reflect on your personal and professional aims. TEACHING METHODS AND RESOURCES The course is delivered by a team of specialist tutors, all active practitioners in areas across graphic design, information design, typography, illustration, brand development and identity design, interaction design, illustration, moving image, design history and theory. Specialist workshops and technical staff are available in printmaking, letterpress, bookbinding, photography and digital media. You can work with external partners to support research relating to communication design themes. Talks and masterclasses by visiting professionals in industry and independent practice are an important element of the programme. Specialist facilities include computer studios with over 70 Macs, as well as flatbed and transparency scanners. There is a digital media studio. All students have access to workshops in photography, sound and video, etching and litho, as well as the specialist Art and Design library. TUTORS • Neil Glen, Interaction Design • Anthony Head, Interactive Design • Stuart Henley, Graphic Design • Graham McLaren, Design Historian • Paul Minott, Graphic Design/Brand Development • Julia Moszkowicz, Design Theorist • Rolf Pilarsky, Motion Graphics • Nigel Robinson, Visual Communication • Tim Vyner, Illustration EMPLOYABILITY The course is relevant to work in all Communication Design subjects: graphic design, interaction design, illustration and moving image, art direction and related careers in design management, marketing, design writing and academic positions. ASSESSMENT METHODS Course work is presented for each of the four taught modules. Typically this includes visual work demonstrating a strategic and creative approach, supported by research and an evaluation. The final MA double module requires the submission of a body of work that clearly and comprehensively addresses all the issues agreed and identified in the initial proposal and normally includes visual and written research and evaluation. |
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