Design for Communication with Industry Experience (MA)

IN BRIEF:

• Enhance your skills through creative thinking, research, visualisation, interactivity, social and multi-media.
• Placements, Residencies and exhibition opportunities with key arts and design organisations.
• Open to applicants from a range of backgrounds, including education and industry.
• Part-time study option.
• International students can apply.

COURSE SUMMARY

This programme is open for September 2018 entry only.

This course is designed for students to refine their subject specific practice through creative industry experience. You will tackle issues central to contemporary design practice – such as design authorship and social engagement – through a process of analysis, experimentation and the implementation of creative ideas. During your time with us, you will be encouraged to engage creatively with contemporary visual communication issues to enable you to graduate as a professional designer.

During your time with us, you will be encouraged to undertake independent contextual and theoretical research that will improve your capacity for independent enquiry, creativity and professional practice. The course places an emphasis on problem setting rather than problem solving, through the development of self-initiated projects and briefs.

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in live projects as we work closely with key cultural organisations within the North West. These include; The Center for Chinese Contemporary Art, Hotbed Press, Islington Mill, Castlefield Gallery, International 3, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Artworks, Mark Devereux Projects,Textbook Studios, Dr Me and Magma Books.

COURSE DETAILS

This course embraces a range and diversity of practices and aims to:

• Provide the skills needed to professionalise careers through embedded creative placements and live projects with industry and community organisations.
• Develop creative, critical, analytical and intellectual competencies appropriate to Masters level degree study, which is informed by current industry practice.
• Develop advanced understanding of research methods in the context of contemporary art & design practice and to understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research
• Enhance the students’ knowledge and understanding of professional, contextual and collaborative frameworks appropriate to their experiences and objectives by establishing intellectual debate to enable the articulation and dissemination of their propositions.
• Critically explore at an advanced level, knowledge and understand of specific contemporary issues and the application of creative problem solving in the field of communication design facilitating the student’s development as professionals within the creative industries.

MA Communication Design with Industry Experience is for students interested in observing practical and contextual issues within communication design. This could be as an individual artistic pursuit, generating a body of practice, through research and experimentation that seeks to address contemporary issues relative to a self initiated appreciation of the subject area, or as a method of engaging with professional and live projects that enable the student to produce a large body of critically aware outcomes that facilitate the transition further professional development.education in schools and universities.

TEACHING

This course uses a range of teaching and learning settings including lectures, seminars/workshops, tutorials, situated learning (e.g. ‘live’ projects) and independent learning. The combination of these aims is to develop an environment that allows students to progressively take ownership and direction of their learning so that they may develop as independent, life-long learners. The process of Masters level study, relating to an individual and independent arts practice, is one of dense critical self-reflection; this is achieved by including self-directed projects where students have the opportunity to negotiate their learning and assessment requirements.

Indicative to the course are:

• formal lectures
• seminar presentations
• workshops
• critical analysis and independent learning

Award specific learning activities include exercises; team and peer-based learning, studio practice and critical seminar-events, site visits, visiting professionals, work placements, online activities and critical debates

ASSESSMENT

Assessment methods used on the course include:

• Practical projects (60%)
• Reflective writing and essays (30%)
• Group presentations/ exhibitions (10%)

You will be assessed throughout the course on:

• Body of work and contextual research: e.g studio/portfolio/exhibition/publication/etc.
• Reflective journals: log or sketch-book/statement/critical writing/seminar or other presentation*  

All submissions are comprised of a body of arts practice: ‘studio’ plus a contextual and critical research portfolio, and reflective logs/journals. As the ‘thesis’ is embedded in the practice there is no requirement for a separate, written dissertation - although you may elect to do so, if appropriate, by negotiation with final award Course Team.  

*You can negotiate the format of your submissions, in response to the needs and priorities within your practice, and in line with contemporary professional practice habits.

CAREER PROSPECTS

We encourage students to pursue an international profile and presence as soon as possible in support of their professional reputation. Opportunities during the programme offer industry experience and encourage students to make professional links with the art and design networks in the region.

Art and design alumni are actively employed in various sectors of design practice both in the UK and overseas, including Brazil, China and Taiwan. Previous graduates have also progressed into research, while several graduates are now employed as lecturers in the field of education in schools and universities

LINKS WITH INDUSTRY

We work with key cultural organisations within the North West. These include; The Center for Chinese Contemporary Art, Hotbed Press, Islington Mill, Castlefield Gallery, International 3, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Artworks, Mark Devereux Projects, Textbook Studios, Dr Me, Magma Books and HOME. Opportunities for student collaboration range from exhibition opportunities to volunteering at the organization, live projects and mentoring.  

Members of staff from the organisations visit to provide careers advise and guidance as well as inviting our students to events and talks with professional artists at their venues

Visit the Design for Communication with Industry Experience (MA) page on the University of Salford website for more details!