MA Design Communication

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  • Starts: Sept 2025
  • Duration: FT 1 year
  • Mode: Full time
  • Fees: UK: £9,750 (2025-26) / INT: £18,000 (2025-26)

Ideal for...creatives interested in expanding and mastering their knowledge of visual communication through exploring visually storytelling, design thinking and critical analysis techniques.

Engage. Empower. Inspire.

Construct a critical practice to analyse, experiment and convey messages, meaning and experiences through a diverse range of media. This interdisciplinary course will enable you to produce a body of work tailored to your interests and motivations and position yourself in the creative and cultural industry.

A presentation stand presenting design communication student work Authentic Exotic by Eugenie Chung. A table displaying jars of food items with a video and headphones. Next to a banner stand displaying the logo and packaging.

Authentic Exotic 01 by Eugenie Chung, 2022.

Authentic Exotic was a project looking at the exoticization and misrepresentation of Korean food in western countries. 

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Eugenie’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills.  

Abstract cloud shapes on a black circle

Polaroids by Sara Carpiniello, 2021

The work is part of a module brief asking students to capture emotions through visual language.  

An example of design communication work by Sara Carpiniello. An open book with abstract disc-like shape spanning across the pages.

Aesthetic Empathy 01 by Sara Carpiniello, 2021

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Sara’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills. 

Example of design communication work by Sara Carpiniello

Aesthetic Empathy 02 by Sara Carpiniello, 2021

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Sara’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills. 

Example of design communication work by Shirley Hui. A list of numbers roughly aligned with diagonal curve across the page.

Convertible Time 01 by Shirley Hui 2022

How time is money and how money is time. How do we measure time?  

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Shirley’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills. 

A hand putting 50 pence piece into a slot on the top of an analogue clock.

Convertible Time 02 by Shirley Hui 2022

How time is money and how money is time. How do we measure time?  

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Shirley’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills. 

An orange with a "2.020 min" price tag on it.

Convertible Time 03 by Shirley Hui 2022

How time is money and how money is time. How do we measure time?  

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Shirley’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills. 

receipts scattered on the floor

Convertible Time 04 by Shirley Hui 2022

How time is money and how money is time. How do we measure time?  

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Shirley’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills. 

An example of design communication by Shirley Hui. A hand drawn mind map around the concept of time, the word "Time" is in the centre.

Convertible Time 05 by Shirley Hui 2022

How time is money and how money is time. How do we measure time?  

Final major project: A project that serves as a culmination of Shirley’s academic journey, encouraging innovation, self-expression, and a deep understanding of their chosen subject matter using design communication skills. 

inside the design communication degree show. Students work is neatly lined up on display boards.

MA Design Communication show 2022

MA Design Communication final degree show at the Design District, London. the show ran over 3 days and over 200 people from creative industries attended. Including publishers, graphic design studios and design agencies.

Why study this Design Communication master's degree?

  1. Immerse yourself in emerging technologies and interdisciplinary methodologies
  2. Establish an experimental, critical and sustainable design practice
  3. Create design projects that are grounded in community engagement and collaboration
  4. Gain insight into how cultural, historical and political contexts influence design practices
  5. Foster audience engagement and create dynamic interacting design solutions
  6. Analyse complex information and communicate it effectively through visual communication techniques
  7. Collaborate with industry professionals and gain valuable connections

Expand and master your visual communication design skills

Throughout this course, you will be exposed to a range of theoretical frameworks, creative techniques, and research methods that will enable you to investigate a subject of your choosing, unravel its complexity, and translate your findings into powerful visual narratives that can engage and mobilise diverse audiences.

In our exciting MA Design Communication course, you will gain the knowledge, confidence and professional acumen to creatively position services, systems and need-driven design products.

You will respond to societal and user needs to expand your graphic communication design skills. You will be immersed in the tools and processes of digital design and emerging technologies, whilst exploring the value of design thinking and services in a bustling marketplace.

During the course you will establish a critical design practice, create dynamic interacting spaces, and apply design to respond to a range of needs. You’ll engage your target audiences by synthesising creativity with sound business theories – an essential skill that will boost your employability across many potential career avenues.

After studying for your MA Design Communication course, you will have:

  • The hands-on design thinking skills to turn creative visions into truly engaging assets
  • The business and commercial acumen to reach and inspire audiences across all business, international and not-for-profit sectors
  • The confidence to generate real change and influence decision making at the most senior levels.

Key study topics

  • Experiment across design systems and communication design strategies, focusing on user-centred design thinking and production
  • Explore information design systems, hierarchies, networks and spaces of experiences both physical and digital
  • Create powerful ideas and utilise the best channels and tools to reach your markets and target audience effectively
  • Explore advanced professional practice in contemporary communication design, from visual identity, publishing and design authorship, to marketing communications, digital marketing and social engagement
  • Explore approaches to innovative communication solutions based on design thinking, systems thinking and business strategy, supported by market research, problem-solving methodologies and the application of cutting-edge technology
  • Hone specialist design skills and build an in-depth understanding of emerging technologies within the digital media, creative industries and commercial and not-for-profit sectors 

The specifics

Programme specification

Tutor profile

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