Design via Study Centres

Program Overview

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Design via Study Centres MA

Overview

This course is built around your personal design interests and aspirations. It allows you to push the boundaries of creativity, within a framework of academic rigour and contextual research. You can choose to study any of the following areas: advertising, animation, calligraphy and lettering, creative computational design, design thinking, innovation and ideation, design leadership, fashion product and promotion, graphic communication, graphic design, illustration, interactive media, motion graphics, and typographic design. Other specialised design disciplines will also be considered.

Why Us?

• The University of Sunderland is a member of the highly respected Design and Art Directors Association (D&AD), an influential body that rewards creative excellence. The prestigious D&AD Award is well-regarded in the world of advertising and design and recognised globally as the ultimate creative accolade.
• We have excellent engagement with industry, locally, nationally and internationally and have several academic partners overseas including Hong Kong, Malaysia and the US.
• We host the International Research Centre for Calligraphy (IRCC) which promotes and supports the development of calligraphy both nationally and internationally.

Course Structure

Compared to an undergraduate course, you will find that this MA Design course requires a higher level of independent working. The course aims to stretch your creativity and maximise your sense of personal fulfilment.

We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods, which include lectures, seminars, critiques, workshops and practical demonstrations. These sessions are supported by a range of guest speakers from diverse academic and industry backgrounds. You'll also have high levels of weekly contact with tutors who give regular feedback and support.

MA Design Stage 1 (60 credits)

You'll negotiate a ‘statement of intent’ with your tutors that will identify the topics that you intend to study and research. You can choose to specialise in just one area or explore a number of different areas. Your studies will include aspects of creative studio practice that are relevant to your interests. There is also a theoretical element that contextualises your chosen area(s), alongside other design media, within the broader field of design.

MA Design Stage 2 (60 credits)

This is usually the prototyping stage, where you would test out your ideas and experiments before the final outcome in Stage 3. Alternatively, you can either continue your studies in your chosen specialism or diversify your studies into an alternative area. You'll explore the techniques and application of your ideas as it applies to a wide range of design disciplines. Practical output and theoretical contextualisation will continue to interact and build on each other.

MA Design Stage 3 (60 credits)

In the final stage, all students will produce a portfolio of creative work that has evolved from the practice and theoretical research developed up to this point. This will be supported by a Critical Evaluation Report.

Facilities

Please contact the Study Centre for more information on course facilities.

Entry Requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for Ireland. Please contact the Student Admin team on or .

Please contact the study centre for more information on their specific requirements and equivalent qualifications from outside the UK.

Fees and Finance

Please contact the study centre directly for information on fees, finance and start dates.

Career Ready

Postgraduates are highly employable and, on average, earn more than individuals whose highest qualification is an undergraduate degree. On completing this course, you will be equipped for roles throughout the creative industries. Potential roles include animator, graphic designer, illustrator, calligrapher, lettering designer, typographic designer, interactive designer, lecturer or broad-based designer.

Career Options

Our graduates have forged careers all over the globe in graphic design, editorial, infographics, motion graphics, advertising, web, packaging and interactive design. We have graduates working in Ordinance Survey, MTV, SEGA, and the creative industries of publishing, design consultancies and advertising design.

This creative degree can also open doors into many other careers, such as teaching, or further study at Doctorate level.

Program Outline

Detailed Extraction of MA Design via Study Centres:

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Degree Overview:

• Objective: To enable graduates to pursue their personal design interests and aspirations while developing advanced design skills and professional support.
• Contextualization: To contextualise chosen design areas within the broader field of design through theoretical studies.
• Program Structure: High-level independent work with flexible study formats (full-time, part-time, online) to fit individual needs.

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Outline:

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Year 1:

• Negotiate a "statement of intent" outlining individual study and research interests.
• Choose areas of specialization or explore multiple areas.
• Study aspects of creative studio practice relevant to interests.
• Theoretical module contextualizing chosen areas within broader design.

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Year 2:

• Prototyping stage for testing and iterating ideas before final Stage 3 project.
• Continuation of chosen specialization or exploring alternative areas.
• Exploration of techniques and application of ideas across various design disciplines.
• Continued interaction and development between theory and practice.

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Year 3:

• Completion of a portfolio of creative works demonstrating theoretical and practical development.
• Supported by a Critical Evaluation Report.
• Prerequisite modules may apply (see program website for further details).

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Teaching:

• Diverse range of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, critiques, workshops, and practical demonstrations.
• Guest speakers from various academic and industry backgrounds.
• High level of weekly tutor contact with regular feedback and support.
• International research and design context through connections with partners in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the US.

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Careers:

• Graduates pursue careers across the creative industries with roles in:
• Animation
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Calligraphy & Lettering
• Typography
• Interactive Design
• Teaching
• Further study opportunities through doctoral programs.
• Graduate success stories include positions at Ordinance Survey, MTV, SEGA, and various creative agencies and consultancies.

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Other:

• The University of Sunderland is a member of the Design and Art Directors Association (D&AD), providing access to creative awards and networking opportunities.
• Strong industry engagement and international partnerships enrich learning experiences.
• International Research Centre for Calligraphy promotes and supports the development of calligraphy.
• Emphasis on individual creative development and professional support throughout the program.

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Conclusion:

This detailed extraction of the MA Design via Study Centres program highlights its flexibility, emphasis on individual development, and strong industry links, making it an attractive option for aspiring designers pursuing a fulfilling and creative career path.