Graphic Design MA

Program Overview

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Course Overview

The Graphic Design MA course at Coventry University is designed to help students take command of their own design practice and theory interests, establishing personal lines of enquiry that will be developed and refined during the course's study journey.

Why You Should Study This Course

This course aims to help you:

• Follow a focused line of enquiry, building on your skills and knowledge, and culminating in a final self-directed project
• Focus on digital and analogue media, with an emphasis on contemporary graphic design practices
• Focus on modern, relevant practices shaped by broader cultural debates within the graphic design field
• Get a practical, ideas-based curriculum encouraging you to develop a unique professional voice
• Get hands-on project-based learning that mirrors industry and professional creative team environments

Collaborations

The course is endorsed by the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), and students will be entitled to a 12-month fellowship of the RSA, allowing access to all RSA resources and platforms during their period of study.

What You'll Study

This course combines interconnected modules exploring graphic design principles, processes, and cultural relevance. Develop your own creative voice, culminating in a major final project showcasing your skills.

Modules

• Design Communication: Crafting Impactful Messages (30 credits)
• Co-Create (30 credits)
• Evolving Practice in Graphic Design (30 credits)
• Professional Practice and Innovation (30 credits)
• Graphic Design Practice and Theoretical Inquiry (60 credits)

How You'll Learn

The course uses a project-based approach that challenges you to debate and interrogate graphic design ideas and principles in the context of industry norms and your informed approach to your own practice.

Teaching and learning methods may include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Presentations
• Group projects
• Workshops
• Practical laboratory sessions

Entry Requirements

Typical entry requirements:

• UK: An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline, or demonstrable and considerable experience at an appropriate professional level
• International: An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline, or demonstrable and considerable experience at an appropriate professional level

You should be familiar with and capable of using the Adobe Creative Suite.

Fees and Funding

• UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man: £11,200
• EU: £11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary, or £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary
• International: £18,600

Facilities

Comprehensive taught sessions are delivered in our collaborative-focused graphic design studios in the newly designed Delia Derbyshire Building. You may have access to facilities ranging from photography studios to immersive labs, printmaking workshops to 3D spaces.

Careers and Opportunities

Successful graduates may seek positions as a:

• Graphic Designer
• Art Director
• Creative Director
• Advertising Designer
• UX/UI Designer
• Front-end Web Developer
• Brand Identity Designer
• Packaging Designer
• Illustrator
• Motion Graphics / Animation Designer
• Digital/Print Designer
• Editorial Designer (magazine, book, newspaper)
• Typography Designer
• User Experience Researcher
• Design Consultant
• Artworker
• Freelance Designer
• Set Designer (film, TV, theatre)

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Show a clear understanding and use of key ideas and themes within your chosen area to develop advanced skills in graphic design
• Use advanced skills, techniques, and new technologies creatively to bring fresh ideas and innovation to graphic design
• Create complex and ambitious graphic design projects or artefacts tailored for different audiences and contexts
• Actively contribute to the shaping of a global contemporary discourse by engaging with experimental, creative, and hybrid approaches to graphic design practice
• Use advanced tools and methods to apply creative solutions in various professional, social, and collaborative settings, driving social change
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of how creative teams contribute to the success of design projects
• Create innovative solutions in graphic design that address global challenges, market needs, and the specific contexts of clients and users
• Tackle complex problems with critical thinking, while upholding ethical standards in graphic design and considering broader societal impacts.