APPROVED

MA Graphic Design Communication

Awarding Body University of the Arts London
College Camberwell College of Arts
School University of the Arts London
Programme CCW Graphic Design (L066)
Course AOS Code CAMMAGDCF01
FHEQ Level Level 7 Masters
Course Credits 180
Mode Full Time
Method Face to Face
Duration of Course 1 year
Valid From September 1st 2024
Collaboration N/A
UAL Subject
Communication and graphic design
Classification
UCAS Code N/A
PSRB N/A
Work placement offered N/A
Course Entry The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:
Requirements
BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken
into consideration
Personal statement - you should discuss your professional
and academic background and how it relates to your desire
to join the course. You should provide a clear explanation of
your goals whilst on the course and, how the course is
suited to supporting them. This statement should address
one of the 3 research themes listed below in the section
“course detail”. Limit your statement to 500 words
Portfolio of work
 Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of
your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work and
your personal statement.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential)

Learning
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements
may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team
will consider each application that demonstrates additional
strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be
demonstrated by:

Related academic or work experience

The quality of the personal statement
A strong academic or other professional reference
A combination of these factors

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English is not your first

language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the
following:

IELTS level 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading,

writing, listening and speaking (please check our English
language requirements)

Selection Criteria We look for:

Evidence of creative, expressive and analytical responses

to projects
A willingness to explore graphic design communication
beyond traditional thinking and practice
An eagerness to utilise the university MA community as part
of personal creative and professional development
Sufficiently strong verbal and written skills to fully participate
in the course
An understanding of how context informs practice in a
variety of ways, and a willingness to develop knowledge
and skills in this area

Scheduled Learning and Details of the Scheduled Learning and Teaching can be found
Teaching on your student portal on SITS, the UAL student records
system, at the following link:

https://sits.arts.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_lgn
Click on the "Scheduled Learning and Teaching" tab on the
home screen when you have logged in using your UAL details.
Awards and Percentage of Scheduled Learning

Year 1

Awards Credits
Postgraduate Certificate 60
Postgraduate Diploma 120
Master of Arts 180

Scheduled Learning Split by Level

Level 7 12%
Total Scheduled Learning Split 12%
Course Aims and Outcomes
The Aims and Outcomes of this Course are as follows:

Aim/Outcome Description
A supportive environment that advances your knowledge and understanding
Aim
of Graphic Design Communication in responsive ways.
A learning environment which fosters Design thinking and practice through a
Aim
sequence of challenge, ideation, production, reflection and dissemination.
Opportunities to reflect and challenge the role and function of design within
Aim
current and emerging contexts.
Opportunities for the development of transferable and professional skills
Aim
relevant to employment and further study.
Realise and present a body of work that demonstrates a high level of
Outcome creativity and responsiveness relevant to the field of Graphic
Communication Design.
Analyse and present complex Graphic Design Communication issues and
Outcome
communicate your understanding visually, orally and in writing.
Act autonomously with initiative and responsibility for planning and
Outcome
implementing your practice to a professional standard.
Outcome Locate your practice within current and emerging territories of Design.
Comprehensive subject knowledge of contemporary and/or historical ideas
Outcome and practices, which are culturally diverse and inclusive, which aim to inform
your programme of work.
Critical engagement with the theoretical debates that inform your area of
Outcome
research.
 Distinctive Features
A programme responding to emergent design practices in relation to a culture and society
1
in transition.
A curriculum that draws upon the rich diversity of student experiences and culturally
2
diverse contexts for Design.
Opportunities to develop a portfolio of design practice alongside new experiences to
3
showcase and promote project work with MA peers.
Endorsements and connections with leading cultural institutions and design organisations
4
in London.
A creative campus environment offering a range of workshops, dedicated GDC
5
makerspaces, and library and special collection resources.
Course Diagram

LEVEL 7
AUTUMN TERM SPRING TERM SUMMER TERM AUTUMN TERM
BLOCK 1 BLOCK 2 BLOCK 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Unit 3
Unit 1 Unit 2
Designing modes for
Exploring Emergent Design Contexts and S Developing a Design Framework: S S
communication and
Practices Critical and Practical
engagement
60 credits 60 credits
60 credits

PG Cert Exit Point PG DIP Exit Point MA Exit Point

S = Summative Assessment Indicative summative assessment weeks are noted in the course diagram. For exact dates please refer to your timetable.
Course Detail
Emergent design acts as a key concept within MA Graphic Design Communication. The
course introduces you to the key debates, inquiries and methodologies related to emergent
design. Through briefs and research activities you’ll allow your design work to form by using
the concept of emergence. You’ll explore the role it plays in discovery, adaptability to
unexpected change and erratic ways of testing. This will enable you to develop into a
versatile practitioner who is able to respond to complex design challenges.

The course highlights ideas produced in reaction to the complex changes and challenges we
are facing in the world today. We believe our goal as designers is to seek better and
unimagined relationships between matter, space, systems, technologies and beliefs, while
guided by diverse perspectives.

The course begins by focusing on 3 research themes associated with emergent design to
help build your design knowledge and skills:

1. Proximities and encounters – how do we respond creatively to interactions, transitions

and encounters experienced by different audiences and communities?
2. Mobilising the studio – how do we develop social design practices with and for
communities?
3. Materiality and the post-real – how can we creatively and critically explore materiality in
its hybrid forms and the impact this has on lived experience?

What to expect

A practice-led course: Practical work is underpinned by critical design thinking,

experimentation and research.
Contemporary design themes: You’ll explore topics including habitable worlds and
ecologies, social and cultural practices, and digital and material cultures.
An ethical focus: We have a responsibility to contribute towards a better and more
sustainable world. Throughout your course, you'll explore climate, social and racial
justice and learn how to embed these principles into your creative practice.
A community of experts: Our tutors, technicians and visiting practitioners are experts
in their field and bring their industry experience into their teaching.
Professional development: You’ll develop your design practice, critical writing and
presentation skills which will help you position yourself within a specialist design field for
your future career, whether that be in industry or academia.
Access to Camberwell’s workshops: These include printmaking, digital photography,
moving image, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) and 3D printing. View Camberwell
facilities.

Industry experience and opportunities

During the course, you’ll develop your professional profile as a designer in preparation for
your future career. You'll be able to take part in public-facing events such as design
symposia and community projects. These will give you industry insight and exposure to
different routes for employment and practice.
You’ll be encouraged to publish, show and disseminate your major project work developed
on the course. Former students have presented at conferences and featured in design
publications and competitions. You’ll also have access to UAL’s dedicated Careers and
Employability services.

Mode of study
MA Graphic Design Communication is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over
15 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course,
including teaching hours and independent study.

Course Units
Unit 1: Exploring emergent design contexts and practices

Unit 1 introduces you to contemporary debates and inquiries within graphic design
communication. These will help you make connections between your interests and
communities of design practice.

You’ll take design inspiration from a seminar and lecture series. You’ll build upon your
interests through collaborative research tasks with your course peer group.

Briefs will outline guidance and requirements for experimentation and building a design
process. You’ll learn to develop ideas in response to critical positions and perspectives
connected to a research inquiry.

There will be an opportunity to stage and test prototypes of your project work at an in-course
event. The feedback you receive from this will help develop your final practical outcomes.

Unit 2: Developing a design framework – critical and practical

A framework is a structured approach for understanding, planning and responding within a

given context. It aims to help the designer decide upon relevant design methodologies. You’ll
learn about the role of a design framework.

You’ll have the opportunity to present your knowledge of design frameworks at a public
facing event. You'll generate a portfolio of work during this unit. Your project work during this
unit forms part of your major project for the course.

Unit 3: Situating design practices

Building on your previous research and practice as part of your major project, this final unit
has 2 distinct purposes.

Firstly, to situate project outcomes in relation to your chosen context and audience. This
might be a geographical location, an activist group, community, or network of practitioners.

Secondly, to establish how your designs will engage your audience in participatory ways.

Through this final stage of the major project, you will:

learn how to situate your work within networks and communities

 develop specialist techniques for communicating and disseminating experiences and
materials from your work
curate your creative identity and professional practice for your portfolio and collaborate
with peers for a public-facing show.

Note: 120 Credits must be passed before the final unit is undertaken.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Teaching and Learning will be delivered on campus. This means on campus face-to-face
activities such as course projects, lectures, seminars, and studio work, except for small
components of the course designed to be delivered online.

Scheduled learning and teaching activity will include.

Briefings
Seminars
Tutorials
Workshops
Technical inductions
Critiques
Study Visits
Peer Learning

Assessment Methods

Essays and reports

MA graduate event
Peer assessment
Student self-evaluation
Tutorials and mid-year interim reviews

Reference Points

QAA Subject Benchmark statements

QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
CCW Postgraduate Framework

The University will use all reasonable endeavours to provide the Course and the services described in this
Output. There may be occasions whereby the University needs to add, remove or alter content in relation to
your Course as may be appropriate for example the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting
body, or in response to student feedback, or to comply with applicable law or due to circumstances beyond its
control. The University aim to inform you of any changes as soon as is reasonably practicable