Communication Design MA

This unit launches your Masters’ study experience at Norwich. it will encourage you to explore communication design problems through a structured process of research, idea generation, development, iteration, execution, and presentation. As a visual communicator, you’ll work across various territories, including illustration, graphic design, branding, and digital/interactive design. Through project work, you’ll research your subject matter, explore contemporary and historical references and refine your ideas to find the best communication strategies. Analogue and digital techniques, design software and consideration of materials will all play a part in how you realise and execute your ideas. Design briefs may be self-initiated, set by staff, or set by external organisations, often addressing global challenges or the United Nations’ 17 goals for Sustainable Development including climate emergency, social and environmental sustainability, equality and diversity, health and well-being, and other vital design for change agendas.

This unit is designed to tackle emerging and shifting issues in the field, such as sustainability, new technologies, and inclusivity. This unit emphasizes a creative, cross-disciplinary approach, encouraging students to experiment with various design methods that challenge and expand their existing practices. Working in supportive environments, students collaborate on projects that may involve real-world scenarios aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals or live projects with external clients. The focus is on teamwork, critical thinking, and the development of a unique design voice, with guidance from industry-experienced tutors. The unit culminates in a group submission and an individual reflective summary, with an emphasis on independent study, practical skills development, and engagement with the evolving landscape of communication design.

This unit will help you develop skills in designing and developing a creative and/or research project. The unit is designed to provide a wide range of tools and approaches to creating a research project, preparing you for undertaking your major project and many other investigations, such as doctoral or industry research. This unit introduces students to a wide range of research methods from the arts, humanities, and social sciences, helping them adapt these techniques to their unique projects. With a mix of independent study and expert-led tutorials, students will develop a robust understanding of project planning, ethical considerations, and the use of both digital and analogue tools. By the end of the unit, students will produce a contextual review, a detailed project plan, and an ethics review, laying the groundwork for their major project and establishing a distinct design voice, preparing them for the professional world.

This unit forms the culmination of your Master’s study in which you will design, develop, and execute a major project, individually or collaboratively. You will be supported and receive guidance in developing your projects through talks and group sessions. You will be encouraged to explore ideas and themes that challenge norms, question the role of design, and consider its potential to effect positive change. You will develop skills in selecting and utilising appropriate research methods, consider the stakeholders you will work with, and present your work to. You will work more independently as you progress, regularly consulting with your supervisor in group or individual tutorials. The format of your major project outcomes will be crucial, allowing you to showcase the knowledge and skills gained over the course to present a relevant and appropriate project in both the local and global context.