The course features a multidisciplinary approach to expose you to the various areas of communication design. You will work on live collaboration briefs to help make a positive impact on social, environmental and economic issues.

This full-time programme has a focus on issue-based design research and contemporary design practice. You will explore complex challenges by drawing on expertise learnt throughout the various modules. Your awareness and knowledge of how to approach design challenges will gradually improve during the programme. You will cover topics such as typography, interaction design, branding and user experience.

You will learn through studio-based projects, working collaboratively with your fellow students and external partners. Your final project will be based on a theme of your choice. This will provide the opportunity to make a positive impact on a topic you are passionate about.

You will graduate with a firm grounding in the advanced theory, practice and professionalism that underpin modern-day communication design.  You will develop a critical awareness of how communication design can shape change in the industry.

In the past, we have worked with creative agencies on live collaborative briefs. Some of our external partners include; Virgin Money, Microsoft, Us Two and Newcastle Vision Support on live briefs.

More recently, we have worked with AI start-up 'Gliff' and international sports brand Gymshark.

Our Communication Design MA will prepare you for employment, entrepreneurship or doctoral research. You will be able to choose from a range of diverse areas including; interaction design, branding, UX, service and information design.

Northumbria is based in the heart of Newcastle – a thriving creative capital, with a vibrant and growing digital industries sector. It is an ideal city in which to study and launch your creative career, with a much cheaper cost of living than London.

The course has been developed in consultation with industry,and you will engage with practitioners throughout your studies, through live briefs, guest masterclasses and networking opportunities. As such it provides you with the experience, portfolio and contacts which form an ideal basis for advanced professional employment.

We have in the past run collaborative briefs with creative agencies such as Wieden and Kennedy, R/GA and Us Two, multinationals such as Virgin Money, Sage and Microsoft and voluntary sector organisations such as The Cyrenians, Newcastle Vision Support and Fulfilling Lives.

Upon graduation you’ll be ready for employment,entrepreneurship or doctoral research within areas as diverse as graphic design, interaction design, UX design, service design, product innovation, art direction, branding, publishing and information design.