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Graphic Design - Contemporary Dialogues (Full-time) (MA)

Swansea
18 Months Full-time

MA Graphic Design – Contemporary Dialogues at Swansea College of Art is designed for recent graduates and individuals with professional experience in the industry who want to deepen their understanding of graphic design at a postgraduate level. This exciting course offers the opportunity to refine your creative ideas and improve your design practice, equipping you with the skills to thrive in the fast-paced creative industry.

Throughout the programme, you will explore the use of visual language to address complex, real-world design problems. Graphic design plays a vital role in tackling challenges within contemporary society, and you will learn how to use design as a tool for effective problem-solving. The course encourages you to think critically and creatively, providing you with the tools to engage in both practical and theoretical aspects of design.

As part of the Contemporary Dialogues portfolio, you will develop new ways of thinking and approach your own design practice from fresh perspectives. You will examine how communication can be enhanced through design, using techniques such as metaphor, and explore how design can act as a trigger for thinking and feeling. By working at a cognitive level, you will develop the ability to create designs that not only look great but also resonate with diverse audiences.

The course places a strong emphasis on self-initiated research and experimentation, allowing you to pursue your own areas of interest within graphic design. You will be encouraged to push the boundaries of your practice and explore new design insights that can drive positive action in the industry.

By the end of the course, you will have gained valuable professional experience, learning how to respond to varied client needs and handle diverse briefs. This pathway will help you build a strong portfolio, refine your design thinking, and prepare you for a wide range of roles within the creative industry. It is ideal for those eager to advance their careers and develop as innovative, forward-thinking graphic designers.

Course details

Start date:
Study modes:
  • On-campus
  • Full-time
Language:
  • English
  • Bilingual
Course length:
18 Months Full-time

Why choose this course?

01
The master's Contemporary Dialogues portfolio offers a unique interdisciplinary learning environment, with access to workshops and staff across the faculty.
02
Master's and research students are supported by a highly committed and professional team of lecturers and technical demonstrators, who together create a diverse, supportive learning environment.
03
4. SCA offers full- and part-time options and, to help support our master's students, we deliver the majority of core teaching on Thursdays and Fridays.

What you will learn

Our MA Graphic Design – Contemporary Dialogues course encourages critical thinking, experimentation, and real-world application of design skills. Our philosophy emphasises independent research, creative problem-solving, and professional growth, helping students to push boundaries and refine their design practice.

The master’s Contemporary Dialogues portfolio at Swansea College of Art offers a unique postgraduate experience. Graduates and professionals from a wide range of specialities benefit from multidisciplinary learning together with expert lecturers and a broad range of facilities. You will have the opportunity to draw upon experiences and knowledge from across the different pathways and reflect this in your own personal study.

The research environment benefits greatly from the input of our teaching staff and visiting lecturers, most of whom are research-active artists, designers, and theoreticians of national and international significance. In the first part of the programme, you will complete a series of taught modules. You will participate in multidisciplinary exchanges, through seminars and lectures involving students from all programmes within the Contemporary Dialogues portfolio, to stimulate new perspectives and challenge directions. The cross-fertilisation of ideas through such dialogues is expected to promote a rethinking of the perceptions and production techniques appropriate to your discipline. Throughout the taught part of the programme, you will be expected to undertake material investigations and research into contemporary themes, with consideration given to environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues.

Throughout the course, you will explore how visual language can solve complex real-world design problems and respond to the needs of contemporary society. Through self-initiated research and hands-on projects, you will experiment with new techniques and develop a unique creative voice, while refining your design skills and critical thinking.

In the latter part of the year, you will apply your skills to professional contexts, working on live briefs and client projects. You will gain valuable professional experience, learning how to communicate effectively with clients and address their needs through innovative design solutions. This experience will help you to build a strong portfolio and prepare for roles within the creative industry.

Compulsory

Coexistent Perspectives

(20 credits)

The Thought Experiment

(20 credits)

Collaborative Dialogues

(20 credits)

Explorative Research & Praxis

(60 credits)

Confirmative Praxis

(60 credits)

Disclaimer

  • We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals. 

    For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.

Ratings and Rankings

Staff

Our People

You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Accommodation

Further information

  • We normally require an undergraduate 2.1. However, we also consider candidates with relevant experience and aim to interview all applicants. Where possible, we invite prospective students to experience a day of teaching to see if it suits their expectations.

  • Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written practical and presented.

    There is a 4,000-word theoretical essay with poster presentation in Semester 1, and a 5,000-word report in Semester 3, which accompanies the practical work.

    There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module. Summative assessment takes place at the end of a module, which includes presentation of the work to the assessment team.

    A variety of teaching and learning methods are used throughout the course, which include, among others: 

    Tutorials 
    These tutorials are held on a regular basis.

    In Semester 1, full-time/Year 1, part-time, each student sees and discusses his/her work with a member of staff as part of each module. In Semesters 2 and 3, full-time/Years 2 and 3, part-time, students work more independently and sign up for tutorials within, or across, their discipline, in addition to those scheduled when their work requires support.

    As a team, we ensure that every student in the final semester/year of the course is seen by at least one member of the academic staff each week. 

    Group Tutorials/Seminars
    These are held on a regular basis, across all stages of the course, with one member of staff. They provide an excellent opportunity for students to share and exchange ideas with their peers in a structured manner, in addition to valuable input from staff.

    Informal & Formal presentations
    Some of the modules have a presentation of ideas as part of the module outcome and are an essential way of sharing ideas across the course. Presenting work informally to peers is also part of the seminar teaching and a way of getting valuable feedback on the progress of the work.

    Exhibiting work
    At the end of the course there is an opportunity, if appropriate, to show outcomes from the course in a curated exhibition. Students are also supported to create their own exhibitions during the middle part of the course, if they wish to do so.

  • Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources which, in most cases, is sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.

    However, it is likely that art and design students will incur some additional costs in the extension of their personal practice. Examples include purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining optional study trips, and paying for printing. 

    Depending on distance and duration, optional study visits can vary in cost from approximately £10 to visit local galleries and exhibitions, to £200 plus for overseas or longer UK study visits. These costs cover such things as transport and entry to venues and accommodation. There are normally reduced rates for our students.

  • You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

  • Graduates become active members of our creative culture, developing careers in a variety of professional roles, such as:

    • Cultural entrepreneur
    • Curator
    • Educator – university lecturer
    • Funded research degree student
    • Practising artist/designer

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