Mdes Design and Communication

Mdes Design and Communication

Rationale

The knowledge-based economy will depend for its sustainability on creative people who, as well as being highly skilled in their own disciplines, are trained to think across fields, but who are also equipped with wide competencies in communication, literacy, IT, business methods and entrepreneurship.

Unlocking Creativity 2001

The course is based at the Centre for Creative & Performing Arts on the Magee Campus. The Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Design: Design Communication (PgDip/MDes) is a unique programme of study. When validated in 2003 and offered both full-time and part-time it was the first Master of Design in the University of Ulster and in Northern Ireland.
Rationale for the programme sprang from extended subject dialogue between UU Magee staff and a range of professional and educational colleagues from within and across the creative industries. Over a period of 18 years Art & Design at Magee had delivered a variety of undergraduate design communication programmes. Key to delivery had been our strong placement culture. Our links with Industry became a useful mechanism in identifying demand, development of content and positioning of a PgDip/MDes programme. Our aim was to attract both working designers on a part-time basis and recent full-time graduates.

The programme facilitates a mature environment fostering the pursuit of postgraduate design research and knowledge, creative and technical, practical and entrepreneurial across a coherent range of design communication disciplines. Through the development and implementation of individual project proposals within the disciplines of: Image Making (illustration/photography), Graphic Design, 3D Design, Moving Image and Multimedia Design, students can expect to make a significant contribution to an exciting industry.

Graphic Design provides the bedrock of the British Design business. It overshadows all other disciplines. There are 1800 graphic design companies in the UK. More than 80% of the UKs largest design firms claim branding, corporate identity or print design as a core specialism.

Origins

As a result of the broad thrust of developing technologies the range of design options and combinations available to designers are growing almost daily. For example, graphic and product designers are now free to combine previously specialist activities e.g. animation, sound and video within their portfolio of activity. The course directly addresses the dynamic challenge of this new creative and technological environment within a professional business context.
Multimedia has embraced the skills of creative professionals from animation, music and film extending the traditional two and three dimensions of design to include interactivity, sound and moving image.

The Business of Design “ Design Industry Research 2005 - Design Council
The PgDip/MDes course addresses the deficit of Masters level study in Design in Northern Ireland. Practical research proposals from interested candidates in Image Making, Graphic Design, 3D Design, Moving Image and Multimedia Design will form part of the application process. However, applications that envisage an inter-disciplinary approach are particularly welcome. On completion of the course, successful candidates will be able to make a unique contribution to the creative industries. A key component of the course will be the production of a research paper articulating and disseminating students design practice.

To promote innovation in all its aspects, stimulate higher levels of R&D and improve knowledge transfer.Plan Invest NI. 2002