Postgraduate Graphic Design: Q&A

CONTENTS

• What is graphic design?
• Why choose this discipline?
• How do I become a graphic designer?
• Pathways into graphic design
• What postgraduate courses are available?
• What are the entry requirements for postgraduate graphic design?
• Tell me about teaching, learning and assessment
• Career progression: what can this qualification lead to?
• Professional accreditation
• Funding

What is graphic design?

Graphic design is part of the creative industries, playing an integral role in the visual identity of a product or brand, by conveying information in a clear manner with the aim of influencing audience perceptions. It is an exciting and popular discipline that places emphasis on creativity and critical thinking. While it is an artistic subject, graphic design is often highly applied and can be found everywhere, from advertising to product design, visuals for websites and apps, and more. 

Graphic designers use a combination of images and typography among other visual elements to communicate a message. It involves creativity and the ability to visualise layout design, colour theory and visual hierarchy to create aesthetically pleasing and impactful visual messaging. Graphic designers work with a variety of mediums, including print and digital media. Graphic designers will work with clients from all types of industry to help them achieve their goals whether it be branding, logos, advertising and marketing, film credits to public service messaging, whatever the objective, a graphic designer’s role is translate a client’s objective through the principals of design, creating the optimal outcome to communicate clearly and aesthetically.  

Why choose this discipline?

A postgraduate qualification in graphic design will allow you to delve into more specialised areas within this field while already having already established the basics of this discipline at undergraduate level. Postgraduate degrees will be upon these foundations to further develop your expertise in various techniques, practices and processes used by graphic designers. It is popular discipline and offers graduates and professionals alike the opportunity to pit their creative and problem-solving skills against a wide range of tasks. It’s a career that will ensure you’re never bored, with each day bringing new projects to work on—from designing a multinational brand’s advertising materials, to shaping new product packaging, websites or apps. It’s a competitive field, but a standard graphic designer salary can be attractive for those who can demonstrate their unique style, professionalism and ability to seek out and achieve new ideas. 

Demand for talented graphic design professionals is high and you could find work in a number of sectors, including tech, marketing, manufacturing, e-commerce and finance. While many larger companies have in-house design teams that you could join; it’s not uncommon for graphic designers to work independently or as part of a creative agency, giving them access to a highly varied workload.

Malcolm Llanas, a talented graphic designer from Mexico City who completed his BA in Graphic Design at the University of Portsmouth and went on to do his MA in Graphic Design at the University of Brighton, shares his experience and the value of studying this subject in the UK.

“I believe my experience of studying in the UK shaped and influenced my understanding of visual thinking. A more loose and idea-based approach to solving my visual tasks, which has been paramount to how I approach projects. On another note, the socialising aspect of studying in the UK was definitely a game changer in the way I have enjoyed the world and people in it ever since. Today, I live and work in Mexico City as a graphic designer. I have been running my own studio for more than 20 years that proudly produces content for both Mexico and international projects. I have worked with Abbey Road Studios, and on various films designing the typography for credits as well as digital content for film festivals such as Ambulante, and been involved in Mexico’s biggest design festival, Abierto Mexicano de Diseno, among numerous other projects. My foundations of studying design in the UK has been central to my journey and success in this industry.”  Malcom Llanas, MA Graphic Design Alumnus, University of Brighton

How do I become a graphic designer?

To access a range of graphic designer jobs and kick start a successful career, creating a compelling portfolio that showcases your capabilities and examples of your best work is essential. Potential employers or clients will use your portfolio to judge your ability and decide whether to interview or hire you, so whether you go the degree route or not—prioritise the portfolio and remember, your portfolio should reflect your creativity as a graphic designer.

While you don’t necessarily need a higher education qualification to become a graphic designer, completing an undergraduate and/or postgraduate degree is a great way to get comprehensive training and prepare for work at a professional level. The projects you work on, along with the processes and tools that you are trained to use, will allow you to confidently turn your hand to various roles and build your portfolio. Many university courses in graphic design contain opportunities for professional placements and practical work experience, giving you valuable contacts which can expand portfolio content. 

Pathways into postgraduate graphic design

While following a postgraduate route will provide you with advanced knowledge and skills to excel in this career, as well as numerous and networking opportunities this is not the only pathway.

Undergraduate degrees in graphic design: Study an undergraduate degree in graphic design, visual communication, fine arts or a related discipline could be be enough to kickstart you career.

Online courses or workshops: There are numerous online workshops which can help cultivate your skills and help you build that all important portfolio.

Internships and work experience: Gaining hands-on practical experience in the form of an internship or freelance role or an entry level position can provide you with the experience needed to build your portfolio and enter the industry.

What postgraduate courses are available?

Currently, there are 31 postgraduate graphic design degrees at 27 universities across the UK. Depending on your chosen field of study and academic background, there are several types of postgraduate qualifications open to graphic design students. The most common route is a  taught master’s degree, such as the MA and MDres courses. These programmes will deepen your knowledge of the graphic design industry, give you access to the latest tools and techniques, offering you an opportunity to further hone your creative thinking and design skillset. You’ll be able to develop an expanded portfolio of work during this course and get a better idea of the particular niches you’d like to explore. 

PGDip courses are shorter than a master’s, and provide a great way for students in related fields to build some expertise in graphic design to complement their existing knowledge and move into new career paths. 

MPhil and PhD doctorate programmes are also possible in graphic design, and allow students to develop innovative and independent research into a range of applied design issues. From how design affects human thinking to its role in mediating our interactions with technology, or how it affects everything from marketing to building material. Students have the chance to explore their own unique areas of interest, bringing further innovation and knowledge to the field. Find out what’s the best course for by using our course search tool. 

There are a wide range of graphic design degrees to choose from as a prospective postgraduate, such as: 

• Graphic Design MA 
• Graphic Design MDres 
• Graphic Design Communication MA 
• Graphic Design and Illustration MA 
• Graphic Design and Typography PhD 
• Graphic Design and Typography MPhil 

What are the entry requirements for postgraduate graphic design?

Graphic design courses may differ in their admissions criteria according to the university and qualification. Typically, you’ll need to have a 2:2 grade or above at undergraduate honours level to get on to a graphic design master’s level degree. This will usually need to be in a related area, such as graphic design, illustration, digital media or another studio-based discipline. You will also need to submit a portfolio and statement of purpose as part of your application process.

Applicants for doctoral level qualifications will often need a 2:1 grade or above at undergraduate, and in many cases will need a master’s degree or significant relevant professional experience. 

Tell me about teaching, learning and assessment

A master’s degree level programme typically lasts one year in duration, full time or two years part time. Master’s programmes may offer the chance for internships or work placement, which could lengthen the duration of your training. On a master’s, teaching is typically delivered through a blend of lectures, seminars and studio work or project-based assignments, which is delivered by academics, industry experts and guest speakers.

Graphic design courses may differ in their approach to teaching and assessment, depending on the expertise of their faculty and the unique facilities that they offer. However, in general you can expect to learn through a mixture of guided independent study, classes and seminars, supervised working in the studio, and group project working.

Assessments will usually be a combination of exams, practical working such as presentations and performances, and coursework—including portfolio pieces, reports, peer-to peer and self-reflective assessment and a final dissertation in some cases. 

You may have the opportunity to specialise in one of the following areas: UX and digital design, art and illustration, animation, advertising and marketing, sustainable design, motion graphics etc., depending on the institution and programme you choose.

What Modules will I study?

Modules will vary depending on the specific programme, but on a typical MA Graphic Design course, you can expect to cover the following:

• Technical graphic design skills
• Interactive design
• Design for print and digital
• Design enquiry
• Visual communication
• Conceptualisation
• Typography
• Branding
• Visual communication
• Design research methods
• Editorial and publication design

How will I be assessed?

• Media based projects
• Performance publishing
• Assignments
• Reports
• Exams
• Coursework
• Presentations
• Final design project or dissertation

Career progression: what can this qualification lead to?

Career options are broad for students graduating from their graphic design master’s or research postgraduate. It’s a growing field that offers a range of exciting opportunities to creative designers. Your postgraduate degree will help you achieve a higher graphic designer salary and help you to access more senior roles or get involved in more specialised work. Having a master’s level qualification can also help you to change careers if you haven’t studied this subject at undergraduate level. The interdisciplinary nature of graphic design means its relevant to a number of industries and will enable you to develop numerous transferable skills. The creative, management and communication skills that you’ll develop during your graphic design degree will also allow you to succeed in a variety of roles and sectors. You could even find yourself working in areas like film or television, interior and spatial design, web design and more. 

Graphic design jobs include:

• Graphic designer 
• Animator and multimedia artist
• Concept artist
• Industrial designer
• UX designer
• Game artist 
• Art director 
• Multimedia artist 
• Producer 
• Illustrator 

Transferable skills

• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability
• Teamworking
• Software design
• Time management
• Typography
• Design principles
• Ideation
• Branding
• Portfolio management

Professional accreditation

A postgraduate qualification in graphic design, along with subsequent work experience as a graphic designer, art director among other professions, can eventually lead to professional accreditation as a chartered designer. Membership can enhance credibility, networking opportunities and career prospects. You can learn more about professional accreditation on the Chartered Society of Designers site.

Funding

Funding options for postgraduate graphic design degrees include scholarships, grants, bursaries offered by universities as well as student loans. Find out more about scholarships for art and design. It is also worth emailing the student finance office at the universities you are interested in to find out more about their scholarships opportunities. To learn more about funding, check out our ULTIMATE guide to postgraduate funding.

You may be interested in …

Before you get stuck into your graphic design postgraduate journey, you might also wish to consider similar subjects, such as:  

• Fine art 
• Sculpture 
• Animation 
• Computer games design 
• Interior design
• Spatial design

View all subject guides 

Universities offering postgraduate graphic design include …

• University of Portsmouth 
• University of Brighton 
• London Metropolitan University 
• Anglia Ruskin University 
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David 
• Leeds Beckett University 

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