Communication Design: Illustration MA: Links with business and industry

The course and the Design School have strong and well-established links to the design industry both nationally and internationally. This is significant for the course as a high percentage of students are from and, post graduation, return to a wide range of international locations.

Modules within the course structure are intended to address the changing nature of the discipline of communication design and the emerging global workplace.

Where relevant and practical, the course works in collaboration with organisations and business – recent projects have been undertaken with Illy Coffee in Italy in the production of a magazine that was distributed around Europe and with Draught Associates in London who reviewed portfolios, provided professional guidance and offered internships.

Competitions are offered within the delivery of the course as activities intended to provide opportunities for those students who wish to allow an additional focus to their portfolio.

The course also organises a regular programme of professional lectures and studio visits.

An additional aspect to these activities has been in the development of collaborative projects with Hongik University in Korea – the focus to this work has been the exploration of the use of new technologies to create professional networks and new opportunities for designers.