MA Graphic Branding and Identity

Course units

We are committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework and embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course (see Learning and Teaching Methods in Units 1, 2 and 4).

As part of this initiative, we’ve shaped our courses around social and environmental sustainability principles that ensure learning outcomes reflect the urgent need to equip you with the understanding, skills, and values to foster a more sustainable design approach for the planet.  Our aim is to challenge your thinking, and to empower you to work towards an equitable and sustainable future. 

MA Graphic Branding and Identity comprises four units totalling 180 credits. These units are delivered over three 15-week Blocks.
 

Block 1 

Unit 1: Situating Practices (60 credits)

Situating Practices focuses on Graphic Branding and Identity as a subject area. It introduces you to diverse branding and identity contexts, critically addressing sociocultural and historical canons, enabling you to explore and identify your position as a branding practitioner. 

Through in-depth inquiry and engagement in the debates and discourses surrounding contemporary brand practice and its possible futures, you will establish a contextual foundation for your ongoing practical project work and a deeper understanding of the techniques required to produce effective and innovative graphic brand and design communication.

Block 2 

Unit 2: Professional Practices (40 credits)

Professional Practices focuses on Graphic Branding and Identity as an active commercial and industrial field of practice. You will develop your position as a graphic and brand designer, exploring the possibilities and potential for your future career plans.  

You will develop appropriate and ethical professional attitudes, behaviours, and values. In addition, you will enhance your process through academic integrity, problem-solving skills, the construction (and deconstruction) of design briefs, and explore the applicability of diverse design methodologies to real-world scenarios. Through an expansion and refinement of your design research processes, you will become part of a broader community of practice.  

Unit 3: Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

The focus of the unit is student-driven collaboration with projects being developed to meet the specific requirements of student groups within and across disciplinary boundaries, with potential to work with students from a broad range of discipline areas within and outside LCC/UAL.

Block 3 

Unit 4: Master’s Project (60 credits)

Master’s Project develops and resolves design research conducted through Units 1, 2 and 3. You will develop a final project which allows you to speculate on insightful, experimental approaches to Graphic Branding and Identity.

You will present a project proposal and methodology which builds on your ongoing brand and design inquiry, enabling you to speculate on innovative, inclusive, and sustainable approaches to outputs.

You will write an extensive piece of critical reflection, situating your brand and design output[s] within contemporary, historical, dominant, and emerging contexts.
 

Learning and teaching methods

• Lectures and group learning
• Practitioner workshops and guest lectures
• Seminars and problem-based learning 
• Tutorials and guided supervision
• Self-directed and peer-to-peer working
• External visits and field trips
• Formative crits and design reviews
   

Selection criteria

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• Sufficient prior knowledge and experience of and/or potential in a specialist subject area to be able to successfully complete the programme of study and have an academic or professional background in a relevant subject.
• Willingness to work as a team player, good language skills in reading, writing and speaking, the ability to work independently and be self-motivated.
• Critical knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject area and capacity for research-led design, intellectual inquiry and reflective thought through: contextual awareness (professional, cultural, social, historical); evidence of research, analysis, development and evaluation (from previous academic study and employment) and a grounded understanding of the world of sonic, visual and networked culture as well as the ability to engage with and contribute to critical discussion.
• In the project proposal a description of the area of interest, field of study and the particular focus of their intended project. This should include an overview of how you intend to go about producing the project and the methodology.
• Portfolio should be conceptual and research-based, you must show your thinking and making process and a curious nature to explore, test and experiment