Master of Arts in
Communication Design
Course length
12 or 16 months
Start
January
Language
English
Where
Milan
Master of Arts in Communication Design with Advanced Practice
Creativity and business: two words that define the future of communication and design at the intersection of inspiration and data, humanism and new technologies, aesthetics and algorithms.
Seizing the opportunity to pursue a career in this field means investing in one’s talent, enriching and complementing it through an educational pathway that will open the doors to a brilliant professional future in the world of communication.
The Master of Arts in Communication Design focuses on the fundamentals of marketing and creative thinking, offering the opportunity to design and produce campaigns for actual brands, involved in the process, in key sectors such as automotive, food, fashion, telecommunications, services, finance and the third sector.
Features
Copywriters, art directors and visual designers, designers and strategists must be able to understand the complex competitive landscape of the companies they work for.
Those working in communication and business have to think creatively to stand out in the midst of a world bombarded by messages every day.
The Master of Arts in Communication design offers at students a strategic view of the communication fields so that they can work in different areas of communication, manage and coordinate projects that revolve around multiple sectors.
The project manager have to know all the different professional figures that work around this world such as graphic designers, advertisers, visual designers, web developers, UI/UX designers and many others.
The Master of Arts in Communication Design, through a learning by doing approach will allow the student to work with a different real projects, in collaboration with companies of the sector.
The aim of the master is to allow students to built a their complete portfolio to show at the end of their scolastic path.
Method
The Master of Arts in Communication Design is based on a learning strategy aimed at nurturing creative talent through the acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.
There are three main objectives:
- To create new professionals in the field of marketing and integrated communication, equipping them with a wide range of technical and expressive skills (art direction, strategic copywriting, design).
- Focus on key sectors for communication – automotive, food, fashion, telecommunications, services, finance, and the third sector – enabling students to build a network of contacts through lectures and projects with experts and to understand which sector is of greatest interest to their future careers.
- To build an excellent portfolio through real-based projects on iconic brands, developed in collaboration with successful creatives and designers.
To be admitted into the Master of Arts course, students must have a second class (2.2) honours or higher in art, design, or other creative disciplines from any recognised ISCED level 6 programme. Graduates in scientific disciplines, social sciences, and humanities can also be selected, as well as candidates who have previously gained significant professional experience in the field of the Master selected.
SPD also considers other relevant experience and/or the attendance of SPD Preparatory Courses. In addition, international students need an IELTS score of 6.0, with no component below 5.5.
After the successful completion of the Master’s programme, eligible students can earn the Master of Arts degree, awarded with 180 UK credits (corresponding to 90 ECTS credits). The Master of Arts Courses are accredited by Teesside University, SPD’s Educational Partner. The standard programme (without Advanced Practice) awards a total of 180 UK credits (90 ECTS), while the version with Advanced Practice awards 240 UK credits (120 ECTS).
The Internship/Advanced Practice pathway offers numerous significant advantages, making it an ideal choice for those who wish to maximize their education and gain high-level practical experience. This programme includes not only an internship but also the Major Project.
The 15-week module is a unique opportunity to experience a first taste of the professional or academic life ahead of you and to test the knowledge and skills acquired in your studies. Only students enrolled in the 2-years programme can take this module.
During this semester, you have the option to choose from three opportunities:
- a professional experience in a real workplace environment (internship);
- an in-depth exploration of a particularly significant study topic through a research project within the school, in collaboration with a company (project work);
- an experience of personal and cultural growth through a period of study in a different institution (study abroad period).
The Major Project is the final individual research project that will allow you to investigate a specific topic at a high level, within a proposed research framework or project brief.
This project not only represents the culmination of your education but also marks the beginning of your professional career.
With the Major Project you will, indeed, have the opportunity to gain genuine project experience at the professional level, and when the project involves collaboration with companies, your ideas, if deemed of particular interest, may become the subject of further development that will make your resume competitive in the relevant industry.
After completion of the MA in Communication Design at SPD, you are ready to embark on a career in various fields, including:
- Communication and marketing departments of companies
- Advertising agencies, in roles such as copywriter, art director, strategist, and account manager
- Design studios
- Creators with unique skills
- In-house agencies
- Freelancers and entrepreneurs in the startup world
- Media centers, in positions such as analyst or creative
- Consulting firms, in teams focusing on marketing, communication, and design;
| YEAR | SUBJECTS | UK CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| First Year |
The Business Mindset - weeks 1-6 Learn vital business and marketing tools for practical application.
|
20 |
|
Integrated Marketing Communication - weeks 7-15 Learn the fundamental skills to imagine, organise, execute, and measure a successful integrated communication campaign.
|
40 | |
|
Design for the Real World - weeks 1-11 Face 5 design challenges and briefs suggested by leading professionals and companies (fashion, automotive, food, consumer goods, and TLC sectors).
|
40 | |
|
Design for a Better World - weeks 12-15 Learn to design a communication campaign at the service of public communication, NGOs, and non-profit organisations.
|
20 | |
| Second Year |
Advanced Practice Experience either a vocational internship with external institutions and companies, an internal research internship, or a period of study abroad.
|
60 |
|
Major Project Develop your own design research under the guidance of the Course Leader.
|
60 |
*The study plans, including laboratory activities, may be subject to updates.
Partners
Faculty
See the projects realised during the course
