Tuesday 22 July 2008


MA Structure

The MA programmes at this University are structured around two modules which represent the three phases of the MA award: the Postgraduate Certificate, the Postgraduate Diploma and the Master of Arts.

Module 1: Research and Context (60 credits)

Postgraduate Certificate phase

This module aims to help students develop the generic skills and knowledge that the arts professions and the fields of higher research demand.

It provides students with;

  • Opportunities to engage with broader postgraduate educational experiences.
  • Exploration of themes that are generic to the world of the creative industries.
  • Lectures, seminars and workshops, emphasizing the importance of research, and the skills required to succeed in higher study in the arts,
  • An introduction to the standards required for a Masters degree.
  • Individual development opportunities through the allocation of a personal supervisor to every student.

Supervisors work with students during this first module to help them produce their own learning agreement, to set down the working relationship between supervisor and student. It allows for the student to think seriously about their project and all the resources that will be required to achieve their aims.

During this first module, lectures are delivered to the whole MA group by expert staff and visiting practitioners and theorists from the worlds of the arts, media and business. Subject area groups also meet in subject-based workshops and individual tutorials. Specialists and experts in each subject area come to work with students in order to maintain a strong sense of each different discipline that the school provides for.

All students receive special workshops to support writing activities required for the MA, and overseas students are able to attend special language support sessions focusing on the kind of terminology and specialist language used in the art and design subject area.

Module 2: Project Realisation and Presentation (120 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma phase

The second module allows the student to begin to refine and focus on their project through subject specialist-based study, driven through individual activities and tutorials and subject specialist lectures and seminars.

Evening events allow students to appreciate the importance of high level presentation skills, and there is also a study visit during this phase. Last year, students visited New York to attend a series of exhibitions, trade and cultural events. The year before, they visited Antwerp and Paris.

Overseas students who require language support can continue to attend special classes aimed at helping develop writing and verbal presentation skills to standards required for the award.

MA phase


The Masters phase allows students to work independently on the final stretch of their MA project. Individual tutorials support students, and are intended to help students keep on track with their project and focus on the standards required to achieve the Masters award. Students work toward their final assessment, but also produce examples of their work for the MA Exposition, a public opening intended to celebrate the work and successes of our students throughout the previous year.

MA by Registered Project or Thesis:

A course tailored specifically to your area of individual interest.

All our courses are centred around you, the student, and based on a project proposal and learning agreement which are developed in consultation with your project supervisor.


Profile: Steve O’Brien



Steve has more than 15 years commercial experience in information design, advertising and publishing. He has an in depth knowledge of communicating spirituality having had responsibility for all visual communication at an internationally known Christian publishing house. He continues to explore an interest in semiotics through his freelance practice.

Tel: 0115 - 961 4162


Profile: Peter Lester



Peter has taught graphics, photography and typography at a number of institutions since 1988. His professional background comprises experience as a magazine editor, photographer and print based graphic designer. For the last 17 years, he has also been a publishing consultant to the Polaroid Corporation.

Office: Bon. Room 330
Tel: 0115-848-8269


Profile: Stuart Hodges



Stuart has over 20 years experience in branding and brand packaging design for regional, national, and international brands for many different European markets. He has worked as Design Director for design consultancies and advertising agencies in London, Brussels, Zagreb and Moscow. His current research interests include the study of national identity and nation branding in Croatia, former Yugoslavia.

Office: Bon. Room 326
Tel: 0115-848-8270


Profile: Jon Hamilton






Jon has worked in the Creative Industries in London for 16 years, working in Advertising, Design, Multimedia, Motion Graphics, Film and Music Video. In 90s was a leading Illustrator at the forefront of 3D Montage/Photography. Jon is currently focusing on projects that incorporate the relationship between Visuals and Music, from Music Video Direction, Interactive spaces and large scale Projection to VJ-ing.

Office:
Bon. Room 329
Tel: 0115-848-8261


Profile: Rob Harland






Robert's key interest is in the 'integrative and integrating' activity of graphic design practice and his research focuses on the impact the discipline has in the built environment. As a practitioner and educator, he has 20 years experience at a local, national and international level, and ran his own studio in London between 1991-2001.

Office: Bon. Room 326
Tel: 0115-848-8266

Sunday 20 July 2008


Profile: Neal Creswell



Neal trained in Graphic Design, specialising in illustration. His current practise runs parallel to his role as an educator. Having lived and worked in North America for five years, Neal's portfolio has a truly international flavour, including work for high profile clients across all fields of design. He is currently focusing on a return to more traditional print methods.


ROOM:
Bon. Room 329
TEL: 0115-848-8264