Graphic Design MA

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Portfolio

Admission to this course involves reviewing your portfolio. After you apply, we will ask to share a link to an online portfolio of your work. This enables us to see your potential and to understand your approach and motivations. 

We will ask you to log on to Student View to share your portfolio link. We will not be able to progress your application to Brighton until you share your portfolio.

• Find out about the specific requirements for your course.

Creating your portfolio
We've put together advice and guidance to help you create and share your portfolio, and we run regular online portfolio advice sessions where you can get help from our expert team.

Course structure

The course is delivered over three semesters through:

• practical workshops
• guided and independent study
• critical reflection and writing
• lectures
• presentations
• study trips.

Part-time students take the same key modules over two years.

Areas of study

At the heart of the Graphic Design Masters course students explore the ever-changing opportunities that exist within graphic design and visual communication, generative design systems convergent, and digital technologies.

Specialisms covered include design innovation, thinking, making, doing, engaging in multi-disciplinary approaches, redefining problems beyond predefined boundaries, creating solutions based on a new understanding of complex situations, fostering progressive, radical approaches and creative resolutions, using prototypes and archetypes, to discover new intuitive behaviours. 

Areas of research examine and explore the digital and physical, new futures and frontiers, universal design for intelligence, design systems for living and AI futures.

Syllabus

Modules

• Design Landscapes

  In this module you will consider design practice as research and learn how to clearly present complex information through either an academic essay or a reflective journal. A range of guest speakers will cover topics related to graphic design and discuss research methods linked to studio practice, new media technology, exhibitions and cultural issues. Discussion topics will include criticism, curatorship, writing, ethics, impact, sustainability and partnerships.

• Project Development

  You will plan, develop and pitch a proposal for your major project during this module. The learning comprises project work, critical thinking, lectures, seminars, presentations and tutorials. You’ll create a portfolio of work to reflect the variety of research and practice methods you’ve studied and implemented during the semester. The module will encourage you to select, test and use different materials to create images, artefacts, products, systems or texts using critical approaches to explore a range of processes.

• Research Presentation

  This module builds upon your prior work and culminates in a final research presentation which links, explores and describes research, theory and practice. During seminars, you will examine and discuss research methods linked to contemporary graphic design practice, exhibitions and cultural issues. Subjects covered include orientating your design practice through research; marketing and PR; presenting your work; project management; and public programming and events planning.

• Project Resolution

  In this module there will be opportunities to collaborate with industry and other institutions to support the development and completion of your final major project, a single body of work that reflects a coherent programme of study. You will demonstrate strong observational and visualisation skills, confidently communicate visual communication concepts and be able to be self-reflective, work pro-actively with others and recognise and argue for alternative approaches.

• Professional Development

  This module is designed to enhance your professional practice through a combination of briefings, seminars, online resources and independent study. You will learn to critically appraise your current skills and professional development needs as a design practitioner and professionally represent yourself and your practice. You will be encouraged to network with external professional practitioners to equip you with the skills and contacts to manage your future career path.

Facilities

You will work in postgraduate studio spaces alongside fellow visual communication students, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and conversation between other courses and external partners.

Technical staff are on hand to assist you in the workshops and facilities available to you include:

• one of the country's best-stocked art and design libraries
• the internationally important Design Archives with a wealth of graphic design and illustration material
• dedicated graphic design studio
• letterpress printing workshop (dedicated technician)
• book arts workshop (dedicated technician)
• Techhub featuring laser cutting, plasma cutting, CNC 3-axis milling, CNC routing, 3D body scanning, portable 3D scanning and rapid prototyping
• department print bureau.

Meet the team

Our team of practitioners and specialists, as well as experienced technicians, will guide you in mastering your specialism within the field.

Nigel Aono-Billson, Course Leader

Nigel has an international graphic design practice background working as a graphic designer for over 43 years, in the UK and internationally.

He has held the positions of course leader and graphic design educator on both MA and BA graphic design courses within the UK and international higher education sector for over 33 years.   

Nigel continues to run his own design practice and studio alongside his academic career. 

Read Nigel's full profile.

Gavin Ambrose

Gavin is a practising graphic designer who works with clients on diverse and engaging social, cultural and environmental projects. His practice, Studio 245, works within graphic design, print and environmental design with the aims of culturally enriching our environment and field of vision and embracing new ways of learning. He teaches through activities focused around workshops and activity led sessions aimed at empowering learners.

This method is based, in part, on the teachings of Jean-Pol Martin, who pioneered the LdL method of teaching (Lernen durch Lehren or Learning by Teaching) where peers are encouraged to teach one another.

Since 2005 Gavin has authored and designed a series of books on design and design theory for Bloomsbury Press London and New York which have been translated into multiple languages.

Gavin is a registered PhD supervisor at the University of Brighton, and this presents an opportunity to advance higher level study and research.

Read Gavin’s full profile.

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

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Support and wellbeing

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