Master of Arts - Design for Art Direction
- 1,5 years
- Duration
- 30,890 GBP
- Price
- September
- Start
- June
- Deadline
- Master
- Degree
- Campus
- Format
- London / United Kingdom
- Location
Program description
The MA Design for Art Direction at London College of Communication takes a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the creative industries. It prepares students to produce innovative, educational campaigns for commercial, cultural, and non-profit sectors by working across fields.
The course examines the politics of communication and how publishing platforms flexibly engage audiences. Students develop cross-disciplinary research projects at the intersection of art, design, science, and technology, learning to present ideas in engaging ways. It frames the creative studio as a tool for broadening public imagination and communicating cultural moments through sophisticated aesthetics. Ultimately, the program trains strategic art directors to lead meaningful visual campaigns that educate and innovate.
Program structure
Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves five units, totalling 180 credits.
- Critical Perspectives and Research Methods (20 credits)
This unit equips students with practical and theoretical skills that situate art direction within a broader field of practice, culminating in a designed Literature Review as the end submission.
- Defining Design for Art Direction (40 credits)
Within the scope of this unit, students define the meaning of art direction within their own practice through a variety of creative briefs and practical workshops. Producing manifestos, designs, campaigns and showcasing this within an academic portfolio.
- Specialist Practices for Art Direction (40 credits)
Students will explore their self-driven ideas, using specialist tools to create unique ways of working within the field of art direction. Working on longer-form briefs, students will develop campaigns that are thoroughly researched and delivered. This unit has an emphasis on emerging digital techniques and play.
- Collaborative Unit (20 credits)
This unit builds upon the inherently collaborative nature of the profession. Students explore different ways to collaborate, including interdisciplinary projects within UAL, and live projects working with professional partners and institutions outside of the course.
- Final Major Project (60 credits)
The Final Major Project is an opportunity for the student to deploy all of the skills learned throughout the year in a self-directed project. This project will be driven by them and their interests and could be in an area that they wish to continue with upon graduation.
Price
Tuition fee:
- 30,890 GBP per education*
*Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.
You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course.
Requirements for applicants
Educational level may be demonstrated by:
- Honours degree at 2:1 or first-class
- Possession of equivalent qualifications;
- Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;
- Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases.
The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
- Related academic or work experience
- The quality of the personal statement
- A strong academic or other professional reference
- OR a combination of these factors
Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
Language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.
About the university
The University of the Arts London (UAL) produces and encourages the creativity essential for a better future. Its colleges have been at the forefront of innovative education since 1842, creating work with a lasting impact on people and the planet, driven by curiosity, imagination, and purpose.
London is fundamental to UAL's identity, providing a vital context where the university connects and exchanges ideas with individuals from all walks of life. Globally, its creative network influences education, culture, business, and society.
Through innovative research and creative instruction, UAL's faculty and staff bring fresh perspectives to education. The university enables students to build the careers they desire by working with them at every level - from pre-degree to postgraduate, and from short courses to online learning.
UAL's colleges
Ranked second in the world for art and design, UAL comprises six distinct colleges:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central Saint Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts
Together, they form a community of creatives, innovators, trailblazers, and storytellers, united in their mission to reimagine the future.
Courses in the visual arts, animation, screen, communication, fashion, media, and performance are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
