Visual Communication Design

Program Summary

The Master in Visual Communication Design is based on a physical practice that engages in multiple and diverse areas of knowledge, through the areas of graphic design, visual narration and information design. The Master's program encourages you to place your own practice within social and cultural frameworks and environmental practice. The program supports you in finding your individual design approach while fostering a sense of community membership, collaboration and peer learning.

Objectives of the study :

As a graduate of the VCD program, you will deepen your understanding of graphic design and visual communication, and you will see them as a great number of situations and practices, such as:

• Physical practice:
You gain a sense of authorship with regard to both look and content, and a solid understanding of the tools, techniques, materials and media you work with.

• Practice communicating:
You know how to shape and organize information and narration within different areas of knowledge. You will consider how design relates to language and writing, and your design options in multidisciplinary and / or multicultural settings.

• Critical practice:
You are able to negotiate how design relates to meanings, values, representations, materials, cultures, languages, and power structures. You are familiar with contemporary critical discourse, and this is this knowledge to explore new ways to work within design.

• Research Practice:
You can use academic research and writing methodologies to investigate research questions based on practice or theory related to communication design.

• project management:
You are able to manage design, collaboration and iterative projects, and have the courage to visualize pioneering and independent strategies for emerging design practices.

The purpose of the program is to place visual communication design within societal, cultural, political and environmental frameworks. Visual communication is a physical practice that participates in multiple and varied fields of knowledge. The program supports you in finding your voice and strengthening your individual design approach, while enhancing the sense of community, cooperation and peer learning.

You will be encouraged to master your skills in the field of your choice, such as information design, visual narration, or design that is both investigative and critical in nature. You will acquire systematic skills in design research and develop a responsible vision of the effects of visual communication while deepening and broadening your competencies.

The Master's program aims to be completed within two years. You will develop a personalized study plan that builds on your background and interests, and which supports your upcoming Master's thesis. The degree structure provides you with an opportunity to pursue secondary studies at other schools at Aalto University or at other national or international universities.