MA Communication Design: Typeface Design Pathway

Overview

The MA Communication Design: Typeface Design Pathway combines the development of practical skills with the study of historical and theoretical issues, in a world-class research-intensive environment*.

This course integrates shared elements of study and pathway-specific elements. This Typeface Design pathway allows for specialisation and a deeper engagement with Communication Design.

The Typeface Design pathway focuses on the development of multiscript typefaces for text-intensive applications. Students work on defining, planning, and designing a multiscript typeface family, exploring issues of character complements, the development of family styles across scripts, and the relationship of convention and modernity in typeface design.

Why study MA Communication Design: Typeface Design Pathway at Reading?

• The global reference programme in the field
• First university-based pathway in this subject
• Highly international student body, with a wide range of backgrounds
• Pathway combines practical and academic elements into a signature model for design education
• Design and research areas are global in perspective, with a wide variety of typographic scripts covered

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 6.0 (or equivalent).

Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (2:1 or above), or equivalent from a university outside the UK, in a design-related subject. For exceptional candidates without such a degree, you will need convincing evidence of relevant professional experience. In most cases, a relevant practice portfolio and an example of academic writing are also required. Shortlisted applicants are usually invited for interview.

The personal statement needs to demonstrate:

• an ability to articulate clear career goals and interests that align with the programme and pathway applied for
• the relevance of the applicants’ previous studies, professional experience, portfolio and skills to the programme and pathway applied for.

The portfolio needs to demonstrate that applicants can:

• conceptualise, develop and evaluate projects in response to design briefs
• incorporate relevant research into project work
• use text and images effectively in page layout design
• use typography to articulate and organise text (familiarity with text using the Latin or Roman alphabet must be demonstrated)
• demonstrate engagement with appropriate communication design genres and contexts. These might include branding and marketing, editorial design, exhibition design, information design, packaging, social media, and/or user interface design
• use Adobe InDesign for typesetting, layout and prepress design work
• use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create and edit images (such as diagrams, illustrations, photographs).

It is advantageous if the portfolio also shows: 

• a strong foundation in complex typographic work
• experience using digital prototyping tools (such as: Sketch, Adobe HD, Invision, etc.)
• evidence of any complementary skills, such as: copyrighting, data journalism, illustration, marketing, motion graphics, project management, or technical communication.

The interview needs to demonstrate:

• how the applicant’s career goals and interests align with the programme and pathway applied for
• the relevance of the applicants’ previous studies, professional experience, portfolio and skills to the programme and pathway applied for
• an ability to articulate research interests and/or skills relevant to the programme and pathway applied for.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £10,500

New international students: £21,350

Careers

Our graduates have an excellent employment record. Overall, 97% of graduates from Typography and Graphic Communication are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation.

Graduates take up positions in type design studios, with publishers and general design studios, and wayfinding and information design studios. Others develop their own businesses, or take up managerial roles in creative firms. Previous employers have included Apple, Financial Times, Microsoft Typography, Monotype, Nokia, Oxford University Press and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

deadlines

We process applications all year round but recommend applying as early as possible to ensure you can have a place in your chosen degree. Please be aware that to ensure there is enough time to complete all administrative procedures, and VISA requirements, applications may need to be submitted no later than a month (or longer) before the start of the courses.