Communication Design

Researchers in Communication Design develop ways to bring fresh design perspectives to surfaces, screens, and spaces.

Communication Design extends graphic design and illustration to new horizons—from exploring personal narrative and expression to engaging with new technologies. Research in this area explores how we express cultural narratives through both 2D and 3D design and time-based mediums.

At the School of Design Innovation we have an active Communication Design research group who investigate cutting-edge ways to address issues through visual communication. Our staff comprises industry award-winning researchers in visual design, typography, graphic design, motion graphics, comics, and storytelling.

Our communication design research is broad. Going beyond graphic design, we examine topics such as world building, branding, visual storytelling, print and publishing, and narrative in any medium. We develop ways to bring fresh design perspectives to surfaces, screens, and spaces.

Research topics

Research topic	Staff who can supervise research in this area
Fashion communication design	Hannah Goldblatt, Bobby Luke
Typography	Sarah Maxey
Visual narrative	Zach Dodson, Doug Easterly, Areito Echevarria, Leon Gurevitch, David Hakaraia, Dylan Horrocks, Bobby Luke, Nan O'Sullivan, Raqi Syed
Drawing and painting in design practice	Rosie Scott
Writing in design practice	Rosie Scott

Academic staff

Name	Research interests
Zach Dodson	Explorations into visuals that tell stories in any media: illustrated books, comics, games, or time-based media.
Doug Easterly	Visual storytelling and narrative in any media: illustrated books, comics and graphic novels, games, time-based media
Areito Echevarria	Explorations into visuals that tell stories in any media: illustrated books, comics, games, or time-based media.
Hannah Goldblatt	Visual narratives in fashion design for commercial, technical or cultural expression across print, digital or time-based media
Leon Gurevitch	Visual storytelling and narrative in any media: illustrated books, comics and graphic novels, games, time-based media
David Hakaraia	Investigations that explore and express cultural narratives through both 2D and 3D design and time-based mediums
Dylan Horrocks	Visual storytelling and narrative in any media: illustrated books, comics and graphic novels, games, time-based media
Bobby Luke	Visual narratives in fashion design for commercial, technical or cultural expression across print, digital or time-based media Investigations that explore and express cultural narratives through both 2D and 3D design and time-based mediums
Sarah Maxey	Experimental and dimensional typography, typeface design, visual poetry, print and publishing
Nan O'Sullivan	Investigations that explore and express cultural narratives through both 2D and 3D design and time-based mediums
Rosie Scott	Drawing and painting in design practice Writing in design practice
Raqi Syed	Investigations that explore and express cultural narratives through both 2D and 3D design and time-based mediums

Study options

The following postgraduate programmes allow you to pursue research in the area of communication design:

Master of Design (MDes)

The MDes allows you to further develop your critical thinking and discussion skills, increase your understanding of design, and learn to express your own ideas and conclusions within a theoretical framework.

Find out more about the Master of Design (MDes).

Master of Design Innovation (MDI)

The MDI delves deep into the process of innovation, from conception to design to construction. Through independent research, you'll gain the specialist skills and knowledge you need to be a successful professional in the design industry.

Find out more about the Master of Design Innovation (MDI)

Master of Design Technology (MDT)

The MDT builds on the existing digital media skills acquired in an undergraduate degree in design. It prepares you for highly technical design professions such as game design, visual effects (VFX), exhibition design, and multimedia design.

Find out more about the Master of Design Technology (MDT)

Master of User Experience Design (MUXD)

The MUXD is a conversion degree. The degree will build on the relevant skills these students have developed during their professional careers and/or undergraduate university study, such as problem solving, critical thinking and verbal and written communication.

Find out more about Master of User Experience Design (MUXD)

PhD

On our PhD programme, you'll produce an original body of research that expands the design discipline. Your work will be largely independently driven, with two supervisors available to advise you. Typically the PhD is studied on-site, but in suitable cases it may be studied by distance.

Find out more about the PhD.