Not wanting to rule out any possibilities however, this summer I thought I would have a quick look into post-graduate courses available here in and around Leeds and see if any appeal to me. I plan on staying in Leeds after finishing my degree at least for another year as this city holds a lot more creative prospects than other cities including my home town of Cambridge, so an MA or continued studies could be a positive way to move my practice forward. The last 2 years on the course have been tough and in all honesty have not gone to plan, therefore spending another year or so dedicating my time to honing my skills and area of specialisation within the illustration creative industry and discovering my creative identity sounds appealing and hugely beneficial at this stage.
Whats out there?
• Leeds College of Art
Link: http://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-programmes/ma-creative-practice/
Course: Creative Practice MA
About: Our Master of Arts in Creative Practice has been devised for creative practitioners; recent graduates and professionals who wish to examine, strengthen and deepen their practice within their own particular context. This postgraduate course offers a bespoke learning experience that is tailored to each person’s practice, such as fashion, fine art, textiles, moving image and film, photography, graphic design, social practice and visual communication.
This unique programme encourages you to pursue an individual practice-based research proposal for the duration of the course of study which will allow you to examine and strengthen your own practice and place it at the centre of your studies. It addresses the needs of graduates in art and design, who want to continue to develop their practice and develop their identities in the context of the creative and cultural industries. Students will maintain contact with other creative practitioners and develop freelance or other career paths in the context of a portfolio career. This programme will prepare those who wish to develop ideas for application to a practice-based PhD.
Thoughts & Notes:
What I like most about the possibility of practicing an MA at LCA is how personalised it is and dedicated to improving my own personal skills and visual identity. It feels like a hub of creativity and excellence, inspiration everywhere as well as like minded people. I have experience studying here, the facilitates are the best I have seen at any uni and being a part of an art specialist institute environment has many benefits over being part of a larger uni but smaller "art department" within - restricting my experience and opportunities. If I am to seriously consider doing a masters, LCA would be my first and most cleaver choice without a doubt - in terms of wanting to move forward within my practice, progress, develop and excel in the hope of become a successful illustrator.
Other universities
offering relevant MA's in the area:
• Leeds University
Course: Advertising and Design MA
About: This innovative programme fuses design with the concepts and principles of advertising, allowing you to develop a range of skills to thrive in a fast-paced and competitive industry.
Taught by the School of Design and Leeds University Business School – one of the world’s top 100 business schools – you’ll take a creative approach to solving communication problems in advertising and branding. You’ll develop your own practice, collaborate with other designers and gain a deeper awareness of how design can convey a brand message, using a range of software and techniques.
At the same time, you’ll study ideas, research and theories in advertising to explore the strategic backdrop of brand communications from the blurring of markets to the ways in which digital technology, such as social media and mobile, have changed the relationship between brands and consumers.
You’ll mix creativity and innovation with advertising strategy to gain a valuable range of knowledge and skills.
Thoughts & Notes:
A bit of a slightly different direction, this course focuses on the placement of design within industry, in particular the advertising industry. What I like about this MA is how it clearly guides students along an already quite specific path. I am not sure if it would be right for me in terms of the direction I want to take my practice, but I can see the benefits of what the course is trying to do and how aimed it is at getting students into a job within the relevant industry and giving them all the tools for a successful, yet competitive career. If I am to consider this course, I will have needed to make some pretty large decisions about my practice and what I see myself doing career-wise. Advertising when linked with design lends itself really well to illustration, and working within a design department or underneath an art/design director within an advertising company does sound exciting and challenging.
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• Leeds University
Link: http://courses.leeds.ac.uk/24730/MA_Design
Course: Design MA
Link: http://courses.leeds.ac.uk/24730/MA_Design
Course: Design MA
About: Great design ideas can change the world. With human and user-centred design at the heart of this internationally regarded Masters programme, you’ll develop research and practice-based design solutions to respond to a demanding industry and rapidly changing society. Whether your background is in design or in another discipline, you’ll develop, test and evaluate innovative design solutions in real-life scenarios. You’ll gain first-hand experience of current needs and trends across a range of sectors, and focus on a large-scale design project within one of the specialisms offered. Taught by diverse staff with internationally recognised profiles in research and practice, you’ll build an interdisciplinary approach to design in a stimulating environment, while being exposed to and involved in cutting-edge research. You’ll gain practical and research skills to prepare you for a wide range of careers.
Thoughts & Notes:
A bit more 'graphic design' focused, this course is aimed at the designer and why it appeals to me personally is I have a lot of creative design based ideas and this course seems to be aimed at taking these ideas and design solutions and guiding you forward to make them happen. Areas within the course structure and skills touched upon that I feel would be beneficial to me as a postgrad are: Branding design, Digital and Interactive design, Visual Communication and Typographic Design. If I am to consider this course I need to become a lot more confident in using digital products and creative software. This would depend on how well I get on with self-initiated digital tuition (plan for my spare time this year) and if digital could be at the forefront of my practice.
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• Leeds Beckett
Link: https://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/artdesign_ma/
Course: Art & Design MA
About: Study alongside like-minded students in a creative environment on a dynamic course that explores the theories and new ideas in contemporary art, graphic design and curating. You can choose to specialise in one of the three areas, with your previous experience, study interests and career aspirations determining your choice.
Course: Art & Design MA
About: Study alongside like-minded students in a creative environment on a dynamic course that explores the theories and new ideas in contemporary art, graphic design and curating. You can choose to specialise in one of the three areas, with your previous experience, study interests and career aspirations determining your choice.
We will build your awareness of contemporary ideas in art, graphic design and curating, and we will develop your working relationships by giving you the opportunity to take part in projects and events in the region and beyond. You can also take part in studio production and a final exhibition where you will showcase your work.
You will be involved in a programme of weekly seminars and workshops, as well as project work alongside your peers, encouraging you to debate contemporary practice. Previous students have taken part in events and collaborations at Leeds Art Gallery, The Photographers' Gallery in London, the European Exchange Academy in Germany and Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
You will be involved in a programme of weekly seminars and workshops, as well as project work alongside your peers, encouraging you to debate contemporary practice. Previous students have taken part in events and collaborations at Leeds Art Gallery, The Photographers' Gallery in London, the European Exchange Academy in Germany and Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Look who I found:
Thoughts & Notes:
Wanting to push my work as a freelancer and gaining the confidence to produce a collection of contemporary pieces ready for exhibitions and life after uni, this course seems a great possibility. Specific to practice development and collaborating with other creative students, businesses, galleries and institutes, this structured course could provide me with the time to develop my practice, teach me new skills and open up key opportunities for my future career in the creative industry.
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Link: https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/find-a-course/mamfa-design-illustration
Course: Design (Illustration) MA
Duration: 12 months no summer break/16 months with break (full time 2017), 36 months (part time)
About: Study illustration at an advanced level and develop your talent for designing solutions that respond to the needs of our rapidly changing society. You're challenged to think differently about design and creatively push boundaries, while developing the skills needed to become an imaginative and versatile designer. Your projects are supported by lecturers who are design specialists, researchers and practitioners.
Develop your existing knowledge and experience as a designer, exploiting our significant research expertise to enhance your own design and research skills to a new level.
We place emphasis on personal research, giving you the chance to develop your own interests and ideas in a challenging and supportive environment. Our aim is to help you to become a creative, imaginative and versatile designer who can operate independently or as a member of a design team.
You can work alongside our in-house design consultancy, Design Futures, and with researchers from other design areas. We also have contacts with leading design agencies and design organisations and encourage you to work collaboratively with them.
You attend residential study trips at home and abroad, complemented by opportunities to visit design conferences and debates.
Thoughts & Notes:We place emphasis on personal research, giving you the chance to develop your own interests and ideas in a challenging and supportive environment. Our aim is to help you to become a creative, imaginative and versatile designer who can operate independently or as a member of a design team.
You can work alongside our in-house design consultancy, Design Futures, and with researchers from other design areas. We also have contacts with leading design agencies and design organisations and encourage you to work collaboratively with them.
You attend residential study trips at home and abroad, complemented by opportunities to visit design conferences and debates.
Specific to illustration, this MA looks promising and seems to focus a lot on developing the skills I will have as a postgrad and pushing me forward through building on my ideas as a designer and varied approaches to personal research. Good course structure, facilities, help and advice from industry leading professionals. Inspiring stuff.
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• Sheffield Hallam University
Link: https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/find-a-course/mamfa-design-packagingCourse: Design (Packaging) MA
About: Study packaging design at an advanced level and develop your talent for designing solutions that respond to the needs of our rapidly changing society. You're challenged to think differently about design and creatively push boundaries, while developing the skills needed to become an imaginative and versatile designer. Your projects are supported by lecturers who are design specialists, researchers and practitioners.
As a Postgraduate Design student you join an established network of creative people that encourage and support you to drive your studies to the next level. Our Postgraduate framework of design courses has been specially designed to allow students from different disciplines, backgrounds and cultures to come together, share teaching and learning experiences and explore their creative identities through dialogue and practice. Your studies will be project-led and developed through researching, designing, producing and communicating through presentations and exhibitions of your work.
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• Sheffield Hallam University
Link: https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/find-a-course/mamfa-design-jewellery-and-metalworkCourse: Design (Jewellery & Metalwork) MA
About: Study jewellery and metalwork at an advanced level and develop your talents for designing and making. You're challenged to think differently about design and creatively push boundaries, while developing the skills needed to become an imaginative and versatile designer. Your studies are project led and develop through researching, designing, producing and exhibiting your work.
If you are a highly motivated individual this course prepares you for a career working at the forefront of jewellery and metalwork. You build upon existing craft traditions, extending them in response to the needs of our rapidly changing society both in terms of function and style. Your work on the course is project led and studio based. You develop and apply advanced skills using traditional and new technologies in the field. You also carry out research through practical and theoretical investigation. Your individual project work includes research and creative work which explores your study topic. This is supported by lectures and seminars dealing with professional practice issues and reviewing progress. You also take part in regular group and individual tutorials. This culminates with your final project that demonstrates you can deal with difficult contemporary questions and take a leading role in your profession as a designer. There are also residential study trips at home and abroad, complemented by opportunities to visit design conferences and debates.
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• Sheffield Hallam University
Link: https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/find-a-course/mamfa-design-product
Course: Design (Product) MA
About: Study product design at an advanced level and develop your talent for designing solutions that respond to the needs of our rapidly changing society. You're challenged to think differently about design and creatively push boundaries, while developing the skills needed to become an imaginative and versatile designer. Your projects are supported by lecturers who are design specialists in areas as diverse as medical products, materials development, design thinking, furniture and sustainability.
Product design covers a wide and diverse field, so our aim is to help you to become a creative, imaginative and versatile designer who can operate independently or as a member of a design team.This course develops your existing knowledge and experience as a designer, and exploits our significant research expertise to enhance your own design and research skills to a new level.
You use your creative, practical and theoretical skills to investigate and propose new solutions in response to problems such as economic and environmental issues. In this way, you learn to design products and environments that respond to the needs of our rapidly changing society. You can pursue a wide area of investigation when developing your new products and systems. You attend residential study trips at home and abroad, complemented by opportunities to visit design conferences and debates.