Our Diploma in Visual Communication Design will enable you to develop a critical and socially engaged design practice.
Build on your design knowledge and technical skills while also developing a critical and socially engaged design practice, where people and the planet come first.
What is Visual Communication Design?
Visual Communication is now the most widespread form of communication in the 21st Century. Visual Communication is how we communicate information, tell stories, and design experiences with purpose and clarity.
This independent diploma award includes many of the key principles and practices of Graphic Design, such as typography, editorial design and semiotics, and also invites you to explore Visual Communication across animation, film, photography, illustration, art, architecture and digital visual culture.
At The Margate School of Art we take a critical and multi-disciplinary approach to design. We believe design has the power to inform, educate, challenge the status quo and to tackle some of the most urgent social and environmental issues of our time.
This course will enable you to develop your design knowledge and technical skills while also developing a critical and socially engaged design practice, where people and the planet come first.
Why study at mast?
Embark on a process of building the curriculum with staff and other students, following interests and shaping new ways of working.
The opportunity to work collaboratively with other students, and with small cohorts, the chance to get continuous feedback from artists, tutors and guest lecturers.
The chance to build your practice in a thriving artistic community in an area with a history of self-expression and experimentation.
Learn and share knowledge within the mast community and beyond: collaborating with studio holders, showing in our gallery, leading community workshops and working with students and tutors in our partner institution in Dunkirk, France.
What’s included
Diverse programme of specialist workshops
Including screen printing, analogue photography and darkroom developing, letterpress and woodblock printing and more.
In-demand skills
Introductory tuition in Adobe Photoshop, In Design, Illustrator and Premiere Pro.
Studio access
7 days a week access to the TMS Design Studio, including workspaces equipped with Adobe Create Cloud enabled PCs.
Portfolio building
With a diverse range of design projects and explorations which will take you to where you want to go next.
Lectures and seminars
Scheduled across one day a week, including Design History and Critical Design seminars.
Collaboration
Live industry design briefs in partnership with local businesses and organisations.
Facilities
7 days a week access to the mast facilities and equipment including; dark room, screen printing, woodwork studio, kiln and 3D printing.
requirements
Evidence of previous creative practice (eg illustration, photography, printmaking).
application Deadline
Final deadline: Friday 24 July 2026, 12 noon (UK time)
costs
£3,650 per academic year, including hot desk, and computers with Adobe Creative Suite.
£691 per individual module.
