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Department of
Our academic staff include leaders in research, scholarship and practice. You'll benefit from teaching that draws on their collective expertise and graduate with excellent design, critical thinking and research skills.
Visiting professionals from across the design industry will also contribute to your learning.
Research is at the core of what we do, and we've made pioneering contributions to the integration of research into design teaching.
When you choose to study with us, you'll gain the latest insights into practice, theory and history. Our programmes will prepare you for a career in an ever-evolving industry, and for study for an MPhil or PhD.
In hands-on learning sessions you'll gain knowledge of the technical and material contexts, which will allow you to confidently make informed design choices in your future career.
You'll also build a critical understanding of genre, style and user-centric design as you examine sets of historical objects.
"The typographic knowledge and sensibility you gain at Reading in a year, can take many years to attain just through working in industry, as I’ve observed with other colleagues in the studios where I’ve worked.
"It’s very hard to reconstruct such depth of knowledge once you’re working."
Lozana Rossenova
Master's graduate
Our MA Communication Design graduates go on to work in both large, international companies and smaller studios in their field.
Employers include:
The MA by Research and MRes Typeface Design programmes are ideal preparation for starting or enhancing a career in teaching and research. Both allow you to apply for PhD study directly after graduation, with the MA by Research programme including preparation of a PhD proposal as part of the curriculum.
The MA Creative Enterprise: Communication Design pathway provides you with the skills and expertise to progress in entrepreneurial careers. Our graduates have pursued start-up opportunities independently and taken up leadership roles in creative firms.
As a master’s student in our Department, you’ll work closely with global experts and established industry contributors to develop your creative design skills.
We have links with:
Some of our courses provide the opportunity to engage with clients on real projects. Visiting teachers and lecturers from our extensive industry network will enrich your experience of studying at Reading.
Step off campus and you'll find yourself in a bustling town centre offering a variety of shops, restaurants and activities. We're also well-connected – you can reach London Paddington within half an hour by train.
Fiona has designed revolutionary fonts that have been used to communicate to millions of people throughout the world, and now lectures on our master's programmes.