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© Leo García Méndez
The design practice is more relevant than ever. It takes an integral part of any company strategy.
We have seen the implementation of design processes in economy, organisational structures and the way we build products and services.
As a consequence, the contemporary designer can contribute to projects and lead change in a significant and meaningful way.
In this context, designers have to understand and create models that allow strategies to integrate all its pieces together.
From identity and signage to motion graphics and digital media, the designer looks for direction and coherence in all the elements of brand/project, jumping naturally from conceptualisation to details and implementation.
The Master in Graphic Design is the program that provides the designer a global, multidisciplinary view of design practice.
Idil Gücüyener + Amanda Kallin · MGD 16.17
Idil Gücüyener + Amanda Kallin · MGD 16.17
Idil Gücüyener + Amanda Kallin · MGD 16.17
I Gücüyener + A Kallin · MGD 16.17
I Gücüyener + A Kallin · MGD 16.17
IGücüyener + A Kallin · MGD 16.17
Idil Gücüyener + Amanda Kallin · MGD 16.17
Methodology
The program is designed to go beyond a technical education. Instead, it empowers our students to pursue a professional and personal development.
The design industry requires professionals that have a problem-solving mentality, self-built criteria and understand the reality of the contemporary design practice.
Our program facilitates these premises allowing students to experiment and learn while working on practical cases, mentored by reputed professionals.
You will work on a comprehensive project that encompasses six disciplines of graphic design: identity, editorial, packaging, signage, digital and motion graphics.
The teachers will guide you through the process, taking your project further. You will be encouraged to go into detail without losing the broad perspective, delivering a balanced combination of thinking, planning and doing.
© Leo García Méndez
Guillermo Barbi + Florencia Cufré + Adolfo Herrero · MGD 16.17
G Barbi + F Cufré + A Herrero · MGD 16.17
Guillermo Barbi + Florencia Cufré + Adolfo Herrero · MGD 16.17
Guillermo Barbi + Florencia Cufré + Adolfo Herrero · MGD 16.17
Teamwork
Challenges of today require us to work collectively and smarter. We see a change in the way design studios form. To go faster without losing quality, you need to work smarter together. During the masters, you’ll be partnering with other students, learning to make the collaboration meaningful and fruitful.
Learning by doing
It’s not enough with a theoretical layer, today’s designers have to deal with constant practicalities that influence the result of their work. That’s why we consider it crucial to get hands-on and learn directly from experience, not by just theory.
Professional environment
You’ll be part of a group of highly motivated designers that want to take their career to the next level. We consider it crucial to have an environment that pushes you to deliver the best you can. That’s why we’ll treat you like a professional, making a smooth transition to the real world.
Close mentorship
We are proud to have an excellent group of professionals to contribute to the student’s development. Teachers will expect you to come up with your answers. They’ll guide you with their expertise and experience, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to take the decisions and build your criteria.
Work and learn side by side with an amazing group of design professionals who are defining graphic design
today
Program
The master's degree addresses the practice of graphic design from multiple perspectives through different formats.
We believe and look for the versatility of the graphic designer with the ability to adapt in a changing profession in which he must assume more capabilities in different professional environments.
The course is structured around the following projects and class formats:
1
Starting point
Each course revolves around a current topic proposed by the directors with which students can explore and experience how graphic design can be a tool for change and progress in society.
Students will work on the Master Project in pairs, and each team will define their own brief around the theme of the course.
— Team building
Before stepping into the program, students will have the time to get to know each other well through dynamics and practical exercises.
It's an essential phase to choose the working partner for the Master Project.
Teamwork is one of the values of the program. The goal is to provide the students with co-creation and collaboration techniques and tools that they can use along the year.
— Strategic Thinking
The graphic designer is first and foremost a thinker, an agent of change and progress. First think, then design.
The Master project starts by establishing a solid conceptual base through critical and strategic thinking. Starting from the logic of the contrabrief and the deep analysis of the context, an insight will be elaborated and the key concepts will be defined. These will guide the whole design process .
2
Master project
With a dynamic of problem-solving close to the professional world, in the Master Project we work in parallel 6 areas or disciplines of graphic design: the integral project. While we delve into the versatility that the designer must face in front of different needs, environments, processes and languages, we develop a global vision and a multidisciplinary approach to the design practice.
— Identity
Define a language (conceptual / verbal / graphic) that can materialize in a brand and expand through all its expressions.
Define a recognizable and versatile solution. Develop an ownable and appropriate language.
Maintain coherence without hindering expressivity.
Develop a notion of adequacy in the concept-form relationship.
— Editorial
Learn to conceive and design publications exploring all its communicative facets: from editing and art direction (content creation) to typography and design.
Learn to structure and hierarchize content in a logical and clear way for the reader.
Learn to design editorial objects that make sense in the present context and that respond to the needs of the project.
— Signage
Consider signage not only as wayfinding, but also as an element providing visual identity to the space.
Learn to identify the communicative needs of the environment that can be solved through signage.
Understand the relationship between signage, architecture, product design and space design.
— Packaging
We will create a product, a packaging for it and an ephemeral installation to present it. The student must think about the product as a tangible part of the brand, as an expression of the brand. The packaging must enhance this objective, complement it, even merge with the product. The product and its packaging have to generate excitement, emotion, building a personal bond with the recipient.
— Digital
Reflect on how to bring value from the digital environment to the whole project from strategy, content and design. Generate ideas, graphic discourses, detect and enhance values discovering unique solutions. A passionate vision of what we are capable of deciding on digital projects and how the first steps are basic to define identity, strategy, content, and connection with the audience.
— Motion
We focus on how to develop and direct an animated film, based on graphic design concepts. We begin by creating a visual treatment built around the concept. Starting with visual references, we move to script and storyboard. Then we learn how to design the style frames. Later, an animatic is developed to see how the timing and space fit within the chosen soundtrack. Students will be closely guided through the production and post-production processes.
3
Consultancies
They are a transversal format of support and assistance to the different projects that are developed during the course.
Students have the opportunity to pose their doubts and questions to experts who will help them consolidate the Master Project both conceptually and formally.
— Typography
Typography is present in all expressions of a brand.
The objective is to use typography correctly to obtain the desired results. Look for quality and excellence in the choice and the typographic execution of the project.
Develop your own criteria and typographic use, suited to conceptual, functional, technical and aesthetic characteristics of the project.
— Graphic Systems
Systems are part of our lives and especially in design, in areas such as the communication of an identity or the navigation in a user interface. The subject approaches the student to some of the multiple representations of graphic systems to understand their functioning and become aware of the dynamic and global possibilities as a tool, and to lay the foundations to create their own methodology of work.
— Global Vision
The aim is to establish a transversal vision that complements the vertical vision of the six disciplines we work on the Master Project. First, we will focus on the conceptual and strategic strength to establish the foundations that will guide the project throughout the course. As we move forward with the six projects in parallel, we will work for coherence and cohesion in all expressions of the Master Project strengthening the connections between them.
4
Workshops
To complement and deepen knowledge in other skills and disciplines of graphic design Workshops are held.
Immersive experiences by the hand of specialists and renowned professionals.
The workshops, usually, are from Monday to Friday.
Look in Agenda who has visited us recently and who will do it shortly.
— Data Visualization
A theoretical-practical workshop to get started in the use of infographics as a tool of communication and expression.
At the end of the workshop, the designer will have the theoretical framework and the basic practical perspective to incorporate the infographic language in his work.
— Beyond tools
Introduce the students to programming for graphic design, showing all its power with real case-studies and simple coding practise. Propose a design process with a different approach and embrace a parametric approach to design.
— Campaign
In this workshop students will explore the blurred frontier between graphic design and advertising. They will learn how to approach and develop a graphic campaign from a design point of view. The importance of unite concept, message and shape.
— Experience
To share and learn for a week with a guest professor. A renowned figure in the international scene that has developed a distinctive and recognizable visual language.
The goal is to develop unexpected skills. Research, experimentation, observation and discovery are essential ingredients to nourish talent.
— Exhibition
In the last workshop of the year the students create an exhibition that summarizes the experience and the master projects. The student faces the physical space and the storytelling of a content. A complete process, from idea to production. An intense process in a very tight time that culminates with the production and assembly of the Degree Show.
5
Capsules
Graphic design is not only about ideas, concepts, shapes, colors and fonts... Graphic design is about presenting well to a client, human relationships, good teamwork, seeking opportunites, timesheets ans excel sheets, invoicing jobs, making projects profitable... The capsules are about duties that gravitate around graphic design you will have to face them if you have decided that design will be your means of life.
— Design Management
Provide students with the necessary knowledge to coordinate, analyze and maximize human and financial resources of a creative team. Knowing how to approach a project or client from a 'macro' and strategic point of view but without forgetting the 'micro' details, beyond the design, which are fundamental and are the day to day of project management.
— Creative Business
Creative thinking is becoming a key tool to find business opportunities in saturated markets. We, as designers, have the chance to lever our skills and bring our creative thinking into new industries. It is key to understand though that a great idea is just the first step of the process and needs to be followed by a well thought out execution.
Over this course, we will go from the conception of an idea to its implementation through a business plan.
— Process Design & Facilitation
In many organisations, the designer is considered an agent of change. With the right tools, we can co-create and facilitate processes that lead to meaningful improvements.
To achieve this position, it's essential to understand the challenges that society and the design industry are facing. Along the different sessions, the students will learn to observe, analyse and build from the insights gained.
— Public Presentation Techniques Train the student in different technical and content aspects, from how to structure the information using storytelling, how to capture the attention of the listener using pitching techniques, how to go through the different phases of the presentation itself, the body language to use while presenting or the subsequent monitoring of the project and its results.
6
Showcases & Case studies
Regularly, we organize talks with local designers that allow us to observe, through their experiences, current phenomena, obtain new visions, reflections and references that extend our knowledge of the practice of the profession.
Look in Agenda who has visited us recently and who will do it shortly.
.
7
International Lectures
We invite relevant international designers of renowned prestige and career to lecture and give the students the opportunity to learn first-hand about experiences, projects and case studies in different fields of graphic design.
Look in Agenda who has visited us recently and who will do it shortly.
Wide your vision
We think the Master in Graphic Design should be the start of something new, not the destination. This course will prepare you for finding your path in the industry. We'll encourage you to build your independence and courage to explore the different sides of the editorial design discipline.
Find your potential
You'll learn to make connections between ideas and perspectives, opening possibilities for your future. Whenever you want to work on design, strategy, content, managing or leading the process, you'll receive the right tools and experience.
Build a strong portfolio
During the course, you'll work on projects that will allow you to apply your learnings and build a high-quality portfolio. We consider this crucial to facilitating a better introduction to the real world, as it will open doors for the next step in your career.
Unique experience
The mix of projects, workshops, showcases, case studies and our reputed faculty and visiting professors and lecturers creates a unique environment where you can expand your knowledge and experience.
A city surrounded by design
Barcelona is well-known for its passion for design. It's a city with a broad diversity of nuances in gastronomy, cultures and events, which complements perfectly with the masters. Barcelona will inspire you and make your journey a complete experience.
Multicultural and diverse environment
Our students come from all places around the world, which creates a vibrant atmosphere where cultural and ideas exchange reaches its full potential.
Practical
information
© Leo García Méndez
Editions
Two editions of the master's course are held each academic year, one in Spanish and one in English.
MGD, Master in Graphic Design
is the English edition.
MDG, Master en Diseño Gráfico
is the Spanish edition.
Click here if you are looking for the course information in Spanish.
Number of Students
A maximum of 20 students will be selected in each edition of the program.
Once the registration period is open, the candidate selection process is ongoing as the pre-registrations become effective.
Who can apply
Preferably students with a graduate degree in graphic design and professional practitioners with experience.
Exceptionally, depending on their portfolio and accomplishments, graduates in fine arts, communication and adverstising will be accepted.
Applicants must be proactive and autonomous when using design software.
Leading team
Thais Caballero, Coordinator
Pablo Juncadella, Co-director
Marc Panero, Director
Start date
Month of September
ETCS credits
60
Course length
400 hours
Schedule*
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
From 5pm to 9.15pm.
Workshops from Monday to Friday.
*For academic reasons, exceptionally sessions may be scheduled outside these hours.
Languages
One edition in Spanish (MDG)
and one edition in English (MGD).
In both editions, most workshops use English as a vehicular language, with support in Spanish if required or necessary.
Almost all the lectures and some showcases or case studies are done in English.
Price
Academic Year 2018-2019
English edition — 10,900 €
(plus 500 € in concept of registration fee)
Degree
Master’s Degree in Graphic Design, degree awarded by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and ELISAVA Barcelona School of Design and Engineering
Due to our interest in the continuous improvement of the program and the professional reality of our teachers, we reserve the right to make changes in the contents and faculty of the Master.
Anthony Burrill
is a guest professor leading a workshop
in the MGD
Graphic artist, print-maker and designer Anthony Burrill is known for his persuasive, up-beat style of communication. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York and has been exhibited in galleries around the world including the Barbican Art Gallery, the Walker Art Center and the Design Museum, London.
Words and language are an important part of Burrill’s output and he has developed a distinctive voice that is sought after not only by collectors of his prints but also by clients including Apple, Google, Hermés, the British Council, London Underground and the Design Museum. Burrill is perhaps best known for his typographic, text-based compositions, including the now-famous “Work Hard and Be Nice to People”, which has become a mantra for the design community and beyond.
Burrill was born in Littleborough, Lancashire. After studying Graphic Design at Leeds Polytechnic he completed an MA in Graphic Design at the Royal College of Art, London. He now lives and works on the Isle of Oxney, Kent.
Santi Fuster
guides the Identity project in the MGD
and gives the workshop That's all folks! in the MED
Graduated in graphic design, he cofounded Bendita Gloria Studio with Alba Rosell. The studio works on projects from different fields (publishing, packaging, branding and communication) with the goal of always finding the right solution that combines adequacy, intelligibility and a certain surprise effect.
We like to talk about design as a language and, in class, we underline the semantics involved in the discipline. The way we see it, in the course of their training, students should achieve control of the meanings involved in any formal decision and accept that design is also content.
Pablo Juncadella
is co-director of the MGD and shares his experience with the students through Case Studies
Pablo Juncadella was born in Barcelona in 1977 and graduated with honors at Eina School of Design and Art in 1999. He worked in Grafica and Pentagram (London) before founding Mucho (together with his partner Marc Catalá). Among the projects of Mucho are The Observer, Wall Paper City Guides, Movistar+ or UOC.
Pablo is a member of AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale) and has been awarded internationally with 2 D&AD Yellow Pencil.
"Facing a design project in its entirety is never a linear process, it means having "one finger on each cake" while you are designing. This course is specifically thought to enhance the ability to design taking into account the implications that this design will have in all communication environments. Especially interesting is to observe how these implications can modulate and alter design decisions."
Born in Glasgow but raised in Venezuela and moved to Barcelona, Jun is a Director and Illustrator with a diverse and broad palette, equally comfortable behind the camera as he is with the pen. His passion for music put him also behind the decks, which got him invited in 2002 to Sónar Festival. He also founded the No-Domain Design Studio, active for more than 10 years.
Eventually embarking on a solo career, Jun is doing TV spots, videoclips and special audiovisual projects and has been awarded with Laus, Sol and had his work featured in Stash, Motionographer and Vimeo Staff Picks.
"We will focus more heavily on the film visualisation process than on the technical aspects of production. When an idea is well visualised and the concepts are clear, one works harder and more directly towards developing it and seeing it conceived, thus discovering alternative and inspiring methods of producing it. If students are unfamiliar with certain techniques or software, it is not a hindrance because they will steadily learn and discover their own ways of realising their ideas.
We encourage experimentation and help students become more confident and creative, developing a more personal, inspiring and hands-on approach to making films."
Roseta Mus Pons
guides the Signage project in the MGD
She was born in Menorca and at 18 she moved to Barcelona to study graphic design at the Eina school. For more than seven years she works at Clase Bcn, where she acquires and develops professional practice working with Claret Serrahima. Later, she became part of Base Design and Polar until in 2010 she founds Roseta y Oihana together with Oihana Herrera Erneta, whom she knows teaching at Elisava. She has given talks and workshops and has been chairwoman of the ADG Laus awards.
"On a personal level, I think teaching graphic design is especially interesting and useful when it revolves around these approaches: — Professional approach. The teacher is not just an academic, he is an active professional designer capable of teaching how to analyze and successfully develop professional assignments. — Experimental approach. It is also necessary and enriching to complement the professionalism with the freedom to experiment that the academic environment allows."
Javier Pereda
Guides the project Content & Design in Digital Environments
in the MGD
Graphic designer (EINA, 1998). After six years of work and training alongside Fernando Gutiérrez and Pablo Martín, he founded ESIETE, integral consulting specialized in design, strategy and content. His works generates images, contents and significant experiences that create long-lasting bonds. Always striving for excellence in ideas and execution, his work has been acknowledged in national and international festivals. He is also founder and director of the magazine paseodegracia.com.
Pol Pérez
guides the Editorial Design project in the MGD and the Book Design project in the MED
Born in Barcelona in 1988. He studied graphic design at Elisava and, for a period of time, at ZHdK in Zürich (Switzerland). After finishing his studies, he worked at various design studios and advertising agencies of Barcelona: Folch Studio, *S,C,P,F…, Bendita Gloria, Avanti Avanti, among others.
In 2015 he partnered with Josep Román, and they currently run Affaire: a design studio for edition, art direction and design that primarily works for clients in culture and fashion. The studio’s work is complemented with Supermarché, a self-initiated editorial project where Josep and Pol publish and commercialize small editions that loosely revolve around concepts like consumerism and desire.
Xavier Roca
guides the Product /Packaging project in the MGD
Graduated in Graphic Design at EINA School. After working in the studio of Enric Aguilera, he became part of the team of Fernando Gutiérrez and Pablo Martín in Gráfica. In 2003, she founded Run with Eva Balart, where they carry out projects of corporate identity, packaging, communication and editorial design. He combines the professional task in Run with the teaching in ELISAVA where he has taught in the areas of projects, corporate identity and packaging.
A practical/theoretical workshop of initiation to the use of infographics as a tool of communication and expression.
We analyzed a complete dataset about student mobility working in groups to elaborate a series of posters. The relationship between the recent economic crisis and the student flows or the correspondence between cultural affinity and mobility where some of the aspects highlighted.
Fran & Frank
Idil Güçüyener
Amanda Kallin
MGD 16.17
Tutors
Pablo Juncadella
Pol Pérez + Josep Román
Xavier Roca
Roseta Mus Pons
Raúl Goñi
Nelson Jr Martínez
Marc Panero
Fran & Frank
Invention of a tampon brand whose main goal is to challenge the taboos and stereotypes linked to menstruation. The project transforms these organic cotton tampons into a lifestyle product that pushes up its value and makes them more accessible, offering them as individual organic paper packs and selling them by weight at fashion and concept stores.
Also, you may get them as a complement when buying other products like panties, beers or a feminist magazine. Besides, through an app, you may ask for a monthly delivery at home. Its transversal business strategy, with a large economic potential, and its graphic communication coherence, with a social component, try to encourage women empowerment.
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