Digital Design and Branding MSc

About the Course

Digital media and the internet are having a big impact in the way brands behave, interact and speak. As these technologies continue to develop in terms of speed, availability and functionality, even greater opportunities will arise for those individuals who are able to combine traditional marketing insight with a true understanding of digital media, capturing these benefits and articulating them at both an academic and vocational level.

This course offers a unique opportunity for students to gain understanding and use of digital media design and technologies for the purpose of branding. This programme aims to fill a gap by developing the knowledge and practical experience of both digital design and branding concepts.

Aims

The main aim of the programme is to prepare students for creative roles in digital branding industry - both at executive (eg designer) and strategic and managerial levels (eg creative director).

Enquiries

The Marketing and Recruitment Office
School of Engineering and Design
Brunel University
Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK
Email sed-pg-admissions@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 265814
Course Director: Dr Amar Aggoun

Related Courses

• Advanced Multimedia Design and 3D Technologies MSc
• Design and Branding Strategy MA

Special Features

The School of Engineering and Design has been offering successful Digital design courses for over 12 years at undergraduate level and recently at the post graduate level. This new programme builds on existing BSc undergraduate and MSc PG programmes already available in SED:

1. BSc Multimedia Technology and Design.
2. BSc Broadcast Media Design and Technology.
3. MSc Advanced Multimedia and 3D Technologies.

The new master course is a unique blend of digital design and technology in the context of branding. As a result it will benefit from our highly successful experience of teaching both design and technology in an integrated way to these UG and PG programmes. It will also benefit from the fact that the School of Engineering and Design already delivers a PG course on Branding.

MA Design and Branding Strategy

 

Course Content

Digital Branding Strategy
The main aim of this module is provide students with understanding and skills to (i) develop a strategic approach to branding and its relationship to digital design and organisational performance, (ii) to evaluate the current state of the relationship of branding to digital design, digital promotion and management and (iii) to build future scenarios in response to new trends.

Multimedia Research Directions
The module will introduce concepts of different types of research, present methods to identify research topic and formulate approach, prepare plan for research and provide guidance on performing research experiments and evaluating novel systems and artefacts. In this module internationally renowned researchers and practitioners in creative media design will be invited to speak in seminars to the MSc students.

Digital Promotion
In this module students will study digital promotion media and means, with the focus on creative execution: Social Media Marketing, Online Advertising, Public Relations, E-mail marketing, etc; case study of successful digital campaigns and businesses.

Digital Design
The aim of this module is to provide theoretical and practical skills of digital design in the context of creative digital branding; graphic design, layout, typography, etc; the module to include a practical design project.

Digital Media Technologies
This module offers understanding and appreciation of the various digital media technologies in the context of creative digital branding.

Advanced 3D Technologies
The aim of this module to cover advanced 3D and associated technologies including, generative 3D modelling, real-time graphics, animation and human movement and machine acquisition techniques. Complex forms will be visualized, simulated and tested on screen. The module will also explore the latest developments in rapid prototyping virtual reality and other forms of visualization.

Multimedia and Interaction Design
The aim of this module is to demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of state-of-the-art technologies revolving around the various interactive possibilities with digital media in the academic and commercial worlds. To demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of graphic design, photography and video within the context of interactive digital media.

Audio Visual Post Production
This module will develop the students’ knowledge, skills and understanding of post-production and compositing to a professional level, with a particular focus on visual post production, but supported by a study of relevant audio post production techniques and principles.

Masters Project - Digital Campaign
Develop a digital campaign for a chosen brand, product or service. The focus of work to be on the development of a digital promotional artefact (e.g. a collection of viral videos, a viral game), but the project to involve the full cycle of a campaign management: market research (product and user), budget development, media planning and distribution, evaluation of campaign effectiveness.

Assessment

Each module is assessed by a combination of practical and written elements as appropriate.

Employability

The programme fully prepares students for work in Digital Design agencies to provide digital branding solutions in modern, effective and innovative ways. On the top of the design aspect, the course also offers a number of optional modules dealing specifically with relevant technologies. As a result graduates could be expected to enter one of the following roles:

• 3D Graphics Designers and Animators
• Audio Visual Pre- and Post-Production Designers
• Interactive Media Designers

The programme also prepares students to carry out related academic research. A number of students in various disciplines within the School have stayed on to carry out a PhD at Brunel University. On average, one student of high academic achievement per year is offered a PhD position.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

Fee information will be released once this course is approved in full.

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements

A good honours degree (first, second class or equivalent) in engineering, computing, social sciences, business and/or design or related discipline, or commensurate professional experience combined with an appropriate vocational qualification.

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.