International Innovative Challenging Affordable

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Myrtle Powell
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1 International Innovative Challenging Affordable

2 Find out about the MA in Communication Design at ESAD Portugal

3 1. The city Placed 4th in the list of top ten best value destinations in the Lonely Planet Best in Travel Guide 2012.

4 Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in Southern Europe. Located along the Douro river estuary in the north of the country it is also one of the oldest European centres, registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

5 Few fail to recognise the visual drama that Porto has to offer. Built on granite and mostly out of granite, Porto presents a jumble of styles, eras and experiences: narrow medieval alleyways, extravagant baroque churches, prim little squares, and wide boulevards lined with stately beaux-arts buildings. The City Hall and main square, also the venue for the annual book fair and other street festivals.

6 The city ambience and lifestyle is everything you would expect to find in a Southern European city pavement cafés, traditional cuisine, people out walking and dining until late at night, a temperate climate in winter and hot sunny summers.

7 Traditions live on in the city as tripeiros (Porto residents) mingle before old storefronts, on village-style plazas and in the old houses of commerce where Roman ruins lurk beneath the foundations.

8 But Porto is not just full of historical buildings. The Porto school of architecture is world famous and the city boasts some of the most visited examples of contemporary European architecture among others by three Pritzker Architecture prize winners, Álvaro Siza Vieira, Eduardo Souto de Moura, and Rem Koolhaas. Photo: Luis Ferreira Alves The Casa da Música by Rem Koolhaas is the city s principle music venue and one of its biggest tourist attractions.

9 Independent commerce still thrives and there is no shortage of local bakeries, grocers, markets, cafés and restaurants. Fast food exists but locals like to take their time to enjoy freshly made traditional food.

Porto offers its citizens the opportunity to get away from the busy streets with easy access to a variety of gardens and green spaces throughout the city, from the Crystal

10 Porto offers its citizens the opportunity to get away from the busy streets with easy access to a variety of gardens and green spaces throughout the city, from the Crystal Palace high over the Douro river and the nearby Botanic gardens, to the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art park and gardens. The Palácio de Cristal gardens and pavilion.

11 The city park (Parque da Cidade) deserves a special mention as a unique space, not just for Porto but for any major urban area. It occupies a substantial area in the west of the city countryside in the middle of town. Covering an area of 205 acres the city park is the largest urban park in Portugal.

12 A Westward walk through the city park will take you down to the beach and seafront where modern architecture mixes with historic sea fortresses built to protect the Portuguese Atlantic coast.

13 Whether it s for strolling, running or cycling, or simply relaxing in the various beach cafés and restaurants, the Avenida do Brasil the principle seafront avenue is particularly busy at weekends and offers a very different experience and facet of the city.

14 But if it s beaches you want then Porto and adjoining districts have plenty to offer, even more so if you want to join the vibrant surfing community.

15 As night falls so the city accommodates a different kind of attitude where the rejuvenated city centre becomes a hub of activity. The quayside area of Ribeira next to the famous ironwork bridge spanning the Douro river.

With a large student population the University of Porto alone with over 27,000 students Porto offers more and more in the way of bars, restaurants and

16 With a large student population the University of Porto alone with over 27,000 students Porto offers more and more in the way of bars, restaurants and music venues. Alternative spaces and galleries as well as diverse cultural events and festivals have become part of the expanding social life of the city.

In Porto then you will find an historic city with a contemporary appetite, catering for diverse tastes and interests and only two hour low cost flight away

17 In Porto then you will find an historic city with a contemporary appetite, catering for diverse tastes and interests and only two hour low cost flight away from London and other major European destinations. It s a city that isn t simply exciting and hospitable it s also a very affordable place to live and to study.

18 2. The School The school is conveniently located opposite a Porto Metro line station and only 20 minutes from the Porto International airport.

Founded in 1989, the Matosinhos School of Art and Design (ESAD) is a private institute that has come to represent the highest standards of quality in art and design education, research and allied

19 Founded in 1989, the Matosinhos School of Art and Design (ESAD) is a private institute that has come to represent the highest standards of quality in art and design education, research and allied activities. It offers graduate and post-graduate design courses in Communication, Interiors, Product, Fashion, Jewellery, Digital Arts and Multimedia, and a dynamic programme of events and activities.

20 With over 1000 students, and a ten percent international intake representing 26 nationalities, the school offers experienced guidance and support in helping students to find accommodation and settle into daily as well as academic life.

A school canteen serving lunch and dinner, library, print and copy centre, materials shop, screenprint and photo labs, product workshop, an international office, and an active student

21 A school canteen serving lunch and dinner, library, print and copy centre, materials shop, screenprint and photo labs, product workshop, an international office, and an active student union these are just some of the quality services and facilities available to students. The school also has it s own independent gallery with a programme of exhibitions open to the public.

22 The school has developed a particularly strong reputation as a leader in the organisation of national and international design events inviting to the school world famous designers to participate in workshops, conferences and open lectures.

23 One such event is the now famous Personal Views lecture series organised by Andrew Howard. With the aim of examining contemporary definitions of graphic design this unique series has so far bought together an unparalleled group of 44 of the world s most renown designers, writers and design educators in an attempt to explore the boundaries of contemporary practice. Personal Views 29 speaker Neville Brody

24 Speakers in the Personal Views series Andy Altman Heitor Alvélos Ian Anderson Stuart Bailey Phil Baines Jonathan Barnbrook Nick Bell Andrew Blauvelt Ian Noble Irma Boom Neville Brody Max Bruinsma Tony Credland David Crow Wim Crouwell Linda Van Deursen & Armand Mevis William Drenttel Jessica Helfand Daniel Eatock Paul Elliman Experimental Jet Set Ken Garland Graphic Thought Facility Steven Heller Ellen Lupton Karel Martens Katherine McCoy Hamish Muir William Owen Rick Poynor Lucienne Roberts Michael Rock Paula Scher Adrian Shaughnessy Erik Spiekermann Jan Van Toorn Teal Triggs Gerard Unger Rick Valicenti Garth Walker Jon Wozencroft

25 3. The MA Year one workshop with Lucie Roberts exploring dynamic grid structures.

Language The central part of the course the practical project classes is taught in English and draws upon the skills and knowledge of the best international and national designers to form an

26 Language The central part of the course the practical project classes is taught in English and draws upon the skills and knowledge of the best international and national designers to form an institutional staff that are able to bring to the panorama of study the most relevant ideas and practices and the widest experience. Other course lecturers speak English although you will be encouraged to learn basic Portuguese.

27 Philosophy On the MA at ESAD we re interested in looking beneath the surface. We understand that every choice of image, every selection of words, every graphic combination, every visual solution, becomes a way of saying something a visual narrative that becomes part of our social dialogue, making the nature of what is expressed in public communication a concern for us all. We want to explore how we say what we say.

The unique course philosophy devised by course director Andrew Howard will expand your theoretical knowledge, test your ideas and methodology, and your making

28 The unique course philosophy devised by course director Andrew Howard will expand your theoretical knowledge, test your ideas and methodology, and your making skills in a parallel programme of short intensive workshops and longer in-depth assignments in year one and concentrated research and development in year two.

You will be asked to examine the major cognitive skills and areas of knowledge that are essential to graphic design practice in the modern world.

29 You will be asked to examine the major cognitive skills and areas of knowledge that are essential to graphic design practice in the modern world. You will do this by focusing on components that are common to all forms of communication design; process, property & parameter. Within given themes you will be asked to generate content as well as determining the choice of media to be explored. Creative language workshop with Emílio Remelhe.

Year one In your first year you will be given four major practical assignments during the year that will test your critical thinking, research methods and practical skills.

30 Year one In your first year you will be given four major practical assignments during the year that will test your critical thinking, research methods and practical skills. Many of these assignments involve working in real life situations with real audiences. Independent study is required and you will be expected to maintain a course blog linked to the course website documenting your ideas, process and methodology. The Christmas Bizarre project challenged students to create a Pop-up shop event in downtown Porto that explored the values and traditions of Christmas.

In parallel to the in-depth assignments you will be exposed to short intense workshops throughout the year run by world class designers that will act as triggers for further investigation.

31 In parallel to the in-depth assignments you will be exposed to short intense workshops throughout the year run by world class designers that will act as triggers for further investigation. Workshops over the past three years have been run by people such as Ian Noble (senior visiting lecturer), Hamish Muir, Andrew Haslam, George Hardie, Lawrence Zeegan, Lucienne Roberts, Martin Conreen, and A Practice For Everyday Life, with more on the way. Ways of Seeing workshop with George Hardie

This major work is an in-depth research work either practical or

32 Year two In your second year you will develop your Major Project Proposal based on a study focus of your own choice. This major work is an in-depth research work either practical or theoretical which must demonstrate rigorous methodology and investigation and is the culmination of the MA journey.

Contextual studies In the first three semesters of the course you will also take part in a dynamic contextual studies programme in which you will be exposed to

33 Contextual studies In the first three semesters of the course you will also take part in a dynamic contextual studies programme in which you will be exposed to and asked to comment about contemporary and historical ideas, theoretical outlooks and practice, as well as exploring research and investigation methodologies.

Being part of a team If you share the desire to deepen your understanding, to explore with critical reflection, to expand your experience, then the MA at ESAD is the place to be.

34 Being part of a team If you share the desire to deepen your understanding, to explore with critical reflection, to expand your experience, then the MA at ESAD is the place to be. The standards are high so you need to be good. And good means not just having great technical skills, it means having passion and commitment and deep curiosity. It means wanting to dig deeper and above all wanting to push the boundaries of what you think you know. Mapping workshop with senior visiting lecturer Ian Noble.

35 Further reading The MA in Communication Design aims to develop understanding of the various processes, conditions and properties, in both conceptual and practical ways, that inform and direct the process of transformation at the heart of communication design practice. The overarching course philosophy is designed to help students develop independent learning, clear research methodologies and to encourage a critical and reflective practice. It aims to create an intellectual environment in which students can find their voice as communication designers and where individual and personal concerns can be explored through focused study. At the centre of the course is the axiom Design is thinking made visible. Given the range of options that confront contemporary designers the course aims to focus on the need to develop criteria with which to make decisions about their use and application. This requires knowledge and understanding of the cognitive tools of design, such as measurement, mapping, editing, navigation, narration and so forth, whose use is contextualised by notions of time and space, by interpretations of pattern and identity, by our responses to sound, colour and touch. Together these are the real materials of design which designers must subject to critical thought and reflection, that they must learn to manipulate in order to create meaning, resonance and effective communication. With this overview in mind, the MA in Communication Design at ESAD aims to direct students in a unique manner and position them to examine these essential and central areas of cognitive knowledge. Notwithstanding the emphasis on research and analysis, the course is practice-based. The development of theoretical frameworks is carried out through the development of practical projects in which the act of making is able to reflect back upon ideas and investigation. In order to respond to today s multiple communication needs and platforms, a visual communication designer needs to be able to develop multiform responses. Thus we believe that multimedia is not a component or a specialism of contemporary design, it is its definition. Communication design is called upon to structure messages to be understood by a broad audience. It needs to model perceptions as well as to transmit information and as a consequence designers benefit from being able to draw inspiration and ideas from a wide variety of experiences and bodies of knowledge. For this reason the course aims to expose students to opinions and expertise from as wide a spectrum as possible through a regular programme of visiting speakers, from within and outside of the profession. Through its unique structure the MA in Communication Design at ESAD sets out to establish in the students mind a firm recognition and understanding of the conceptual capacities as well as practical skills necessary to navigate the contemporary communication landscape and contribute to the building of a vibrant social practice.

Course director Andrew Howard is a graphic designer, educator, design writer, and curator who has been living in Portugal since 1993.

36 Course director Andrew Howard is a graphic designer, educator, design writer, and curator who has been living in Portugal since He runs his own award winning design studio specialising in work for cultural and educational institutions. He was one of the original signatories of the First Things First 2000 manifesto, and is author of the seminal essay There is Such a Thing as Society first published in Eye magazine in Andrew Howard (centre), lecturer Susanna Edwards (far right) with MA students that featured in Grafik magazine.

37 Study programme Course credits 120 ects Year 1 Project 8 hours weekly 24 ects Workshops 6 hours weekly 18 ects Design theory 3 hours weekly 9ects Case studies 3 hours weekly 9ects Year 2 Major project 42 ects Methodology 12 hours weekly 18 ects

38 Criteria for selection Portfolio + Interview + Curriculum Vitae + Level, grade and area of previous academic qualifications Interviews may be conducted via Skype where appropriate. Minimum qualification required, BA with 180 credits.

39 Cost 3750 euros per year + administration fee admission fee annual subscription annual insurance 12.5

40 How to apply Application forms available at or contact Andrew Howard at Deadline September 14 Academic year begins October 15

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