2022
Our international cohort of Falmouth Flexible MA Graphic Design (online) students are encouraged to explore a diverse range of interests and specialisms with global exploration at the heart of the course, leading to a true spectrum of creativity. Scroll to view examples of their Final MA Projects for a taste of what you could achieve by joining the course.
Peter Crellin
Isle of Man
Project Question
(1) What prevents people from optimising the energy efficiency of their home? (2) How can these obstacles be overcome?
Aim and Objective
To facilitate the adoption of energy saving technologies to (a) reduce the prevalence of fuel poverty and (b) move localities towards decarbonisation.
Final Outcome
Power Play is a digital interactive team game designed to teach teenagers about renewable energy options in the Isle of Man and to more broadly encourage the adoption of renewable technologies in the home. (Research and testing of various iterations gave rise to the cyber-punk theme seen in the game.)
The system utilises an iPad to big-screen link-up that allows teams to compete to achieve renewable energy goals. The design was built with a view to scaling up for use with Microsoft Hololens.
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
My practice has become more focused overall and I have started to approach professional design with a sense of trust towards the complete design process.
I have learned first-hand the value of wide and varied collaboration and feedback and seek to gain the same in all my professional projects.
Please follow this external platform link, to view the Final MA Project in full and/or portfolio documentation.
Shiina Araki
Tokyo, JAPAN
Project Question
How can modern Japanese people realise and inherit the values underlying the Japanese sense of beauty, such as 'Wabi-Sabi' and 'Valuing the invisible', which they have forgotten: values that are not bound by rules, find beauty in the invisible through imagination and see the negative as positive?
Aim and Objective
– To provide people with opportunities to express what they feel in their daily lives and realise that it is acceptable to tolerate their own values and freedom.
– To give people the opportunity to accept other people’s values and sense of beauty by allowing them to experience other people’s values and sense of beauty.
– To experience the beauty of the invisible, reminding them of Japanese values and culture, where beauty is created not by form but by imagination and emotion.
– To be able to value things that are not bound by form or appearance.
Final Outcome
I initiated a project to create letters using the senses of smell, hearing, touch and sight.
There are no rules for making this letter set. Audiences can use any paper they like, put their favourite music, sound or voice message on it with a QR code, or smell it with a drop of aromatic oil.
I have done this project so that the audience can freely express the thoughts and feelings they want to convey, not only in a visible form but also in an invisible form, such as smells and sounds.
Through this project, I thought that the project would help people to realise the underlying Japanese aesthetic values of a free standard of beauty not bound by rules, ‘the beauty of imagination’ and ‘acceptance of one’s own and others’ sense of beauty’. Through them, I wanted people to inherit the Japanese sense of beauty, not visible objects, but the value of themselves.
I also held an actual workshop where I could improve the project details by soliciting opinions.
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
I learned more about the area I live in than I did before. I have learnt that having a global perspective means developing a local mindset at the same time. In this class, students from different regions have different values and design characteristics, which has helped me to realise my design characteristics and to learn about social issues from different angles. The input of classmates from different backgrounds, design and other professional experiences also helped me to step out of my comfort zones to create my work. Overall, the two years I spent here were invaluable, and it was a good time that gave me confidence and made me realise that I needed to gain more experience.
Please follow this external platform link, to view the Final MA Project in full and/or portfolio documentation.
Laura Eydmann
Brixham, Devon
Project Question
Can Graphic Design empower women to effect change?
Aim and Objective
The main objective of my studies is to look at activist graphic design broadly and within the scope of feminism, and its power and success in helping women personally and the cause as a whole.
How can graphic design empower women to affect change? Can we use activism and graphic design to help women portray themselves as an empowered community rather than victims?
Final Outcome
This workshop is designed to create bonds and a sense of community between women, to encourage empathy and understanding, to give women the tools to reflect upon their positionality, and to encourage small acts of activism within that reflection.
This workshop can be used with a small group of women or a larger group, online or in person, with women of every age and background.There are timings and a structure to follow, but the workshop can be adapted to a more creative output, or for a longer day session.
The workshop materials come packaged in a workbox, and also as a downloadable PDF.
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
My practice has developed into more research based, and I am looking into more self-authored projects. I am turning towards more graphic design for good – more charity work, and more to help causes I believe in.
The course helped me to define my values as a designer, and help me find a path along my career.
Please follow this external platform link, to view the Final MA Project in full and/or portfolio documentation.
Usha Unnikrishnanunny
Thrissur, Kerala, India
Project Question
How can a curious prince notebook bring back the art of hand written ideas or personal journaling
Aim and Objective
Aim – To make the people to buy Curious prince notebook through social media post where the curious character is on a quest to know what people will are writing in fun interactive manner.
Objective – To make people write their ideas , concepts or even draw which can be a great creative process .
Final Outcome
The main idea came from my MA graphic design project which was an interactive attakatha kit where Kathakali art form was taught with simple activities. The final outcome was a designed notebook which is sold in my new venture – ushascreativespace. I didn’t stop with just curious prince but designed and sold 5 more theme based notebook. I had the fortune to test how people would react to these notebook by setting up art stall in a community event. Almost more than 35 notebooks have being sold out. Interesting thing with this notebook was when I gave it to my uncle who was having some health issues .He was an adherent fan of Kathakali art form so when he saw the illustration on the notebook ,immediately a big smile brought to his face. He started to write and could recall some of his poem writings from childhood but the happy part is he became more active and this really healed as he says “I got the feeling of upliftment when writing in this particular notebook. “The illustration on the book covers really brought a different mindset to people and it created an emotional connection which created an inspiration to recall old memories of writing.
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
I was really grateful to be part of Falmouth university and even though I did the MA graphic design course (Online) ,I didn’t feel that I was doing the course more remotely but more like daily visit to university physically . The canvas platform was the online classrooms for many of us and the course details where very well organised which made me more easier to access and study the given materials. My design practice have grown since then as I was able to start a small art venture which is what I imagined myself after doing the MA course. I take this opportunity to thank my peers, tutors and module leaders for helping me during the MA course. All the best to future graduates.
Please follow this external platform link, to view the Final MA Project in full and/or portfolio documentation.
Omar Mal
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Project Question
How to develop a digital tool to improve workflow and collaboration within agencies & design studios?
Aim and Objective
Aim:
– To enhance the workflow process across agencies and design studios.
Objectives:
– Understanding the creative workflow process
– Investigating the issues & problems faced by designers in terms of daily workflow
Final Outcome
DASHO (The Creative Digital Toolbox) is a hub that collects everything under one interface to be used by different members of the agency to access relevant menu options. This tool is the single solution that embeds all the requirements under one hub via the cloud. Access, collaboration and teamwork could not be easier, anytime and anywhere. It is available as an app & web-based version.
DASHO can be used by all the members of a creative agency and/or design studio including clients (on an invite-basis only).
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
While studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort, my practice has developed tremendously. I have learned to research and understand different points of view and learn different forms of design from various cultures and backgrounds. I also have learned to push myself to the limits and challenge myself to experiment and obtain better outcomes.
Please follow this external platform link, to view the Final MA Project in full and/or portfolio documentation.
Jess Whatley
England, UK
Project Question
How can Eco-Collective facilitate graphic designers and manufacturers to transform the packaging industry, and build a sustainable community toolkit in the UK?
Aim and Objective
As a solution to target brands that actively participate in greenwashing I am proposing to launch Eco-Collective, the first UK database which promotes sustainable manufacturing practice and procedures. The toolkit is in the form of a website and application, which explores a broad range of topics to aid with the sustainable operations of a business. Eco-Collective has one fundamental purpose: to ensure that graphic designers and manufacturers have accountability surrounding the vital role they have applying sustainable practice.
Final Outcome
5000 word report, prototype website for business launch and 24 weeks research journal.
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
I feel as though my boundaries have been pushed for the final time on this course, and I feel at my most confident with graphic design practice than I have ever been. I am still learning but in comparison to when I started the course, it is clear that this MA has refined my skills and expanded my knowledge within the creative industry.
Please follow this external platform link, to view the Final MA Project in full and/or portfolio documentation.
Woody Martin
Reading, UK
Project Question
How did a global youth movement emerge in a town and what is its legacy?
Aim and Objective
The aim is to examine how we perceive the world differently. I believe the most challenging time of life for most people is their teenage years.
Looking back on the previous modules, I saw that mental health is something that is really in the spotlight at the moment and so I thought that a study based on teenage years and the perspectives of the outside world versus internal would be interesting.
I had the objective of discovering how the locale and society has been affected by it and seeing what the longterm geographical and societal influences were.
Final Outcome
How did a global youth movement emerge in a town and what is its legacy?
I have found that punk emerged in Reading from the radio play and lending of the single ‘New Rose’ by The Damned.
This wasn’t the only reason but it was seemingly a really common reason. It was also passed from seeing other punks on the street and its spirit of fighting against the established norm – the feeling of depression in the 70s was rife with industry leaving and entertainment being largely controlled by the media and the upper
classes (even the bands that were bigger at the time were middle class white people such as Queen and Genesis). The kids at home that were in abusive relationships were seeing punk and the community it created as a new family that they could join. (such as R. Schnell that I have quoted in the book). It spread in a very early version of viral marketing with it passing from person to person which is fascinating as the lines of communication were very limited so it would literally be passed physically from person to person rather than just targeted online marketing as everything is spread now.
In terms of legacy, it improved race relations within Reading which hasn’t been known as a very integrated place. There occasionally still are race frictions and there are certain areas where races are more concentrated. Punk was a minority movement which linked minorities together through their shared experience as victims of prejudism, the punks and reggae link that I discovered has been quite eye-opening.
The left leaning punks also got along with other groups through their more liberal outlook. The main legacy that I have discovered is by far the more social effects rather than the geographic.
The relationships and passed on values of the punks and the following scenes and youth groups are still visible and being passed on. The punks from the Star still meet regularly and talk about the old days, without punk, they would be different people. I have an interest in punk and my political views from my parents and their punk views. Geographically, very little is left of
the punk scene due to Reading’s gentrification and rampant commercialism. Having said that, the Purple Turtle is the last remaining punkesque venue in Reading so there at least is a spiritual home to punk still.
Punk’s legacy is certainly a cultural one in Reading.
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
I have begun to trust in my skillset and learned that bold is better. Look beyond your usual practice and discover that there is always a new way to work.