Graduate in Design

Communication Design

The course philosophy is based on methodology and visual strategy, allowing individual and personal interests to be explored through focused study in visual communication design. Guided by renowned faculty and guest lecturers, students are encouraged to engage with diverse perspectives, through practical and theoretical exploration, including hands-on workshops, designed to challenge and expand communication design practice.

Profile

Creative processes and tangible outcomes

Projects

Critical, practice-based and contextual learning

Objectives

Central to the course philosophy is the proposition that Design is thinking made visible, and that in order to respond to today’s multiple communication needs and platforms, a Visual Communication designer needs to be able to develop multi-form responses. Thus 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 critical capacities as well as practical skills necessary to navigate the contemporary Communication landscape and contribute to the building of a vibrant social practice.

Throughout the course, in Year One projects and in Year Two project proposals, the form and technological characteristics of student work is not predetermined. Instead, whatever the given theme or area of investigation, and guided by their personal interests, students are encouraged to search for the most appropriate form of output.

Structure, content and learning progression

Curriculum

Year — 1
Contextual Studies 90 HC 9 ECTS
Design Case Studies 90 HC 9 ECTS
Communication Project 240 HC 24 ECTS
Communication Design Laboratory 180 HC 18 ECTS
Year — 2

HC — Contact Hours · ECTS — European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System

External experience and new perspectives

Guest Lecturers

Fabian Harb (CH) — Paul Hardman (UK)  — Russel Bestley (UK) — Pedro Carvalho de Almeida (PT) — Patrick Thomas (UK) — Paul McNeil (UK)— Sonya Dyakova (UK) — Marco Balesteros (PT) — João Castro (PT) — John Morgan (UK) — Nina Paim (BR) — Macedo Cannatà (PT) — Liza Enebeis (NL) — Rejane Dal Bello (UK) — Jason Grant (AU) — Jessica Helfand (US) — Adrian Shaughnessy (UK) — Heitor Alvelos (PT) — Ronnie Fueglister (CH) — Hamish Muir (UK) — Ana Aragão (PT) — Tereza Ruller (NL)

Teaching, practice and research

Faculty

Events

Enriching lives, opening minds

Erasmus+

Erasmus+, funded by the European Commission, is the EU's flagship program for education, training, youth, and sport. It aims to boost personal and professional development for all Europeans. This can involve student exchanges, vocational training placements, or even adult learning programs. Erasmus+ also encourages collaboration between organizations across Europe to share knowledge and drive innovation in these fields.

Graduate 2025–2026

Calendar

Atividades letivas

Graduate

Ano letivo · 06.10.2025 — 30.06.2026

Final — Unidades curriculares — 1.º Semestre (2.º ano) · 30.01.2026

Final — Unidades curriculares — Anuais (1.º ano) · 30.06.2026

School closures

Natal e Ano Novo · 22.12.2025 — 02.01.2026

Carnaval · 16 — 18.02.2026

Páscoa · 30.03 — 06.04.2026

Queima das Fitas · 04 — 08.05.2026

Sr. Matosinhos · 25 — 26.05.2026

Assessments

Publication

1.º semestre — Unidades curriculares — 2.º ano · 02 — 06.02.2026

Anuais — Unidades curriculares — 1.º ano · 01 — 07.07.2026

Exams

Unidades curriculares anuais · 08 — 09.07.2026

Época especial · 03 — 04.09.2026

Work plan

1ª Época — entrega projeto/relatório de estágio/dissertação · 03.07.2025

2.ª Época — entrega projeto/relatório de estágio/dissertação · 20.11.2025

Entrega de planos de mestrado para aprovação do Conselho Técnico-Científico · 31.01.2026

Época especial — entrega projeto/relatório de estágio/dissertação · 19.02.2026

Statutes

Pedidos estatutos especiais · 08 — 19.09.2025

Pedidos de Estatuto de estudante praticante desportivo de alto rendimento ou de estudante-trabalhador · 06 — 31.10.2025

Pedidos de Estatuto de estudantes com necessidades educativas especiais · 06.10 — 06.11.2025

Apresentação do pedido de cancelamento da inscrição · 06 — 24.10.2025

Year 2026–2027

Tuition Fee

Evaluate the possibilities

Scholarships

Administrative Services

Contacts

For further information on applications, admission, or scholarships, please contact us.

Opening hours — Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. (In August, the morning opening time is 9:00 am.)

Graduate in Design

Craft Meaningful Experiences.

The Master’s in Design offers a high-quality education aimed at addressing complex and rapidly evolving social challenges. It integrates practice, research, and strong links to industry, with the participation of international guest speakers in conferences and workshops. It promotes specialisation and the consolidation of essential methodological, practical, and theoretical skills.