How long do master's programs in graphic design and communication design typically last, and what are the core subjects covered in their curricula?

Duration and curriculum depend heavily on which of the two specialisations you pick, since graphic design and communication design overlap but are not identical tracks. The clearest reference points in India are the National Institute of Design and IIT Bombay's IDC School of Design, both of which publish their exact program structure.

How Long the Programs Run

• NID's M.Des in Graphic Design: a 2.5 year full time program, positioned under NID's Communication Design faculty.
• IIT Bombay's IDC M.Des in Communication Design: a 2 year program organised into first and second year coursework plus a major project.
• International programs: the UK typically runs a 1 year master's, while Italy, Germany and the US commonly run 2 years.

Core Subjects

Across these programs, expect typography and type design, visual design fundamentals, branding and identity systems, editorial and publication design, information design and data visualisation, and photography or image making. IIT Bombay's syllabus specifically names Visual Language Syntactics, Studies in Typography, Media Technology and Semantics and Communication Theory, alongside studio projects and a final Communication Design Project.

Graphic Design vs Communication Design

Graphic design goes deeper into visual craft such as typography, branding and packaging, while communication design is broader and can include film, motion, information design and digital or interactive media. If your interest is branding or editorial work specifically, graphic design is the tighter fit; if you want a wider scope across storytelling and digital media, communication design offers more room.

My Advice

Do not assume every M.Des requires a Bachelor of Design. NID's own admissions handbook has accepted other bachelor's backgrounds under stated conditions, so check each institute's current eligibility rules rather than ruling yourself out early. Compare the studio project themes from the last two admitted cohorts if you can, since that tells you more about the actual day to day work than the syllabus title alone.

This Information Is Also Available On

National Institute of Design, and IDC School of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.