Just What is a Design Master’s Thesis?
I’m often asked to clarify exactly what a graphic design thesis is for frustrated Master students. A few examples will hopefully be of some use.
A “thesis,” literally, is something you propose is true. Comparing the advertising styles of Burma with those of the Netherlands is not a valid thesis, but demonstrating they have some sort of common graphic ancestry or influences would be. Demonstrating they don’t wouldn’t be…unless the world thought they did. You want to prove something previously unrecognized or presumed false, or disprove something previously held true.
As a Master’s degree candidate, you’re expected to have sufficient experience and interest in design to have some well-founded opinions and suppositions about the field. What could be improved in design? What are designers overlooking? Anyone can have an opinion, but you get a Master’s degree because you’ve successfully defended yours. It becomes a well-supported, academic contribution to the field of graphic design. Continue reading
