BA (Hons)
Graphic Design
For independent, culturally aware, creative, employable graphic designers
Course Overview
Why take this course?
This course offers you the opportunity to explore graphic design through a range of digital and traditional media. The curriculum is based around thematic teaching with a strong emphasis on research informed design practice.
It will empower you with creative problem solving skills and technical knowledge that will enable you to join and contribute to the exciting, dynamic and constantly evolving world of media and design.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Enter national and international awards and competitions such as the iSTD, RSA and YCN
- Interact with our visiting speakers, from established professionals to our own successful alumni
- Use the latest creative software and equipment to enable your design work to have a professional finish
- Visit our course blog to find out more
What opportunities might it lead to?
On this course you will develop strong creative and technical abilities in graphic design, as well as engage with current debates and developments in today's media design profession. You will develop skills that will enable you to find employment within the exciting world of the creative industries.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- magazine design publishing
- branding and design agencies
- art direction and advertising
- website design
- work in the television and film industries
- founding their own design studio
- further study and research
The lecturers are a mix of academics and successful professionals within the graphic design field. It enables us to have a taste for what life as a graphic designer would be like when we graduate.
Jenna Smith, BA (Hons) Graphic Design student
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- W210
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
240-300 points to include a minimum of 240 points from A Levels, or equivalent, with 100 points from an A Level in an art and design subject. Or Foundation art and design or National Diploma in art and design. Applicants may be subject to interview. A portfolio is essential.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a* International full-time students: £10,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- create.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2421 - Department
- School of Art, Design and Media
Subject:
Art and Design
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- The creative atmosphere that encourages students to explore their own interests and ideas
- The excellent facilities which you will have access to
- Exhibiting, curating and promoting your work, preparing you for future employment
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
In your first year you will be introduced to a range of theories and perspectives for analysing the visual world. You’ll also begin to develop the computer and other design skills you will need throughout the course.
Core units in this year include:
- Introduction to Graphic Design
- Fundamentals of Design Practice
- Information Design
- Screen Design – Motion Graphics
- Research-Informed Design Thinking
- Introduction to Visual Culture
Year two
As the course progresses, you will develop a more in-depth knowledge of particular design skills. You will also become more confident in your experimentation with media, techniques and approaches.
Core units in this year include:
- Developing Design Practice
- Screen Design – Interactive
- Ethical Design
- Professional Practice – Identity
- Professional Practice – Live Design Briefs
- Visual Culture Options
Year three*
The focus of this year is developing independent learning and production of high quality work that will contribute to your professional portfolio of work.
Core units in this year include:
- Graphic Design Major Project – Research, Development and Resolution
- Professional Practice – Design Briefs and Competitions
- Professional Practice – Promotion and Employability
- Visual Culture – Dissertation or Research Project
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
We offer a variety of engaging teaching methods from workshops, lectures, group critique and seminars, to individual tutorials. There is also emphasis on hands-on practical sessions which contributes towards the strong studio culture that has developed within the subject area.
How are you assessed?
There are no exams on this course as your work is assessed primarily by coursework. Here’s how we assess your work:
- project presentations
- research and developmental work
- design portfolios
- written essays or reports
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Specialist Workshops
There are excellent facilities and workshops available
Design Studios
Purpose-built studios for material workshops and a variety of digital print studios
Guest Speakers
We invite a lively and diverse line-up of visiting speakers
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment
Specialist Workshops
Take advantage of our many workshops, which include excellent facilities with specific areas for – screenprinting, letterpress, laser cutting, dye sublimation printing and digital fabric printing.
We also have a variety of digital studios with Macs and PCs running industry-standard software, our design facilities can cater to whatever project you are working on. In addition you will have access to our range of digital printing facilities, including large format, photographic and sheet fed printers.
Design Studios
As well as offering a dynamic and creative studio space with excellent access to the Eldon campus facilities, we foster a friendly and welcoming environment where you are encouraged to interact with both tutors and your peers.
Guest Speakers
We organise a lively programme of visiting speakers from the design world and encourage a vibrant culture of debate and industry contact. Many of our successful alumni also return on a regular basis to teach as guest lecturers on the course.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Once you have completed this degree you could find yourself working across a range of media including design for print or web, interactive design, motion graphics and specialist typographic design. Graduates from this course have gone on to win BAFTAs, art direct magazines, create identities for worldwide brands for high profile clients such as Beyoncé, Coca Cola Zero and Nike Air Jordan and have overseen on-set graphics for big blockbuster films such as Casino Royale and the London Grand Prix simulation.
Graduates from this course have been successful in finding work with these design studios:
- Precedent
- Why Not Associates
- I Love Dust
- Aardman Digital
- The Light Surgeons
- Fitch
- 4IV
- Rubrik
- FHM Magazine
Many of our graduates have also succeeded in setting up their own businesses – examples include Territory Studio, Bright Agency, Debut Art, Strong Island, MWM Creative, Lethal Creative Studio and I Love Dust.
Work experience
The previous external competitions and awards our students have achieved success in include:
- The International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD)
- The Royal Society of Arts (RSA)
- The Chartered Society of Designers (CSD)
- Young Creative Network (YCN)
- Design Against Fur
- Chaumont Poster Festival
We exhibit annually both at the Summer Show in Portsmouth and in London at a venue selected by our students, this has included New Designers at The Business Design Centre, D&AD New Blood at Olympia and independent galleries such as The Rag Factory in Brick Lane
Good links with our alumni and industry also provide opportunities for work placements during and after the course. The design studio I Love Dust was founded by a former student on this course and currently has six alumni working for them.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more