Course overview

Graphic designers creatively solve visual problems, and thereby can successfully communicate messages to a variety of audiences arranging type and image across many different mediums. For example, a new corporate identity has to work not only in print – say on a letterhead, brochure, poster or van – but also on a website or mobile device, therefore motion graphics and interactivity can also be part of the design solution.

This course addresses these cross media design issues, giving you the opportunity to explore a variety of relevant media and develop conceptual and critical skills to equip you for your future career. The curriculum is based around thematic teaching with a strong emphasis on research-informed design practice.

We believe we can offer you a unique programme of study. We recognise that you are an individual with your own style and abilities, and that you need to develop and expand into new areas. We will empower you with creative problem solving skills and knowledge that will enable you to become part of the design world.

Please see our course blog for current and past examples of the kinds of work and activities we engage with.

The context of design practice

All work produced in art, design and media has a social, cultural and environmental impact. You will be encouraged to explore and critically evaluate the work which you and others produce. As an aspiring graphic designer it is of key importance that you understand the meaning behind images and the visual reference points and cultural understanding of your audience. Through project work you will have the opportunity to challenge accepted stylistic conventions and develop your own original response to the visual world. You will be encouraged to develop a sense of subject identity through your course, which provides a coherent, unitised learning experience. Your coursework will involve a range of experimentation in media, techniques and approaches, from which you will acquire facility, flexibility and the ability to reflect upon and position your work. 

Visual culture

Through our visual culture programme, we will introduce you to a range of perspectives from which to consider the visual world. Communication is investigated as a set of social, cultural, technological and economic relationships within industrial and post-industrial societies. This provides a core of research, critical analysis and debate which will continuously inform, direct, challenge and evaluate current thought and practice. 

Is this course for me?

It is probable that if you are exploring this type of course you will have taken art, design or communication-based subjects in the course of your studies and wish to develop them into a career in design practice. This is what we want to help you achieve.

You will need: the ability to think creatively and a willingness to experiment, take risks and express your ideas visually using a variety of media. You will also need to channel this into working within the parameters of a brief. You should also be willing and able to develop your research and writing skills, as these are also an essential part of the course and vital to pursuing a career as a graphic designer. Above all else, an interest and enthusiasm for graphic design is probably the most important factor.

Course content

Throughout the course, workshops will introduce you to industry-standard computer software to enable you to explore the potential of typography, image making, print, motion graphics and interactive design. You will also study the history of graphic design to contextualise your work, and visual research to encourage experimentation and generation of your own original images.

The course is primarily project-based, where you will be taught how to produce high-quality portfolio/project work informed by research. Units in visual culture will also provide you with skills in critical analysis and debate connected to your area of study.

Year one

Introduction to Graphic Design: this unit looks at the historical, contemporary and cultural context of graphic design. We will debate what graphic design is and what it is for.

Fundamentals of Design Practice: this unit introduces typographic design, principles of design layout and editorial design. You will take workshops in Indesign, bookbinding, letterpress and screenprinting.

Information Design: in this unit you will be introduced to the subjects of information design and semiotics, plus have workshops in Illustrator.

Screen Design – Motion Graphics: this unit covers design for motion graphic sequences. You will have workshops in Flash

Research Informed Design Thinking: this project will develop your research-informed design practice. You will be introduced to visual and textual research and design methodologies.

Visual Culture 1: this unit will introduce you to the wider context of visual culture which graphic design is part of, as well as a range of theories and perspectives for analysing the visual world. Study skills are an integral part of this unit.

Year two

Developing Design Practice: this unit deals with typography, layout and image use for a variety of formats, including type for continuous reading – books, covers, magazines and poster design. You will develop further skills in Indesign, Illustrator, binding/folding techniques and screenprinting.

Screen Design – Interactive: this unit covers interactive web design, navigational structures and interface design. You will have workshops in Flash Actionscript.

Ethical Design: you will look at the responsibilities of the designer, design authorship, sustainability and ethics within a cultural context and produce a personally determined artefact that communicates your findings.

Professional Practice – Identity: in this project you will work in teams to formulate an identity for your own graphic design studio and design a range of promotional material in a variety of formats. You will also have workshops in web design software.

Professional Practice – Live Design Briefs: this unit asks you to answer a number of external client projects or briefs and enter international design competitions.

Visual Culture 2: Here you will focus on a key aspect of visual culture and look in more detail at issues and debates connected to the topic, and analysing visual and written texts. You will also practice research skills and produce, with support, a proposal for your final year dissertation or research project.

You will also have the option to undertake a period of study as part of the Erasmus/Socrates student exchange programme at a participating university in one of 31 European countries.

Year three

Graphic Design  Major Project – Research, Development and Resolution: this is a major project carried out for the duration of your final year. You will choose a theme and conduct in-depth research, then you will define and create a design outcome (e.g. posters, book, website or moving image).

Professional Practice – Design Briefs and Competitions: this unit involves short projects, the iSTD exam, RSA projects, Design and Art Directors (D&AD) awards, and national and international competition briefs set and judged by professionals.

Professional Practice – Promotion and Employabilty: in preparation for the world of work, this unit will help you design and write your CV, apply for jobs and produce self promotional items including a physical and online portfolio. You will also prepare and design the promotion and public exhibition of your work for the annual Portsmouth and London shows.

Visual Culture 3: exploring your chosen theme within a historical and theoretical context, you will complete a written dissertation or produce a practical project with a report.

Please note: these are brief outlines of the units and projects on the course. In the interests of best practice and currency, we annually review the course content and may make adjustments as a result.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and project work, combining group teaching with individual tuition. Hands-on sessions are complemented by discussion-based seminars, and opportunities for independent learning and studio practice are key elements. You will also be assigned a personal tutor, who will be there for you should you have either academic or personal problems.

You will also be asked to complete project work as an individual or as a team of two or three. An important part of project work is the design critique (crit), where you will be expected to present your work for comment and guidance to both the staff involved and your peer group.

Most assessments are by project submission, which generally require a research and development element as well as the finished design project work and presentation. However, assessment can also involve essays.

Career prospects

You will find that the course contains a significant amount of practical experience through workshops in typography, print-making and digital media. Through verbally presenting your work, you will acquire presentation skills that can be applied to job interviews and dealing with clients. Several units also deal with professional practice, reinforcing these transferable skills.

When you graduate with our BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree, not only will you be well equipped with the relevant computer skills, but you will also have the creative ability and knowledge of current debates and developments in today's media design profession to succeed.

The course is designed to prepare you for working across communication media and you could therefore find yourself working in website design, interactive multimedia and motion graphics, as well as typographic design and print. Some students also proceed to postgraduate study.

Graduates from this course work in many areas of the industry. For example, they have gone on to art direct various magazines, including FHM and Document Skateboard. In the world of film they have overseen the on set graphics for Casino Royale. They have also created identities for worldwide brands such as Coca Cola Zero, Nike Air Jordan and Beyonce Knowles.

 

Facilities and features

You will have access to industry-standard Apple Mac computers and software, digital video and photography facilities, and print-making equipment as well as to dedicated, motivated and enthusiastic staff.

Good links with our alumni and industry provide opportunities for work placements during and after the course. The design studio ilovedust was founded by a former student from this course and currently has six alumini working for them.

Industry and professional affiliation

We are members of the D&AD college network, which allows us access to design-related events and an exhibition space in London. Graduates from this course, who have gone on to set up their own businesses, return on a regular basis to teach, in particular mwmcreative.co.uk, thisislethal.com and ilovedust.com

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BA (Hons) Graphic Design for the academic year 2013/14 (opens in new window).

Interviews and portfolio content

Applicants are asked to select and upload a portfolio to flickr. You may need to photograph or scan in your work to enable you to upload it. The work within your portfolio can be produced as part of a formal course of study or evening class, or anything you have produced independently. Your portfolio should include:

• 15 images of finished work: we do not prescribe an ideal portfolio, as applicants are from many different backgrounds, but some examples of completed work could be – design layouts, posters, typography, photography, illustration, drawings, textiles, collage, paintings, prints, movies, web design or three-dimensional work. We would like to see a range of media and outcomes; however, you should include at least five examples of graphic design. Please include a short description with each piece of work. If they were produced in response to a brief please indicate what the brief asked you to do.

• Five images of research and developmental sketchbooks/sheets: please include pages that relate directly to one of your graphic design examples of finished work. This should show your design process and working methodologies. Examples include idea generation, design planning, visual experiments, sketches, observations, research into designers and artists. Please add a short description with each image. You may wish to include notes on books, articles, relevant exhibitions or cultural visits that have influenced your work.

What we will be looking for

• Evidence of enquiry, research and observations.
• Evidence of idea generation, conceptual development and experimental work.
• Your potential for creativity, aptitude for design and evidence of visual communication skills.
• A good level of technical ability (both traditional and digital – you should be computer literate and able to use PhotoShop) .
• An ability to select and present a range of work to a high professional standard.

Interviews

As part of the entry requirements, you may be invited to attend an interview where you will be expected to present a portfolio of art and design work. Interviews will usually take an hour and applicants are seen in a group.

The interview is an opportunity for you to talk about your interest in the subject, so come prepared to discuss your work and ideas, and any cultural references such as favourite pieces of design or graphic designers.

In addition to the above list we will be assessing your:

• understanding of graphic design as a subject and its wider social context
• ability to verbally express your creative process and decision making
• ability to reflect on what is, and is not, successful about your work
• interest in historical and contemporary visual culture
• enthusiasm and commitment to study graphic design at University