Why you should study this course
The course exposes you to a wide range of design contexts and outputs, giving you an holistic approach to graphic design whether you are a generalist or specialist. The purpose of the course is to teach you fundamental design skills and experience a range of design contexts. In turn, you will have the knowledge to develop your specialist skills in line with your personal creative identity.
- The School of Art and Design is an ‘Adobe Partner by Design’, as well as being an Adobe Outstanding Centre of Excellence.
- Current, excellent links with industry, many of whom in the past have offered employment, placements or professional guidance to our students, like IBM, Opus Books and Design Bridge.
- Access to a network of practitioners through our Creative Voices speakers programme and regular studio visits, both local and international. Past speakers include Craig Oldham, Anthony Burrill and Jonathan Barnbrook. Previous studio visits include Pearlfisher, AKQA, Design Bridge, Kontrapunkt, Pentagram and JKR.
- Opportunity to participate in self-funded study trips abroad* to places like Cyprus, Finland and Australia, as well as Holland and China as part of shorter cultural trips.
- Strong track record of student success in national and international competitions. In recent years, these have included: first prize and runners-up for the Penguin Student Design Awards book cover design competition; a D&AD Yellow Pencil and ‘Best of the Year’ commendations; nominations for YCN.
- Opportunities to work collaboratively with Coventry University Graphic Design students based in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
What you'll study
On this course, we teach within a framework that takes into account the multi-faceted roles a graphic designer might perform. Be it a storyteller, a problem solver or a persuasive strategist, the course allows you to explore these roles through a wide variety of projects along four main threads of inquiry: Narrative & Time, Systems & Information, Strategy & Direction and Personal Development Planning.
Cumulatively, these four branches of learning and their respective modules, make up the full course curriculum and celebrate the course’s key pillars: experimentation, community, vocation and critical thinking. Therefore, we’ll help you discover your individual style as you engage in creative play and begin defining your personal design identity; you’ll explore technologies and materials and get the chance to use a variety of digital and traditional making workshops to visualise your ideas; you’ll engage with industry through live client-led projects and through simulated projects, including competition briefs; and you will underpin your entire design journey in critical investigation of theories and research. In all modules, you are encouraged to explore lateral thinking, develop the capacity to advocate for your work and take risks in a safe environment.
Year one
In your first year, you will explore key aspects of graphic design thinking, theory and practice that will challenge your views on graphic design. We prompt you to develop visual research and ideation skills by exploring diverse themes with curiosity.
You will encounter the power of design to solve problems and make the world a more intelligible, effective place. We will guide you on how to communicate complex brand values and create a comprehensive promotional campaign.
Modules
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Narrative and Time 1: Design Expression - 30 credits
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Systems and Information 1: Design Function - 20 credits
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Strategy and Direction 1: Design Promotion - 40 credits
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Personal Development Planning 1: Design Reflection - 20 credits
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Add+vantage - 10 credits
Year two
You are taught to think more professionally about graphic design by exploring it in relation to its potential audience’s needs and expectations. You will position your designs firmly within professional contexts and gain experience of collaborative working, defining your potential community of practice and picking up skills through the module briefs that match your career goals. You will enhance you awareness of design theory, concepts and contexts.
Modules
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Narrative and Time 2: Design Experience - 30 credits
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Systems and Information 2: Design Systems - 20 credits
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Strategy and Direction 2: Design Awareness - 40 credits
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Personal Development Planning 2: Design Community - 20 credits
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Add+vantage - 10 credits
Final year
In the final year, the course focuses on your professional and personal interests, using a combination of hypothetical, competition and live projects. You are given free rein to identify dynamic solutions that meet and challenge existing standards and design possibilities. You will build a bespoke personal brand identity which will help give you the confidence to join the industry.
Projects might include: exhibition design, competition briefs, design writing, portfolio development, experimental practice.
Modules
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Narrative and Time 3: Design Experiment - 30 credits
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Systems and Information 3: Design Identity - 20 credits
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Strategy and Direction 3: Design Persuasion - 40 credits
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Personal Development Planning 3: Design Critique - 20 credits
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Add+vantage - 10 credits
