BA (Hons) Graphic Design

What you will learn

The BA (Hons) Graphic Design aims to help you successfully transition from being a design student to a professional designer. Our graduates work for national and international design and advertising consultancies, multi-media agencies, TV companies, publishing houses, magazines and many now run their own design studios.

Year One

In Level 4 you’ll gain fundamental knowledge and practical experience of visual communication, the building blocks of visual language, and professional attitudes and practices. When you join us you become part of a creative community and from the outset, you will be encouraged to share your ideas, experiences and work through discussion with tutors and fellow students.

A distinctive feature of the graphic design course is that, initially, you will work closely with Level 4 illustrators exploring the fundamental principles of visual communication as many of the core principles and considerations are shared between the two disciplines, for instance; colour theory and application, traditional and digital media, development processes, presentation skills, etc.

• Design Fundamentals
  
• Design in Context 1
  
• Communicating Ideas
  
• Thinking through Image-Making
  

Year Two

Second year is focused on applying the knowledge and skills you’ve gained to a series of design challenges. Testing and refining your design and personal management skills in a number of scenarios will give you confidence in your ability to tackle unfamiliar challenges. As your confidence grows through experience you’ll begin to develop personal strands of interest or specialism.

Your tutors bring a wide range of design experience to the course with particular expertise and interests in typography, editorial/publishing, corporate identity and branding work. There is an emphasis on knowledge, passion, and enjoyment, showing you how they can be utilised to make memorable, meaningful designs.

• Principles of Graphic Design
  
• Principles of Multimedia
  
• Exploration of Graphic Design
  
• Design in Content 2
  

Year Three

As you enter your final year, flexibility increases where all of the skills, knowledge and confidence you have developed so far are brought together to produce a portfolio of design work that showcases your talents.

By this time you’ll be preparing for progression – life after you finish your degree - seeking work or preparing for Masters or Postgraduate study. Much of your professional practice will be focused on that exciting step.

• Graphic Design Application
  
• Professional Context
  
• Graphic Design Practice
  
• Professional Practice
  

96-112 UCAS tariff points.

Potential to succeed can be measured in a number of ways including academic qualifications and skills obtained outside academic study such as work experience. We have a points range so we can take into account all of the information on your application form and adjust the offer from the evidence provided.

You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.

Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.

 

Selection criteria

We invite all our applicants to our Brampton Road Campus for a portfolio interview. Although we want to see your work, we are even more interested in meeting you and giving you the opportunity to express your passion for graphic design to the tutors who will be teaching you. To help bring out the best in you the interview will be a short, informal conversation.

Visiting for an interview also gives you the opportunity to talk to our staff and students and get a real feel for what the course can offer you. Before your interview, you will receive a short, illustrated talk and campus tour so you can see the wealth of facilities and equipment you will be able to access.

Some people may find it impossible to attend their interview in person however, this is not a problem. We will ask you to upload a digital portfolio and will then arrange to contact you via Skype for a face-to-face interview.

Please prepare your portfolio or digital upload carefully to show evidence of your creativity, drawing, idea development, design, and technical skills. We also like to see expressive and experimental work, so if you’re applying from a general art & design course bring everything, not just your ‘graphic’ work.

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.