Overview
This course is designed to build on the skills that students have developed during a Foundation degree or equivalent in Graphic Design. Students are encouraged to explore and produce contemporary solutions to graphic communication problems, challenging pre-conceptions of graphic design and to develop as creative thinkers. The aim of the course is to help students become creative, well-rounded and knowledgeable individuals capable of developing and leading in this rapidly advancing industry.
To enhance the employability of graduates the course provides a range of direct industry experiences. Students benefit from close links with design agencies in the UK, visiting lecturers and speakers and live and collaborative projects. The course actively supports start-up creative businesses with training in aspects of business practices, copyright, finance and other related areas of legislation.
Although there are no formal work placements, students are expected to maintain employer/mentor contacts to inform their work.
Students are expected to exhibit work at the end of the course. An annual in-house design consultancy award is offered through one of our employer contacts consisting of a work-placement in the UK.
Students are assessed using a variety of methods including coursework, presentations and critical reviews
Content and Modules
Modules studied include: New Graphic Media and Technologies, Commercial Collaboration, Specialist Pathways, Final Design Brief, and a dissertation.
Further Information
Graduates from this course will be well prepared for a range of professional opportunities in fields such as graphic design, advertising, branding, digital media, publishing and typography.
On Friday 15 February 2013, the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication course visited acclaimed international digital agency LBI. The trip was arranged to coincide with recent student project work focusing on the development of campaigns that incorporate emerging media and digital applications. The New Graphic Media and Technologies module is an important element of the course and is designed to expand our student’s understanding of the ways in which online, digital communication can be used by the contemporary Graphic Designer.
LBI (full name Lost Boy’s International) located in Brick Lane London is an award-winning organisation with an impressive track record. Working for a range of big-name companies including BT, Virgin Atlantic, Sony and Honda, LBI is at the cutting edge of contemporary digital marketing. They provide top-down creative services ranging from film production, advertising and infographics to the development of digital platforms and mobile media.
The visit was a resounding success. LBI were kind enough to allocate five members of their team to provide a tour of the premises, presentation of recent projects and a critique of the student’s work. The tour allowed our students to see first-hand the ways in which a large digital agency tackles projects in a range of areas. Gaining access to teams working on a number of websites and applications enabled the students to place the projects they have been working on into professional perspective. In addition, exposure to LBI’s video creations and campaigns which have since ‘gone-live’ enabled the students to witness the design process through from initial concept to the finished article. However, the group critique was perhaps the most educational element of the trip as it provided our students with invaluable feedback on their work from professionals currently working in this high profile, competitive sector.
Already in the pipeline are plans for a senior designer from LBI to visit West Suffolk College to run a workshop and set a live brief with our first year students. This is designed to provide our students with yet more real-world industry experience, further enhancing their chances of gaining employment after they graduate.