BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Course summary
Graphic designers communicate a wide range of messages utilizing a diverse range of skills and media. The course has a strong professional approach, delivered in a supportive environment where students are set challenging projects to help develop creative individuality. At the same time the course involves and encourages direct professional links through visits, workshops, graduate scholarships and other opportunities, while equipping students with the broad technical skills required by the industry.
Lectures and demonstrations set the scene for practical activities and multi-disciplinary project work undertaken both individually and in groups. Seminars and discussions are underpinned by individual tutorials and regular visits and presentations by professional practitioners and external agencies.
Course structure
The first year focuses on providing students with digital and traditional skills and orienting them within the subject of graphic design. The second year gives more scope for research and discovery while enhancing professional competence. The third year brings these experiences together to provide a body of knowledge and a portfolio of work that will take students into future employment or further study.
The course is delivered as a series of related modules that cover the technical, creative and contextual aspects of graphic design and enhance students' personal development and career ambitions. Throughout there is a strong emphasis on teaching transferable skills to equip the student with the broadest base from which to graduate. There are five single and one double modules taught in the first and second years, with three double modules making up the final year with considerable freedom to tune individual studies to follow special interests and abilities within the subject.
Course folio
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Course facilities
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Work placements
Students are encouraged to investigate and liaise with all areas of the graphic design industry either through the curriculum or individually. This helps to contextualize their study and develop their career aspirations. The course has excellent industry links both locally and nationally to help students gain work placements and scholarships could be offered to appropriate graduates by, for example, TCM London.
Assessment
There are a variety of assessment methods including coursework, academic tutorials, evaluation reports, reflective journals, seminar presentations and critical reviews.
Professional and industry links
Course Patrons
The course is proud to have the following as patrons:
Jonathan Barnbrook is a typographer and designer best known for his work with David Bowie, Damien Hirst and Adbusters magazine. His 'Friendly Fire' exhibition at the Design Museum and book, 'The Barnbrook Bible', were both met with critical acclaim.
Daryl Goodrich is an ex-student of the course. He won a Royal Television Society award in 2005 and made both the official London 2012 Olympic bid film and the launch film for Eurostar's historic move to St Pancras Station.
Brian Grimwood is founder of The Central Illustration Agency and has been credited by Print Magazine as having changed the face of British Illustration.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM), provide a unique work placement scheme with the course.
Claire Parker is an ex-student of the course and after graduating won an internship at TCM and now works as a graphic designer for the National Theatre.
After the course
Graduates have gone on to a wide range of careers in graphic design and related areas involving media and communications, as well as further postgraduate level study at UCS. Excellent scholarships are awarded by TCM London.