BA (Hons) Graphic Design

We employ a range of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars, self-directed study and practical workshops for skill development. Design projects provide the main method of learning and students receive regular feedback on their work through seminars and group tutorials. The programme has large studio spaces and this means that students benefit from a studio culture, facilitating further support from peers, tutors and demonstrators. Project delivery ranges from one-day briefs to longer projects lasting weeks. Students are given opportunities to develop transferable skills through enhancement opportunities including team working, presentation skills, communication and organisational skills.

Live briefs are integrated into modules and there are many opportunities to engage with industry through networking events and exhibitions. Students are all required to keep a blog and this is supported through tutorials, so that students articulate their creative route through the programme, setting targets and reflecting on progress. In this way students contextualise their practice but also develop skills that facilitate an ability to work in an independent way, encouraging collaborative practice and engagement with the creative community. Opportunity to specialise from level 5 allows students to build on and work to their strengths within a chosen area of graphic design.  

There are weekly group tutorials to feedback on progress and lectures to disseminate ideas and concepts as well as seminars to develop discussion around key themes and workshops to develop specialist skills. A wide variety of assessment methods are used and studio-based design modules may require the assessment of visual, verbal and written work, including sketchbook and design process whereas theoretical modules will require a written submission.

Assessment

For Design modules you will be assessed on 100% coursework, which usually comprises of sketchbook, blog with reflective analysis, research, design process and final outcomes.

Contextual Studies offers s a theoretical and cultural underpinning to your design practice and submissions at years 1 and 2 are in the form of essays as well as group presentations.

The weighting between practical and written work across the course is approximately:
•    Practical studio work 60%
•    Contextual and written work (including reflective blogs) 40%