Graphic Design

Course Summary

With an emphasis on design thinking and crafting big ideas beautifully, this course is your springboard to a career in the creative industries. You’ll discover how to solve challenging questions facing society and business today with great ideas delivered across print and digital platforms. Through this industry-focused graphic design degree, you'll learn to be an adept visual communicator, developing core skills in typography, branding, visual language, craft and critical thinking. You'll experiment and explore as you move through the course, defining your identity and critical perspective to become a fully formed practitioner, ready for industry or further postgraduate study. You will: Have the opportunity to head to London for a week, where you'll visit a range of different studios. For example from brand design studio Wiedemann Lampe and advertising agency BBH to Pentagram, one of the world's largest independent design consultancies. Enjoy optional travel to cities abroad to gain global perspectives on the subject. Work on briefs created with, and supported by, industry practitioners. Have the chance to enter creative competitions such as D&AD, ISTD and the Creative Conscience Awards. Apply to go on an industry placement in the summer before your third year. Create an industry-standard portfolio in your third year as a catalyst for your creative industries career.

Course Details - Modules

With design process and problem-solving at its heart, this graphic design degree explores how creative and meaningful ideas can be made. You'll study the historical, social and cultural issues connecting theory and practice, and gain real-world skills from live briefs and workshops with leading designers. Year one By taking on practical and critical work, you'll explore and experiment with new processes and practices. Working together in our immersive studio culture, we'll study things like generating ideas, the history of design, and the latest industry innovations. Modules Design Process A Word in your Eye Narrative Difference and Identity Year two Focusing on real-world, industry-facing projects, we'll encourage you to challenge convention and produce daring, original work. We'll study areas like information hierarchy, ethics and design for society, while continuing to build your core skills. You'll also go on study trips – usually to London or Amsterdam – to learn from designer-led workshops and visit studios like Pentagram, GBH, Fitch, Mother and Trapped in Suburbia. Modules Brand Experience Typography Design Directions Collaborative Practice Year three Your third year focuses on intense project work, a dissertation and professional practice workshops. As well as building your core skills, you'll take a critical look at your strengths and explore various directions for your future career. Towards the end of the year, you'll exhibit at D&AD New Blood and at our own exclusive show. Modules Journeys Critical Writing Destinations Learning is supported through team tutorials and individual 'bookable' sessions The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

Course Details – Assessment Method

A variety of design briefs. There’s an ongoing policy of review and feedback every week with staff and other students, while formal assessment is twice yearly. In year three, you’ll write a dissertation and exhibit your work for assessment as part of a final-year show.

Course Details – Professional Bodies

Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.

How to Apply

26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application Codes

Course code: W214

Institution code: F33

Campus Name: Main Site

Campus code:

Points of Entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.

International applicants

Standard Qualification Requirements

We welcome A Levels in a wide range of subjects, especially in those relevant to the course for which you apply.

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points, primarily from Level 3 equivalent qualifications, such as A levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma, or current, relevant experience. Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE English Language, or equivalent, is a minimum language requirement for all applicants. Due to the creative nature of our courses, you will be considered on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen course. Please contact the Applicant Services team for advice if you are predicted UCAS points below this range, or if you have questions about the qualifications or experience you have.