Visual Thinking: Histories, Theories and Context 30 Credits

This module aims to encourage students to see critical and cultural aspects of graphic design and illustration as integral to the development of their practice and a vital component of innovative, well informed, professional work. A programme of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and workshops, will introduce the history of graphic design and illustration and some of the ways in which key movements and individuals have shaped contemporary design practice and debate. Indicative module content may include: artisanship; industrialisation and reactions to it; consumption and retail; modernism and post modernity and how design is shaped by aesthetic, social, political, economic, cultural, ecological, digital and professional contexts. The module will enable students to explore the relationship of these issues and contexts to their own practice and begin to locate their practice within a wider contextual and professional framework.

Visual Communication 45 Credits

This module comprises an intensive series of studio projects and supporting workshops aimed at introducing research, idea−generation and craft skills as core components of the design process. These workshops includes print production techniques, creative thinking, illustration, typography and studio photography skills.

Students will be required to research, gather, edit and analyse found and self−generated content and develop skills in arranging and presenting visual material.

Graphic Design Essentials 1 45 Credits

This module is intended to embed students on the graphic design pathway and will introduce core skills and knowledge in typography and layout, both in printed and digital form. There is a strong emphasis on research, idea generation and problem solving that leads to the development and realisation of design solutions. Alongside the rigours of core practice, we encourage an experimental approach to thinking, idea generation and development and mark making. Projects exploring graphic design, advertising and branding, typography and design software workshops will dovetail with a series of mid−length design projects such as the design of multi−format editorial items, posters, simple visual identities and packaging.

Contextualising Contemporary Practice 30 Credits

This module encourages students to see critical and cultural studies as a vital tool for innovative and well informed practice. It offers students the opportunity to explore a range of theoretical positions that inform recent and contemporary practice. Students will be asked to use the findings to reflect critically upon their own work and to locate their practice within the context of historical, social, political, cultural, environmental and theoretical perspectives.

Indicative themes will include the various cultural perspectives that have shaped design practice in industrial, post industrial and international contexts, issues of representation, gender, globalization; class; theories and debates surrounding production, circulation and consumption.

Graphic Design Essentials Part 2 30 Credits

This module builds on the first pathway module in Level 4 (Graphic Design Essentials Part 1) and aims to both reinforce core skills, knowledge and creative application, whilst introducing students to essential digital−facing skills such as interaction, user experience, animation and narrative. Flexible and agile digital design skills are delivered via a series of workshops and these are tested through a series of appropriately professionally−focused projects.

Fundamentals of Advertising and Branding 15 Credits

This module acts as an introduction to the advertising and branding industries − explaining how creative and branding agencies work, the various roles within them and the types of work they produce. Typically, a series of lectures and short workshops would explore key skills including strategy and campaign development, art direction, copywriting, pitching to clients and the creation of visual identities.

The module will prioritise working quickly to develop multiple ideas and solutions to set briefs, replicating the experience of working with these fields. Practitioners are commonly expected to work on multiple projects at once, many with short turnaround times, either as an individual or in collaboration with other team members. By the end of the module, students would typically have a clearer idea of their potential career aspirations.

Graphic Design Professional Development 15 Credits

This module aims to allow students an insight in to the world of graphic design via a reflective journal that explores the individuals 'state of learning' and also through a study of a number of leading design practices. A self−authored journal addresses a number of professionally related themes and encourages students to reflect on their developing thoughts, opinions, beliefs and professional aspirations as emerging designers. An aspect of this journal further encourages students to consider the work of professional studios or agencies in relation to their own work as students.

Live Briefs: Advertising and Branding 30 Credits

This module provides a crucial opportunity to put into practice all the skills, understanding and knowledge acquired thus far on the programme. Key activities will be focused on one or more practical design briefs drawn from the various national and international design competitions, as well as at least one opportunity to work on a brief set by a professional external client. These projects are designed to significantly raise the students' working efforts and standards in preparation for producing professional and competition standard work.

Graphic Design Advanced Practice 1 30 Credits

This first module at Level 6 aims to provide the learning and skills required to allow students to explore their own career aspirations and confidently compete against students from other institutions, via various leading national and international design competitions. These include D&AD, YCN, ISTD and various others. The briefs will be drawn from these schemes as well as from programme staff, and all will pose a serious challenge to the students' acquired knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities. Project briefs will cover a wide range of discipline areas within graphic design such as print, packaging, advertising, branding, animation or interaction.

Degree Essay 30 Credits

Designers need to be informed practitioners who engage critically with their discipline, its history, the ideas which inform it and how it is likely to evolve in the future. This module will enable students to conduct an in−depth enquiry of an aspect of design culture with an emphasis on the analysis of appropriate social, cultural, economic, technical, historical and aesthetic issues germane to students chosen topic and their studio work. The content of the module will be student−generated in that each student will bring their identified interests to the sessions. Independent learning will be supported through a programme of lectures, tutorials and learning support materials on Studynet which will enable students to develop skills in research, organization and planning, critical analysis, constructing an argument, studentship (independent learning processes) and presentation including academic protocols. The assessed element of this module consists of a 6000 word essay/report or negotiated equivalent.

Final Major Project: Advertising and Branding 30 Credits

The emphasis of the module is to create a project that is executed to the highest possible standards. Typically, this would be an advertising campaign or developing a visual identity for a brand. The attention to detail and craftsmanship in the final piece should be at level above anything achieved on the course so far. The precision of the execution — whether physical, digital or both — should be of professional quality.

Students are expected to immerse themselves in a rigorous design process involving multiple research techniques a thorough design development stage involving prototyping and user testing; and regular critical reflection.

Students will typically choose from staff−set brief(s), which are open enough to allow students to select their own subject matter and develop their own areas of interest. The contexts that subject matter and designed outcomes sit within should also be considered and explored.

Graphic Design Advanced Practice Part 2 30 Credits

This module gives students the opportunity to select from a wide variety of briefs, with the intention of tailoring their portfolio to the kind of career they wish to pursue when they graduate. The nature of this selection may change each year but the choosing the right brief for the individual's skillset is an important part of the module.

Emphasis is put on creating professional−quality designed outcomes, with students given the opportunity to explore materials or techniques they may not have used before. As such it demands high levels of energy, commitment, passion, time and project management skills. The module also offers the opportunity to collaborate with other students on the same programme.