2 Year
2 Semester
8 Credit
3 Year
4 Semester
16 Credit
First year
Block 1: Exploration and Ideation for Graphic Design
The module aims to support the development of ideation skills to create innovative solutions to design briefs through meaningful problem solving, here students will gain an appreciation and understanding of fundamental design principles. Practical and technical skills will be taught in this module, that will offer students the tools to explore and present concepts through effective communication. The module intends to encourage creative curiosity, with students able to utilise reflective insight within their design solutions.
Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 2: Applied Idea Development for Graphic Design
Explores the application and evaluation of ideations skills, where students experiment with creative themes to produce effective solutions for appropriate design briefs. Here students apply an understanding of design principles, in partnership with the acquisition of practical and technical skills, allowing students to apply and refine the ideation process through effective communication. The module encourages students to explore and apply theoretical understanding of the subject, allowing for creative curiosity and lateral thinking, encouraging students to be boundary pushing and take risks through playful exploration.
Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 3: Visual Communication for Graphic Design
Introduces the fundamental principles to understand and apply semiotics in a graphic design context, designed to enhance students’ visual communication skills. Students will explore the relationships between product, service, client and audience to ensure their creative outcomes successfully resonate with all stakeholders. Practical and technical skills are also taught in this module to support the communication of final propositions and design concepts. Creative briefs will encourage investigation to give insight to design solutions aimed at creating meaningful relationships with audience through critical judgement and problem solving.
Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 4: Creative Resolution for Graphic Design
This module explores the principles of successful visual communication to an audience, developing students’ understanding of refinement and finesse within a client-designer context, exploring the resolution of the design process and reflecting on the requirements of the brief. Students will analyse design solutions in a professional practice context and evaluate strategic decision making and the success of projects. Through analysis and reflection, students will be able to evaluate necessary design development and refinement.
Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Second year
Block 1: Design Process for Graphic Design
The module aims to develop a design process to create innovative solutions to design briefs, through meaningful problem solving. Students will develop an appreciation and understanding of design principles. Practical and technical skills will be taught in this module that will give students the tools to deliver their concepts through effective communication. The module intends to encourage creative curiosity, with students able to develop and utilise reflective insight within their solutions.
Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 2: Design Process Progression for Graphic Design
Aims to develop a design process to create innovative solutions to design briefs, through meaningful problem solving. Students will develop an appreciation and understanding of design principles. Practical and technical skills will be taught in this module that will give students the tools to deliver their concepts through effective communication. The module intends to encourage creative curiosity, with students able to develop and utilise reflective insight within their solutions.
Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 3: Design Communication for Graphic Design
This module develops a students’ understanding of semiotics and design communication skills, here students will expand and further develop their design communication skills and explore relationships between product, service, client and audience to successfully resonate with all stakeholders. Practical and technical skills are taught in this module to support the communication of their designs.
Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 4: Year 2 Personal Practice for Graphic Design
In this module students will define their practice and as professional graphic designer, or for design entrepreneurial activity. Students will research and understand relevant areas of creative practice. Students will also evaluate and question their creative strengths and direction. To do this, students will design and present a portfolio of their project work along which defines their practice and expresses their creative position.
Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Third year
Block 1: Independent Practice
The module aims to refine ideation skills to create innovative solutions to design briefs, through meaningful problem solving. This project-based module is the principle means for students to test, apply and articulate the concepts and theories learned at levels 4 and 5 and to develop their personal creativity to a mature level. Essentially studio-based with minimal formal taught content, it provides the opportunity to explore and develop individual creative pathways under close tutor supervision. This module allows students to undertake projects following a graphic design or illustration pathway, working on a diverse range of briefs.
Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 2: Independent Practice 2
The module utilizes students’ ideations skills to experiment with themes and creative solutions developed in the first block. This project-based module is the principle means for students to test, apply and articulate the concepts and theories learned at levels 1 and 2 and to develop their personal creativity to a mature level. Essentially studio-based with minimal formal taught content, it provides the opportunity to explore and develop individual creative pathways under close tutor supervision.
This module allows students to undertake individual projects following a graphic design or illustration pathway, working on a diverse range of briefs.
Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 3: Professional Practice
This module introduces students to the advanced knowledge and skills needed to understand graphic design and illustration professional practice including knowledge of the commercial aspects of design practice. Students will work on live and external briefs, which will involve research directly linked to generating appropriate ideas for the practical design work and the preparation of the final portfolio with support materials, to be assessed at the end of the module. The process of managing the client/designer relationship is introduced, where transferable skills relevant to the entire programme of study are developed through effective self-management of learning the projects. The module presents an opportunity for students to develop a better understanding of the relevance of visual communication (graphic design and illustration) to industry and in society.
Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
Block 4: Professional Practice 2
This module aims to prepare students for the process of obtaining their first job as a professional graphic designer or illustrator, or for design entrepreneurial activity. To achieve this, the student will need to assess and consolidate their creative strengths and direction, as well as research and understand the creative marketplace. Students will design and produce a range of materials aimed at representing their creative abilities and supporting a job application. These will be presented within the final portfolio of work, forming a complete self-promotional package.
Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours
