Graphic and Digital Design – BA (Hons)

This module aims to provide learners with a foundational understanding of design. Learners will be introduced to the fundamental principles of design. They will be challenged to adopt a creative, analytical and reflective mindset which is evident in the distinct phases of the design process (define problem, research, ideation, develop/iterate, refine, deliver). Fearless experimentation with new experiences, techniques and technology will aid the development of this foundational understanding of design. Work will be orientated around exploring our fundamental elements; pattern, space, shape, form, scale, proportion, direction, rhythm, orientation, light and tone. Learners will be instructed in the use of appropriate software to further explore this work digitally.

This module is an introduction to photography and illustration with an emphasis on creative problem investigation in an integrated design communications environment.

This module is an introduction to photography and illustration with an emphasis on creative problem investigation in an integrated design communications environment.

This module aims to introduce the learner to key developments and movements in art and visual communications and develops their understanding of cultural, social and historical contexts in which the practice of art and design has evolved and, importantly, how it is essential to their studio practice. It fosters in the learner an understanding of the origins and development of visual language from pictographs and letterforms to typographic canons. In addition, it provides the learner with the knowledge and understanding of the referencing system used for the writing of visual culture essays.

This module aims to introduce learners to the working practices and views of leading graphic designers. Creative thinking is expanded through developing understanding of the design process, exploring typographic expression and the relationships between word and image. Learners will also be encouraged to explore less conventional approaches to generating solutions and to that end they will be expected to continuously engage in self-lead basic research activity, producing graphic annotations based on their everyday observations and experiences. Ongoing technology instruction will aid the development of their design practice and presentation skills will be further honed by submitting work for review by final year students.

This module aims to expand the learners knowledge and skills of processes in illustration and photography. The emphasis is on more advanced practical and creative applications within an integrated design communications environment.

This module aims to develop a professional approach in executing design projects in terms of design process, communication skills and technical competencies. It advances the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired in STUDIO PRACTICE: Confidence in Semester 1. The learner is tasked with the design of a portfolio of work which captures the ‘design voice’ of the individual; effectively
communicating their aptitude and strengths.

This module aims to introduce the student to key developments and movements in art and visual communications and develops their understanding of cultural, social and historical contexts in which the practice of art and design has further evolved and, importantly, how it is essential to their studio practice. It fosters in the learner an understanding of developments that have occurred in technology and design from printing methods and photography to the zeotrope and early twentieth century design. In addition, it develops the students essay writing skills and provides them with a knowledge and understanding of research and essay structure methods imperative for the writing of visual culture essays.

This module provides an understanding of visual thinking in the context of communication design. The focus is on developing the student designer as strategic communicator, examining and integrating skills across creative and critical thinking, audience awareness, ideation, message generation and communication outputs. Students are encouraged to formulate their own design views and to explore and develop their particular strengths, be they typographic, illustrative or photographic.

This module is an exploration of the principles of image making with an emphasis on animation and time-based media.

This module aims to develop the learner’s awareness of industry standard practice through the design and production of a creative
professional profile. The learner’s self-awareness and confidence is fostered through building their individual design profile and story. Students will develop creative, communicative, technical and practical skills required for effective progression within the design profession.

This module aims to provide the student with a deepened understanding of major developments in visual communications and technology during the 20th century. Focus is given to the cultivation of ideas in art and design and will explore the common themes and cross-fertilizations that occur between theory and culture. It examines the legacy of Modernism and it’s influence on contemporary graphic design. It also seeks to develop the students sensitivity to critical thinking and their competence to articulate ideas in design and visual culture through discussions and seminars and through oral and written communication.

This module encourages students to explore typographic function and expression to communicate meaning and message. Emphasis is on the role of typography in design and on developing typographic treatments appropriate to their creative concepts for briefs. Students will be expected to further develop their capabilities to explore varying forms of expression to create powerful, engaging and content appropriate design.

This module is an exploration of the principles of image making with an emphasis on the moving image. The learner is introduced to practical processes involved in time-based audio/visual media production with an emphasis on visual and graphic language. Through the completion of analytical, creative, and technical exercises the learner is enabled to achieve effective solutions to moving image design challenges.

This module enhances learner awareness of professional practice through the design and production of a showcase presentation of their creative work. Students will develop creative digital, communicative, technical and practical skills required for effective self promotion within the design industry. This in turn will assist them both in securing work placement and in advancing their skills in readiness for employment/placement.

This module aims to provide the learner with a cognisant understanding of major developments in visual communications and technology during the 20th century. Focus is given to the cultivation of ideas in art and design and will critically examine the common themes and crossfertilisation that occur between theory and culture. It will afford the learner the capacity to appraise the work of artists and designers in the context of historical, cultural and theoretical precedents. It will examine visual communications encompassing aspects such as typographic expressionism and branding design from the mid 20th Century to semiotics and Postmodernism, and it’s relationship to contemporary design. It will also further develop the learner’s competence to articulate ideas and critically analyse design and visual culture through written communication.

Under the guidance of the lecturers, students in the final year of the course will become both designer and creative director. The studio work in year 3 compounds the learning from previous years, empowering the student to lead, direct, design, present and deliver a complete project over a spectrum of design communications. The design brief must be influenced by external factors, undertake simulated and /or real-life projects and cover current topics. This allows the student to experiment freely within the recognised structures of the discipline, using selfinitiated elements that will create unique but marketable design work & this type of project enables the student to develop their technical skill and use the Adobe suite as a cohesive whole.

This module is concerned with the development of image-based narratives required to communicate an idea or story.

This module aims to provide learners with the experience of working in an industry environment and the opportunity to acquire and develop knowledge and professional values in the context of client-driven requirements. The learner will be introduced to the professional skills, competencies and knowledge required by design professionals to work effectively within industry.

This module will examine themes and issues relating to contemporary design and visual culture within a theoretical context. It seeks to foster in the learners the ability to source and research relevant information on design related topics. It will also enhance the learners competence to engage in the discourse of visual communications through debates and presentations and will further develop their competence to articulate ideas in design and visual culture through oral and written communication.

Through previous learning the student is required to demonstrate their analytical and in-depth creative skills by researching, developing and resolving a major body of design work. The student will also expand their technical skills and become more competent in the use of industry standard software.The Final Project should enhance the students’ individual skills, while refining their abilities in one or more of the following areas: graphic design; typography; branding; digital media.

This module builds on the learning from previous modules and allows the student to combine and develop their typographic, visual and storytelling skills across a digital platform. Students will learn to animate meaningful typographic compositions that demonstrate clear, compelling storytelling for on-screen environments and motion graphics in a critically engaged and informed manner. The student will also expand the necessary creative and technical skills required to produce motion graphics.

This module aims to build on the knowledge, skills and awareness acquired in years 1 and 2 of Studio Practice and Design. The module will authorise the learner to find their unique design voice, allowing them to expand their design process and portfolio while discovering new ways to document and visualise how they work. Students will further develop the design, communication and technical skills necessary for effective self-promotion, through the practice of creative print and digital strategies.

This module will continue to examine themes and issues relating to contemporary design and visual culture within a theoretical context. In consultation with the tutor the learner will initiate and develop an individual research design topic, identify and evaluate critical literature appropriate to area of study. The culmination of the Visual Culture modules of the course will provide the student with the opportunity to utilise their analytical skills to further contextualise various aspects of design and visual theory in the realisation of an in-depth Literature Review on a particular design related topic. This will enable them to research, synthesise and critically analyse information in written format.

Students will draw on their knowledge of static bitmap and vector graphics, established 2D/3D animation, sound and video elements and combine their skills in video editing and special effects production to create visually dynamic and dynamic videos. They will have unique media skills in Time-Based Media, and will be matched by interdisciplinary competence in Time-Based Media. They will take a reflective approach to their work as designers or communicators in business or community settings. Additionally, students develop an understanding of design practices in storyboarding and scripting, motion graphics, audio, video, and AR (augmented reality). Their knowledge of the professional realities of the contemporary design industry will enable them to respond imaginative, access to a wider range of professional opportunities that will be available to them upon completion of their degree.

This module provides students with the opportunity to engage in ‘real world’ live design projects and to build on the practical and creative skills necessary to deliver strategic design consultancy.

The Theory to Practice module combines design theory and visual culture with design practice from within the studio. This is based upon the design department’s foundational premise that design production is intrinsically informed by visual culture and historical reflection and inherently underpinned by critical and theoretical thinking.

The Theory to Showcase module is a continuation of the Theory to Practice module. It combines design theory and visual culture with design practice from within the studio. As per the previous semester the design department’s foundational premise is that design production is inherently underpinned by critical and theoretical thinking as well as being intrinsically informed by visual culture and historical reflection.

This module helps the learner to mix theoretical and practical considerations with exercises in user-centred research, contextual ideation, sketching, narrative, storyboarding, scriptwriting, process/flow design, wire-framing, data visualisation, graphic design, UI (User Interface) & UX (User Experience) design methodologies.

This module provides students with the opportunity to initiate, develop, resolve and bring to fruition a major body of creative and self-directed design work. The project is negotiated and agreed with the Year 4 lecturing team and may be carried out in collaboration with an external client or organisation. Projects may be initiated on the basis of a design discipline of particular interest to the student or it may encompass a subject area the student feels passionate about exploring creatively and visually across different platforms.