BA (Hons) Graphic Design

FOUNDATION (YEAR 0) DESIGN & CREATIVE BUSINESS
This 30-week course is designed to equip you with the academic skills and subject knowledge needed to progress on to study at undergraduate level. You’ll develop a unique portfolio of work throughout the course, helping you to progress onto a degree in any creative subject.

Stage 1
The first stage covers the key areas related to your degree programme and will focus on either creative design or business. You’ll learn the theoretical knowledge and debates surrounding these disciplines and the historical and international contexts which underpin them. You will also begin to build the foundations for studying at degree level.

Stage 2
This stage builds on the key research, analytical and reflective skills built in Stage 1. You will also have the opportunity to explore specialist areas of study and focus on your chosen path within the creative arts or business.

Stage 3
You’ll undertake a self-directed, specialist project which will synthesise and conclude your newly learned knowledge. The Final Major Project consists of three units which include advanced language and study skills needed for progression onto an LCCA design or creative business undergraduate degree.

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)
In your first year, you’ll gain a comprehensive introduction to graphic design, exploring its history, context and place within visual culture. You’ll build a solid foundation in typography, colour theory, composition and hierarchy, while developing an understanding of how design has evolved over time. This multidisciplinary approach will give you both the practical skills and critical awareness to move confidently into more advanced study in later years.

Introduction to Visual Communication
You’ll begin developing your own personal identity as a graphic designer, thinking carefully about the messages you want to convey. To set you up for the rest of the course, you’ll explore different types of media, including magazines and internet-based platforms, and consider how form and content affect communication.

Design Fundamentals 1: Image, Type, Print
In this module, you’ll explore image, type and print as core elements of any visual campaign. You’ll examine their role within media and experiment with applying them across different print formats.

Design Fundamentals 2: Motion, Narrative, Screen
Here, you’ll become familiar with how motion, narrative and screen can be applied to design for digital media. You’ll combine words, images, materials, formats and structures to create screen-based designs with a distinct narrative.

Visual Theory: Message, Medium, Meaning
You’ll build your understanding of historical and contemporary design practices while analysing your own studio work. Key concepts include the relationship between word and image, function and expression, subversion and propaganda, semiotics, narrative construction and photographic language.

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)
In your second year, you’ll build on your foundation by tackling complex design problems and experimenting with creative processes used across the industry. You’ll work on live briefs, both individually and in groups, gaining experience of designing for real audiences and clients while sharpening your problem-solving and communication skills.

The Editorial Process
In this module, you’ll explore how to design content for print and digital publications. You’ll use typography, colour, imagery and layout to create hierarchy, guide the reader’s eye and enhance clarity and impact.

Social and Cultural Contexts
Here, you’ll consider ethics, values and cultural context in your design practice. You’ll learn to adapt language, symbols and visuals to suit different audiences and produce work that communicates effectively across diverse groups.

Spatial Practices
You’ll be introduced to spatial design, learning how to organise and shape physical spaces to meet user needs. From exhibitions to multi-sensory environments, you’ll experiment with creating engaging and sustainable design experiences.

Developing Your Practice
In this module, you’ll focus on your personal direction as a designer. You’ll refine your creative identity, explore entrepreneurial concepts and begin to map out career opportunities, from employment to your own business ventures.

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)
In your final year, you’ll focus on advanced creative strategies that respond to emerging digital and media channels. You’ll be encouraged to apply entrepreneurial thinking to generate new ideas, services and publications, preparing you to take charge of your career. By combining creativity, research and professional practice, you’ll graduate with the tools to launch your next step in the graphic design industry.

Critical Research and Practice
Here, you’ll bring together the knowledge and skills gained throughout your studies to create a self-directed research and design project. You’ll develop work that reflects a balance of theory and practice, resulting in a project that is uniquely your own.

Major Project
This module gives you the chance to showcase your creative identity as a designer. You’ll begin by developing a research proposal, then build a body of work that demonstrates your theoretical, practical and technical development. You’ll also present your work professionally and collaborate with others, preparing you for real-world practice.