Graphic Design BA Hons

Course title:	BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Apply:	via UCAS
Code:	W211
Start (ft):	September
Mode:	full-time
Duration:	3 years full-time
Location:	Luton campus, Park Square
Faculty:	Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science
Department:	Bedfordshire Institute of Media and the Creative & Performing Arts: Division of Art & Design

Summary

Graphic Design offers two pathways – you choose a major and a minor area of study during your second stage.

Print and Typography
This looks critically at all aspects of the printed word and image

Areas of study include:

- Cultural Design Context
- Creative Typography
- Drawing, Photography and Software such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Fontlab
- Editorial Design; Art Direction
- Printmaking and Book Binding

Web and Motion Graphics
This looks critically at all aspects of moving, interactive or time-based graphic design.

Areas of study include:

- Cultural Design Context
- Creative Typography
- Design for Communication Technologies such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs)
- Drawing, Photography and Industry-standard Software
- Motion Capture Lab
- Narrative and Sequential based Storytelling
- Professional Practice

Students on the course are initially involved in problem-solving activities that require an understanding and use of practical workshop areas and studio practices.

The course introduces you to the possibilities of digital media publication and print, typography, photography, illustration, advertising design, video, animation and web design.

In the final stage of study the course is very focused to preparing students as professional designers ready to enter the world of work.

The course benefits from contact with the professional world of design through visits, exhibitions, membership of the D&AD, visiting lecturers from London design agencies.

Why choose this course?

- Staffed by practising artists, designers and guest lecturers who regularly publish and exhibit their work and have practical experience of working on a wide range of industrial and public projects
- The Institute is an Apple Centre of Education Excellence
- Combination of strong theoretical input with a depth of study, offering a wide range of career options
- Focuses on fostering personal creative development
- Provides knowledge and experience of using industry standard technologies and software
- Opportunities to use cutting edge techniques in areas such as design for mobile and new communication technologies, motion graphics, digital and hand-drawn animation
- Strong emphasis on design that is environmentally and ecologically aware

Career Opportunities

Corporate design, web design, exhibition design, packaging, logo design, illustration, typography, small design business/ freelance work.

Assessment

Course work, design projects, portfolio, written assignments.

Further details about the course

The following course information refers to current courses. This information is therefore subject to review.

STAGE 1
Graphic Design 1
A foundation to subsequent studio units and will introduce students to a range of skills and ways of production that are essential to the Graphic Designer and Illustrator.

Art and Design PPaD (level 1)
Enables needs, aspirations and expectations to be identified in working in the professional world of art and design. Understanding the coherence of the art and design course.

Graphic Design 2
Builds upon and reinforces knowledge acquired in the semester 1 Graphic Design 1 unit. Specific design projects will be set to ensure the development of the ability to apply combined skills to a variety of design problems.

Contemporary Issues 1
Introduces both European and non-European key concepts and models of twentieth and twenty-first century art and design practice. It is intended to encourage a critical engagement with some visual arts/design issues.

Visual Research 1
Introduces working attitudes, procedures and concepts essential for effective visual research. Provides knowledge, skills, and conceptual strategies to be able to identify, investigate, organise and interpret visual information.

Skills for Academic Writing
Develops core study skills, irrespective of discipline, involved in producing academic essays/reports and oral presentations.

STAGE 2
Graphic Design 3
Develops students' abilities to analyse and resolve graphic design problems within more complex projects and expansive design problems.

Graphic Design 4
Design projects in which take into account the production and re-production process. Introduction to technical (digital pre-press), mechanical (colour lithography, screen printing, digital printing) and physical factors (paper stocks and inks) that might affect planning and implementation of design ideas.

Contemporary Issues 2
Advances and develops ability to reflect critically upon contemporary art and design concepts and practices and become familiar with the language and use of visual/oral and textual analysis.

Art and Design PPD
Prepares for the dissertation in the following year as well as developing an understanding of the professional context of art and design specialisms.

STAGE 3
Graphic Design 5
Combines and synthesizes previous design/illustration knowledge and skills by engaging students in projects, which reflect professional contexts.

Art and Design Dissertation
Independent learning through the writing of a dissertation of approximately 8,000 words.

Art and Design Major project
Production in a body of creative art/design work that is intended to be represented in a public exhibition.

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements apply for this course.

Special entry requirements

A genuine enthusiasm for the subject expressed in a portfolio of recent work.

Fees, Bursaries, Scholarships, Costs

All UK and EU students on this full-time course are eligible to receive a £329* University of Bedfordshire bursary. Visit our website: www.beds.ac.uk/money to find out more.

Further Study Opportunities

• Art and Design MA

General Enquiries

• www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply for information about standard entry requirements, application routes, open days, fees and funding.
• T: +44 (0)1582 489286 UK/EU Admissions
• T: +44 (0)1582 489326 International Admissions
• Order a prospectus form. Enquire about courses and order a printed undergraduate or postgraduate prospectus.
• T: +44 (0)1234 400 400 University switchboard