Course Summary

Developed in a partnership between the University and Milton Keynes College, students on the Graphic Design Course benefit from teaching from staff at both institutions. The teaching team includes experienced specialist designers, so you can be sure you're learning from some of the best.

On this varied course you will learn in a variety of settings, including tutorials, demonstrations, project research and peer critiques. You will also undertake a work experience placement, where you will be able to apply your learning to real situations and boost your employability. During the course students and staff are regularly in contact with graphic design businesses, many of which will be potential employers.

The course aims to provide you with the specialist, practical and technical knowledge and skills required to be successful in today's Graphic Design industry. You'll be introduced to graphic design ideas, technical knowledge and skills and will experience industry-standard ICT and multimedia resources.

Why choose this course?

With a qualification in Graphic Design you are able to work on a wide range of projects, but you may also choose to specialise in a particular area such as typography, art direction, packaging, corporate identity or magazine design.

The demand for graphic designers is increasingly strong, particularly in the television and motion graphics industry and in new medias such as web-based design. Not only are you well-positioned to work in a variety of areas, you can also choose to work as part of an organisation or equally, engage with freelance design and design consultancy.

Students who complete the course are also in a position to continue at BA Honours level and then PGDip and Master's level in both broad-based or specialist subjects.

During the course you will:

• Develop creative and innovative skills
• Apply problem solving skills to create design solutions
• Gain technical expertise, in a range of computer aided design and software
• Develop knowledge of design for a particular market sector
• Gain experience of commissioning and working with creative practitioners within the creative industries

We strive to deliver the most exciting art and design courses in HE with a number of new and innovative ideas. We also run an Art & Design blog with the latest news and events, you can find that here: wecreatetogether.net

Colin Davies, Head of Art and Division

FDGRA-MF

Assessment

Assessment for this course is conceived so that it emanates naturally from the teaching and learning and, provided you have engaged in the course, you should be able to meet the demands of assessment in your stride. The requirements for assessment range through the types listed below.

Practical Projects are a key learning and assessment tool within the course and formative and summative assessments of practical assignments are seen as an important method of ensuring your understanding and progress.

Continuous appraisal by both the students themselves and their tutors is a feature of the course and although there are no end-point examinations, formative assessment is carried out in relation to all the assignments that are an integral part of the course. An accumulation of the work that is done in response to learning activities is assessed summatively at the end of each unit.

The following are examples of the various assessment methods used:

• Coursework to include examples of photographic and possibly video work and drawing, research portfolios, notebooks, research assignments, essays, contextual writing


• Assessments based on individual and group presentations


• Learning journals that include reflective writing as well as written reports. These may be part of your studio practice as well as part of work-based learning


• Portfolio reviews are a key means of assessing but they are also important for collating work for a professional portfolio. This instils in students the right attitudes towards professional work whereby you can use your portfolio to promote yourself in professional contexts


• Essays and reports feature in developing students writing skills, helping you to express ideas in a variety of ways and styles and to develop academic writing skills that are of particular benefit in producing the final year contextual project

Key Skills are embedded in the teaching and learning of the course and will be taken into account in all assessments.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

Demonstrate learning outcomes in relation to knowledge and understanding.

1. Understand and apply design processes and techniques for visual communication and creative, editorial and commercial outcomes.

2. Understand critical concepts, ideas / perspectives and paradigms of contemporary practice in relation to visual communication and cultural/creative production in general and graphic design in particular.

3. Understand, through practical experience both in the studio and in the work place, the nature of professional practice in graphic design.

Demonstrate learning outcomes in relation to intellectual and cognitive skills:

4. Using methods of visual and contextual research relevant but not exclusive to graphic design, interpret creative ideas through processes and methods that are relevant to graphic design in which there is a relationship between form, content and processes / techniques and a relevance to professional practice.

5. Apply analytical and synthetical thinking to propose solutions to creative problems and the communication of ideas that will be manifest in outcomes and artefacts relevant to graphic design.

6. Evaluate and reflect on the outcomes of courses of action and creative outputs and demonstrate the ability to adapt knowledge and production means in order to suit particular graphic design purposes whilst acknowledging alternatives.

Demonstrate learning outcomes in relation to practical skills:

7. Communicate ideas effectively using both verbal and visual skills, so that you are able to present your ideas in different forms of writing, drawing, notating, digital imaging, collating and through relevant articulation and presentation strategies.

8. Use equipment, materials, processes and methods effectively. These may be directly associated with graphic design or artistic production in general (e.g. workshop and studio equipment, silkscreen printing processes, imaging software, computers and peripherals, and material handling techniques).

9. Plan, manage and develop your own creative projects, including those in which you may be involved through work related study.

External Benchmarking

QAA Subject Benchmark: Art and Design

QAA Foundation Degrees Benchmarking

Educational Aims

• To provide a high quality course of study in Graphic Design with both a strong vocational and an academic relevance that will enable students to develop their creativity and expertise that would contribute significantly to their career enhancement potential, career change or alternatively, qualify them for further specialist study at BA (Hons) level and ultimately at postgraduate level


• To provide a practical and theoretical course of study of strong vocational relevance underpinned by an academic rigour with opportunities, methods and critical insights for students to learn how to develop creative ideas and solutions to design problems and their practical applications in a graphic design context


• To engage students in analytical and reflective thinking with a consideration of the design, manufacturing and cultural contexts associated with graphic design so that they might understand the value of their work and make independent assessments of its progress and the learning in which they are involved


• To provide students with an understanding of relevant cultural and design contexts as well as production and economic contexts so that they might acquire an understanding of both economic and aesthetic values associated with graphic design as well as gaining an insight into the ways in which these values are changing in response to technology, production processes, material development and economic circumstances


• To provide students with significant insights into the creative design process so that they may acquire the generic skills and attitudes as specified by the subject benchmarking statement for art and design


• To provide students with relevant work-based learning in graphic design so that they are able to see the relevance of their study in a work-related context and to gain skills and experience relevant to their employability


• To provide a degree course that not only equips students with appropriate knowledge, experience and understanding to take a productive and critical place in the creative industries and the wider world of work but also provides students with the means by which to engage in further learning throughout their lives

Student support

The course will encourage you to work and learn independently, however this will be based on academic tutorial support throughout the course.

A full course of induction week activities is offered for all new students in the Division of Art and Design and at Milton Keynes College during the first week of your course. All students are supported by induction sessions at the start of each year, by personal and project tutors, by academic advice sessions and by dedicated technical support staff. The induction will familiarise you with the curriculum structure and timetable as well as study support and resources for the course.

Early in the course you will be asked to write a short essay, which will enable us to see whether you may require any special support with your writing skills and your learning. If dyslexia is identified, students will be referred to the either the College or the University of Bedfordshire Disability Support Unit.

You will be allocated a personal tutor and you will meet with your tutor regularly throughout the year. You should have a minimum of three formal one-to-one personal tutorial sessions during the academic year in order to monitor your progress.

Personal tutorial appointments are also available via a booking system for students to meet with academic staff and discuss aspects of their work and academic progression. A supportive Course Manager offers both academic advice and advice about professional practice. The role of the Course Manager is pro-active, enabling issues of concern to be identified at an early stage, and to assist in the retention of students who may be encountering particular difficulties.

The Subject Librarian at the University of Bedfordshire is pro-active in assisting art and design students, and contributes study support elements where required. The course will involve a work placement as part of the work-based learning element of the course. During your placement you will have a supervising tutor and a work placed mentor to ensure that you are able benefit fully from the experience.

The University and Student Union provide centralised advisory sessions for students.If you have problems that prevent you from engaging with the course you should seek advice from the College support service. Details will be in the course handbook.

Team working

Most units include group work of some kind. Team working skills are developed through group project work incorporated within both the practice and theory units. Moreover the level two practical modules, with a consideration of work related learning, will involve working with others either through consultation or collaboration.

You will produce creative and realistic solutions to complex problems including time management, monitoring progress to work to deadlines, evaluating your group and individual strategies to achieve the desired outcome. Much of the teaching and learning involves group discussion and the group crit is a significant feature of the learning experience and you will be expected to participate and contribute to this effectively.

Career Management Skills

Careers development is integrated into the course and the course seeks to provide you with an awareness of the real world context of the creative industries in general and Graphic Design in particular. You will be helped to develop a strategy for obtaining appropriate employment at the end of your course.

Professional practice will be emphasised as part of all learning units but the work-related learning units especially will help you to become more focused on managing your career.

You will be helped with the preparation of a professional portfolio as well as a CV (curriculum vitae) and material so that you can market yourself.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

Graphic designers work on a wide range of projects or can become specialists in, for example, typography (print design), art direction, packaging, corporate identity or magazine design. There is a growing demand for designers specialising in television and motion graphics and in new medias such as web-based design.

Some graduates of this course will work as full-time designers within design organisations such as publishing, advertising, media etc. Others will engage with freelance and consultancy design.

Further study:

Students who complete the course will be able to carry on their education at BA Honours level and then PGDip/Masters level courses in either broad based or specialist creative subjects.

Entry

Additional:

Portfolio Interview.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

An essential feature of the learning and teaching will be your involvement in practical learning activities that confront visual communication and design problems. At the same time learning activities will take professional and work related practices into consideration. From an early stage in the course, you will be encouraged to work independently, taking ownership of your creativity and its outcomes, whilst at the same time developing an understanding of the contexts that affect your working with graphic design. The course aims to build a close relationship between practice and theory.

At the end of the course you should be able to realise a creative project of your own devising and be able to demonstrate your own particular insights into the cultural and work related contexts in which your own work is placed.

To help you to learn independently and take responsibility for your own learning, the whole curriculum is organised to promote the progressive acquisition and entrenchment of the necessary concepts, skills, attitudes and knowledge associated with graphic design. The course will offer a degree of choice and is flexible in its approach to student learning with an underlying educational philosophy of self-directed learning managed and supervised through close contact with you, the student.

Teaching and learning strategies include practical workshop sessions, personal study involving sustained practice in the studio or workshop or on location, a variety of work related and work based learning opportunities, one to one tutorials / supervision, seminars, demonstrations and importantly the use of a reflective / contextual journal as a means of understanding and documenting your individual learning.

Contextual journals are also important and are seen as a means of continuous development, enabling you to work as a reflective practitioner and review your own performance and learning.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A

Students with disabilities

The Division of Art and Design and Milton Keynes College recognise that a relatively high proportion of art and design students encounter difficulties with dyslexia and special arrangements are in place to offer flexibility and learning support in the preparation and submission of written work, where a need is identified.

Students with visual impairment may encounter difficulties with aspects of the course, and there would be a need for prior assessment of requirements and capabilities for this type of student.

The philosophy of the Department is to support and facilitate all students regardless of disability in their chosen field of study whenever practicable.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• Be involved with oral communication that will be practised and tested in presentations and individual critiques. Written and verbal communication skills will be developed and assessed as part of the contextual studies units. You will be asked to produce work of different lengths and formats that should be properly referenced. Visual and verbal communication skills will be taught through all the practice units


• In the work-related units you will engage in activities that include working with clients and recording their communications in a variety of documents


• You will assess the quality of your own oral and visual communication and identify areas for improvement and deliver written or presentation assignments which succeed in communicating a series of points effectively

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

• Use a range of computer software as an integral part of the course and these skills are embedded in the practice-based units. Information technology skills development for generic purposes such as research and data analysis and presentation will be incorporated into the contextual studies units


• You will be able to complete a complex search using appropriate primary and secondary sources, and draw accurate conclusions independently using the subject methodology. Searching and evaluating internet sources is taught and you will analyse the information found using appropriate techniques. You will be introduced to the services of the LRC where specialist staff will be able to disseminate best practice on this

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• Have to decide on action plans and implement these effectively in order to complete work. You will have to clearly identify criteria for success and evaluate your own performance against those criteria. The importance of action plans, strategies and success criteria will be measured for both your individual work and any group work that you may be involved in


• You will have the opportunity to work in teams and, through your own records or progress and from feedback, you will monitor the groups progress and evaluate its individual effectiveness to achieve its aims. Working individually, you have to set your own tasks to achieve your research goals, drawing on previous learning experience to achieve creative solutions to common problems

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• Be involved with a series of practical learning activities at the heart of which will be the development of solutions to design problems associated primarily with Graphic Design although not exclusively so. An essential feature of the contextual studies strand of the course will be to help you to relate your practice to relevant theory and to help you to construct relevant contexts for your work. This will provide you with a framework and means to reflect on your creative work throughout the course. You will be required to maintain a contextual/reflective journal, the purpose of which is to monitor and reflect on your own learning


• You will be encouraged to become self-reliant and you will have to decide on action plans and implement these effectively in order to complete work. You will produce creative and realistic solutions to complex problems that will include time management, monitoring your progress in working to deadlines. You will have to clearly identify criteria for success and evaluate your own performance against those criteria. The importance of action plans, strategies and success criteria will be measured for both individual work and group work

Improving learning and performance

Throughout the course you will be involved with reflective practice, which will require you to maintain a contextual / work-based / reflective learning journal, the purpose of which is to monitor and document your personal learning journey. The learning journal will be key in acting as an aid in improving your performance. Through records that you keep about the development of your work and from feedback you will receive from your tutors, you will be able to monitor your progress and evaluate your own individual effectiveness in achieving your aims. Working individually you will have to set your own tasks to achieve your research goals, drawing on previous learning experience to achieve creative solutions to problems. Sometimes you will work in groups and you need to be able to measure your own performance in relation to the group.

Progress files

For the purpose of documenting personal progress, you will be expected to maintain a reflective learning journal throughout the duration of the course. The documentation will include a record of assessment feedback, personal reflection on and evaluation of the way in which you have engaged in learning activities as well as the efficacy of your learning. You will be expected to reflect on and evaluate each stage of your learning and this will be used as part of some summative assessments as well as the basis for discussion about progress and the mapping of courses of action. During the early stages of the course you will engage in an evaluation of your current position together with an audit of your personal skills. This will be used as the basis for writing and maintaining a frequently updated and relevant curriculum vitae.

Professional standards

The essential aims of the course are to develop the students professionalism and to enhance your potential for employment within specific sectors of the creative industries. To this end the course will aim to promote professional attitudes and behaviour as well as to provide specific insights into professional ways of working. Your engagement in the course should reflect professional standards and failing to do so may affect assessments outcomes.

Professional standards include:

• Expectations of punctuality, regular attendance, contactability and reliability


• Appropriate means of interpersonal behaviour, address, communication and presentation skills


• Personal organisation that will include being able to draw, in an effective way, on experience, learned attitudes and skills


• Maintaining the fitness to practice and having an understanding of the Criminal Records Bureau, particularly in circumstances where you may wish ultimately to work with young people


• The creative industries are competitive and by their nature can have their own specific ways of working, they often demand that its professionals are able to work to tight schedules and rapid turnaround. The course will make students aware of these demands and seek to inculcate an attitude of effective, prompt and reliable working


• The creative industries are frequently involved with such things as communication, branding and the promotion of identities and sometimes there is necessarily a need to deal with contentious issues and material as well as a need to take creative risks. It is therefore essential that students acquire an awareness of good and ethical practices, which avoid negative discrimination and exploitation


• Team working and the evaluation of outcomes


• The ability to engage in further learning

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

Since the purpose of the course is essentially aimed at helping you to gain employment in graphic design specifically and the creative sector more generally, the strategy for embedding the professional standards of a critical and creative practitioner aware of vocational demands and standards will be manifest in all the learning activities and assessments. You will be advised about correct procedures, protocols and ethics as well as enabled through a habit of self-reflection and evaluation to apply learned skills and attitudes to professional contexts.

You will be expected to engage with the course respecting professional standards and your attitude in this respect may be taken into account when assessing your work.

There will be units of learning that will be a significantly work-related and work-based at both level four and level five. These will give you experience of and insights into professional working practices.

Wherever possible, there will be input into the course by relevant practicing professionals.