Graphic Design BA(Hons) focuses on the needs of the creative industries to help you build the skills to become a professional graphic designer in an evolving, global industry. Graphic Design can exist across many different media channels including digital, print and moving image. You will explore a range of processes including: Digital design, Physical print making, Creative coding, Typography, Wayfinding signage, Branding and user-experience design.

Studying this course allows you to:

• Be part of a unique studio culture that encourages you to collaborate with students from other disciplines. Whilst specialising in graphic design, you can also work with artists, photographers and designers across the school; we call this transdisciplinary teaching.
• Experiment to understand what’s possible, so we’ll encourage you to try new things and take risks.
• Closely align with the most creative industry practices, as well as innovating through collaboration, which will enhance your prospects when applying for an optional industry placement.

It’s vital that you understand how graphic design works in the wider world, so we work with a range of communication theories and diverse guest speakers, giving you the chance to understand the factors shaping the future of Graphic Design.

Placements

The course offers an optional one-year (36 week minimum) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

Students within the area of Graphic Design have previously taken up placement opportunities with companies including: Media21a - Leeds; Nestlé PTC Singen – Germany; Rubies UK – Chesterfield; Boom Magazine – Hong Kong; Creative Spark – Manchester and National Media Museum - Bradford.

Alternatively, if you are a student from within the UK or the EU, you could consider starting your own small business by applying for the Enterprise Placement Year in conjunction with the University’s Enterprise Team. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from business advice, mentoring and networking sessions. You can find out more information on the Enterprise Placement Year here.

Your Career

Companies who have employed our talented students from the suite of Graphic Design and Animation courses include SEA, Thompson Brand Partners, the BBC and Google. You’ll be encouraged to take part in workshops, live briefs and international design competitions. It’s all structured to get you ready for employment once you’ve graduated. Recent graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Adam & Eve (London), Google (USA), and Studio Tilt (Netherlands). The course aims to help you develop the skills needed to work in design agencies and design consultancies, both in the UK and abroad, in roles such as graphic designer, graphic artist, digital designer, UX designer, typographer and design manager. You could also consider training as a teacher.**