Please begin your enrolment process by visiting - step-by-step guidance is provided.

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1 Dear Graphic Communication Student Congratulations on successfully achieving a place to study at Cardiff School of Art & Design on our Graphic Communication Programme. I hope you had good summer and are looking forward to joining us in September. Your academic studies begin with an Induction Week starting on Monday 21 st September During Induction Week we have organised a five-day programme of events designed to help you get to know other students and the staff team on the course and to help familiarise yourself with our university practices and procedures. This will prepare you for your academic studies which begin in earnest with a full timetable of lectures, seminars, tutorials and assignments the following week. Your Induction Week begins on Monday 21 st September with a welcome address by Cardiff Met s Vice Chancellor, Professor Anthony Chapman, at 11:00 am at NIAC (National Indoor Athletics Centre) at Cardiff Met s Cyncoed Campus. This will be followed by the Freshers Fayre. Online Enrolment Enrolment is an important process which confirms your status as Student. You can complete the online self-enrolment process from any computer through our Self Service system. Please note that in order to self-enrol; your status must be Unconditional Firm (UF). Please begin your enrolment process by visiting - step-by-step guidance is provided. This process is essential as it will allow you access to your student loan (if applied for), payment of fees, programme information systems, and it will enable you to obtain your Student ID Card. A scheduled time for collection of your student ID card has been arranged for you. This time is included in this joining pack and you will be reminded of this during your induction. The School welcome event will take place at 10.00am on Tuesday 22 September You are required to be in attendance at the Reardon Smith lecture theatre at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff for this event. Please ensure that you arrive in good time! We will issue you with a copy of the programme handbook at this event. Please read this handbook carefully as it contains important information that relates to your studies.

2 Your course specific timetable and module delivery plan will be given to you during your first week. This is a full-time course and your attendance is expected 5 days per week from 9am until 5pm. Please note that you are required to attend all of your timetabled lectures and other activities during the following term dates: Induction Week: Monday 21st September 2015 until Friday 25th September 2015 Autumn Term: Monday 28th September 2015 until Friday 11th December 2015 Spring Term: Monday 11th January 2016 until Friday 18th March 2016 Summer Term: Monday 11th April 2016 until Friday 10th June 2016 I look forward to meeting you at the Reardon Smith lecture theatre. Best wishes Dr Stephen Thompson Deputy Dean Cardiff School of Art & Design

3 GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION Dear Graphic Communication Student On behalf of the teaching and support team I would like to extend a warm welcome to you as you join the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication programme in September Induction week begins on Monday 21 September at 11.00am at NIAC, Cyncoed Campus, where the Vice Chancellor will welcome you to the University. This will be followed by the Freshers Fayre, organised by the Students Union. This is an opportunity for you to find out about what clubs and societies are available for students. We d then like you to make your way to N Block, Room N2.01, Llandaff Campus (the Graphics Studio) for 3.30pm to meet each other and be briefed on a mini project. Your course induction begins on Wednesday 23 September at 10.00am (the Graphics Studio). It is important that you attend all of these sessions. Study Visit Our first-year study visit will be to attend The Four Designers Conference in London which runs for 2 days in February Four Designers is simply that, four influential graphic designers present to an audience of design students revealing their work, inspirations and passions answering questions along the way. We also arrange visits to design studios and current exhibitions whilst in London. A year outline, a preliminary reading list and equipment list plus holiday project is available too, and you need to consult these well in advance, before arrival. If you have any queries about these, or about studying at CSAD, please me... omoseley@cardiffmet.ac.uk We look forward very much to meeting you during induction week. In the meantime, have a great summer and do check out: (our blog) (our programme website) (our Facebook page) Best wishes Olwen Professor Olwen Moseley Teaching Fellow Subject Leader Graphic Communication Cardiff School of Art & Design

4 Reading & Equipment list 2015/16 Any items compulsory to the programme needed in order for you to commence your studies will be provided to you, covered by your tuition fees. However, these items will be a shared resource and at peak times could be in high demand. We have taken a few enquiries from new students, asking for a list of things they could think about buying for their own personal use while they study. It might be worth looking at the list below and thinking about those things which, you would like to have for yourself, if you do not already possess them. I would like to reiterate that it isn t essential that you buy these items, but you will be secure in knowing that these are your things and always available for you wherever you are working, whether in one of our studios or workshops, or at home. In general many students like to have their own personal camera and laptop along with basic drawing materials, however, the list below is a guide for what else you may wish to purchase for your studies. Reading list Specific book lists will be provided for each module of the course. Most will be available from our library. However, you might like to buy or read these five excellent books and have a look at subject specific magazines before the programme starts. Thinking with Type Ellen Lupton, Princeton Architectural Press 2008 Graphic Design: The New Basics Ellen Lupton, Princeton Architectural Press 2010 A type primer John Keats, Laurence King 2011 Graphic Design school David Dabner, Thames & Hudson 2010 Stop Stealing Sheep Erik Spiekermann, Berthold 2002 Look at specialist magazines on a regular basis. Three excellent titles dealing with our subject are: Eye Magazine, Creative Review and Baseline. There is also an abundance of excellent design related inspiration on the internet, start with our blog: Cameras The course has digital video and still cameras which are loaned out to students, but if you want to buy one for yourself we recommend the Sony DSC W310 or other manufacturer equivalent (c ). Computers We have resources for the delivery of introductory software classes. However, if you do not already own a high-spec laptop (Mac or PC), we strongly recommend that you purchase a laptop and appropriate software to maximise your learning opportunities with us. Our building has a wireless network available to students.

5 Computer Specification We recommend the following as a minimum computer specification: Hardware: 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro or equivalent PC RETAIL PRICE without education discount inclusive of VAT Software: Using the right software is ESSENTIAL. The software used on the programme focuses on Adobe Creative Suite which includes: InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. Membership of Adobe s Creative Cloud, allowing access to all of their latest creative software tools is available at a reduced monthly rate for students after enrolment at a current monthly fee of inclusive of VAT. NB: If you make your purchases AFTER enrolment, you will qualify for substantial educational discounts.

6 Year One Modules 2015/16 The first year (Level 4) of the Graphic Communication programme contains three modules of equal weighting: Graphic Communication - an in-depth introduction Field - an opportunity to work alongside others from different disciplines Constellation - looking at the bigger picture, lectures and study skills seminars The structure of the undergraduate scheme will be further explained during Induction Week which begins on 21st September Here we just intend to give a partial overview of the first year of the course. Graphic Communication Subject Module 1st & 3rd Term This module is designed to enable you to immediately engage hands on with what it means to be a Graphic Communicator. A series of creative workshops and briefs will issue challenges, problems and experiments which will encourage you to explore visual language through an introduction to typography and image making, formats and media, to explore and question relationships between this language and audiences, meanings and messages, and by creating an awareness of creative thinking methodologies, processes and idea generation. You will explore the role of words, images and schema as visual vocabulary; ultimately applying what you ve learned to a creative outcome. On conclusion of the module in the third term, you will create a personal document such as an A- Z of the fundamentals of Graphic Communication based on your experiences, which could be communicated in a unique way in a traditional or experimental format. The creative outcome will be informed by a research journal, which will document creative strategies leading to the development of a personal working method. Be interested in the world around you. As visual communicators we must never stop absorbing information from our planet. Always question your belief system and what you stand for as a designer. Respect those that came before you and the efforts they contributed toward the design environment. See your work as an extension of your social life and let play influence your work - love what you do. - Advice for someone starting an art or design degree from one of our successful Graphic Communication graduates.

7 Field Module 2nd term This is the first opportunity you will have in which to experience something of the unique experience, ethos and ambition of the CSAD Undergraduate Scheme. Whereas the Subject module focuses on your specific discipline and providing you with the confidence to work within that discipline, this module is designed to further create and generate in you a sense of yourself as being part of a wider creative field of approaches to ideas, problems and concerns extends across all of the Subject disciplines. Accordingly, you will be offered the opportunity to collaborate with other students from across Subject disciplines. The module does this by presenting every student in Level 4 with an identical set of concerns in the form of a common project. You will be assigned to a small collaborative group whose members reflect on their response to the brief. The members of the group will be drawn from across the subject range of the school, this response will lead to a range of outcomes. Constellation Module 1st, 2nd & 3rd Term This module introduces you to a series of diverse historical and theoretical concepts and debates and also to a range of academic tools that will enable you to engage discursively with one another and the wider academic community. Constellation will begin with a series of Keynote lectures from the whole of the Constellation Team, to which the entire student year cohort will attend. The purpose of this is to introduce you to the staff and their areas of interest and expertise, and to introduce students to academic skills and academic research through forms of interdisciplinary working. You will work closely with a Constellation member in a Seminar group. Within the Seminar Options, you will be introduced to a diverse range of theories which you will be encouraged to consider in relation to your Subject. Academic skills, including critical thinking will be embedded within the Seminar Options. Working within the Seminar group and with a Constellation member you will produce a reflective journal of your learning, a PDP, and a written assignment based on knowledge of academic skills and appreciation of theory, which you will also present. You will be required to use the PDP as a means by which to chart your progression and knowledge gained through attendance, reflecting on your learning and progression in the Seminar groups and the way in which your knowledge impacts on your Subject. Workshops Regular Wednesday morning workshops complement the studio activities during the subject module. These include printmaking, bookbinding, laser cutting, screen printing, photography, audio visual, software skills and other resource areas available to our undergraduates. A number of workshops during Field will provide you with the skills and confidence to collaborate with others from other Subject disciplines and more critically to become confident with your own individual creative expertise.

8 Summer Holiday Project Ideas 2015/16 (optional - but have a go!) You might like to keep busy by tackling one or more of these: the initials after each suggestion are from the 3rd years who suggested them. The aim is that these challenges are fun and that they stimulate your creative thinking and idea generation, and that they re interesting/beautiful visual communication too of course. Once you ve completed them, think about interesting ways of presenting them visually. (The initials after the projects are those of the tutors or 3rd yr students who set them) 1. Expressively redesign 2 of your favourite book/album covers (GO H) 2. Choose a world day and design something to publicise it, like World Water Day (22 March), Poverty Day (17 October), etc.... a poster or any media the people may want. (RN) 3. Find an article in a newspaper and create something visual around that story! (CF) 4. Over a week, each day review blogs and explore a new up and coming designer, and spend half an hour to an hour producing a piece of work which reflects the designer. (RF) 5. Using your environment and surroundings, create your own typeface. Look beyond what s actually in front of you, using the shapes and movements to create new shapes which could be used in letterform design. This website allows you to create your own fonts using a pixel based design. Fun to play around with. (RD) 6. Present a small (less than 2cm x 2cm x 2cm), found object in a way that makes the ordinary look extraordinary - series of 5? (DH) 7. Pictionary Play Pictionary (maybe with the words below) then choose one of the challenges that people found hard and work on the drawing you d do. (Keep it simple, then do another 4) present thoughtfully. 8. Stick a pin a map of the UK, research the place you find then design a coat of arms for it. 9. What s your favourite number why? Present it, communicating what you like /feel about it. 10. See the word of the day at dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday or pick a topic from the list at the end, design something to explain it (one a day/week for those who want to work fast with ideas) 11. Choose a letter everyday/week and find a graphic designer/design company beginning with that letter. Create a simple PowerPoint presentation about them. Design a slide including pictures of their work. One designer/company per slide / 12 slides long approx (for each week of summer). Could also be presented in a scrapbook or some other sort of media form. (SR) 12. Collect cut outs from any newspapers over the summer and create your own front cover of a newspaper. Collage perhaps? Maybe have a story of what you did over the summer? Or if something happened? (SR)

9 13. Find out a random fact everyday on any website or in the media and present this in any graphic style you want. Pick maybe a few of the best ones and present these. (SR) 14. During your summer job (if you have one) think of the designs around your work establishment and have a go at recreating your own. (SR) For example: Pubs: Beermats, bottle designs, signage Hotels: Letterheads, Business 15. Cards, Logos Retail: Logo, Clothes, Magazines (toilet signs are fun) 16. Natural letterforms (MT) explore the natural environment and find letterforms that naturally occur. Look closely to find letters hidden within nature: consider cropping and angles to discover natural letterforms that ordinarily, one would be oblivious to. Photograph at least ten examples of natural letterforms over the summer break. 17. Take an everyday object & represent it visually without disclosing the complete form to maintain a sense of interest & ambiguity for the viewer. Do one clue daily over a week with the outcomes being displayed as anything from a photograph, manipulated image, vector, use of material, smell etc., all leading the viewer on a journey of discovering what each object is, visually & graphically communicating & engaging with its audience. (JW) 18. Visualise a film or TV programme, using no text, letting the visual aspects give the viewer an idea of which cult classic, comedy show or epic movie is being referred to. Scenes could be re-enacted; logos displayed in a more literal manner or other methods of communication. (JW) 19. Redesign your favourite film poster (MD) 20. Artist & photographer Richard Long took a photo of the ground and the sky at the same time every day for a month (I think). So for example, set an alarm on your phone for 10am every day and whatever you re doing take a photo of the floor and sky or another view or object of your choice. Whoever wants to do it can pick their own time of day, but it has to be the same time every day. (KH) 21. Take an everyday activity like making a cup of tea, catching a bus, riding a bike or anything else and design instructions for a martian. 22. Pick out of a hat (be strict and don t put it back if you don t like it!) one topic each day and take a photograph or make a drawing relating to that topic. The aim is to think creatively about the topic. Aim for a set of 7 or 10 or 12 or a months worth. You can stick with the same topic for a week and choose the best picture and have a set from the summer period. Could there be an overall theme? E.g. always have a cat in the image, or shadows as the theme you make one up. The set should be either photos or drawings.

10 Suggested topics for use in some of the challenges Daylight Welfare Medicine Preservation Alert Hidden Balance Sample New Recovery Buggy Listen Crowd Extension Move Scent Transform Revelation Invisible Dry Risk Password Average Fallen Game

11 GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION INDUCTION TIMETABLE 2015/16 Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday am National Indoor Athletics Centre (NIAC), Cyncoed Campus Cardiff Metropolitan University Welcome Professor Chapman, Vice-Chancellor Freshers Fayre 3.30pm Welcome get together Graphics Studio, Llandaff museum project briefing 10.00am Reardon Smith Theatre, National Museum of Wales (Please arrive punctually for prompt 10.00am start) Welcome ID Cards issue Gaynor Kavanagh, Dean, CSAD (Learning Centre) Introduction to Cardiff School of Art & Design Meet Graphics tutors for museum project 2.00pm if fine meet tutors in the park in front of museum for picnic 10.00am Graphics Studio Welcome to Graphic Communication Ice breakers, Skills Audit and Photos Ice breakers, Skills Audit and Photos continued 11.00am Graphics Studio Formal Programme introduction and overview of resources and Housekeeping / Blogging / Moodle introduction to Careers Development Services Es George 1.00pm advice from Second and Third years in Graphics studio Independent time Independent time Independent time Independent time Graphics Studio: Room N2.01, N Block, Llandaff Campus unless otherwise indicated. To be confirmed: Introduction to Student Services Subject specific Library Tour For any problems during Induction Week, contact the Subject Leader: Olwen Moseley t: e: omoseley@cardiffmet.ac.uk Teaching starts Monday 28 th September promptly at 10.00am In the Graphics Studio. Bring museum recordings