Graphic Design BA (Hons)

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1 Graphic Design BA (Hons) Southend Campus Our students work with industry specialists on live briefs throughout this broad based Graphic Design course. The programme develops skills, creativity, problem solving and encourages risk taking allowing our graduates to progress successfully in their chosen fields. Overview It all starts with an idea or even a BOOM! The BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree programme treats the various subject areas within design not as discrete disciplines but as interweaving lines of enquiry. It is for this reason we operate upon a module structure, which encourages individual creativity. Our strength is in our determination to provide a pro-active, creative atmosphere, which observes and responds to current and future working practices. We run a small tight-knit course of around twenty students in each year, this allows us to really get to know you as learners and you in turn to always have a tutor available to discuss your practice. Key facts Graphic Design Undergraduate Qualification BA (Hons) Graphic Design Art and Design Awarded by Recent examples of work include:

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3 About this course Why should I do this course? our programme is designed to enable you to work on industry live briefs to ensure you are fully prepared from day one to enter the industry you will be part of a relatively small group, rarely more than 20 students, so you will receive personalised support from your tutor you will have access to the latest creative programmes on Macs, print making studios, vinyl cutters, 3D printers and a dedicated studio for graphic designers What's covered? Industry links With staff practicing in various areas of design, strong and progressive links with industry are also integrated within the course structure. Live projects and briefs have been set by leading practitioners, companies and publications in recent years, including leading advertising agency Oglivy Mathers, Kew Gardens and Universal Studios. Students are encouraged to visit design studios and speak with employers about their work prior to graduation. Previously, the course has invited industry leaders to attend portfolio reviews to select students for placement. Exposure Visibility is essential and our students are strongly encouraged to organise, host and promote their work through static exhibitions (locally and nationally), digital platforms (websites, blogs) and end of year shows. Students are encouraged to visit design studios and speak with employers about their work prior to graduation.

4 Previously, the course has invited industry leaders to attend portfolio reviews to select students for placement. Work experience and live briefs There are two work experience modules as part of the programme, one in the second year and another in the third. Recent examples of live briefs include: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: corporate identity and brand for education department Saffron Rose 4 Rett Charitable Trust in Gibraltar: poster for their Tequila Tasting Night FML Insurance: re-brand of insurance agency Heybridge Publicity: website design Tovi Ecopark: brand design Laurelle London: design packaging for perfume Recent examples of work placements include: Black Square Litho Printing Southend Council - Really Smart Homes Men s Health magazine Reveal magazine Charsley Stewart design agency Jaguar Design Footprint Design The Guardian newspaper The Sun newspaper The Financial Times newspaper Field trips There are several fields trips to support your learning including: design agencies in London Design Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum trip to Amsterdam Contact hours First year: 15 hours per week Second year: 15 hours per week Third year: 8 hours per week Teaching methods Modules are delivered through a variety of methods of teaching and learning. These will include: technical demonstrations - designed to provide essential inductions to print and graphics resources and to support the acquisition of essential skills small group teaching - studio based group sessions which are led by a tutor

5 group crits - will usually occur towards the end of a module before assessment individual tutorials - The tutor will ask key questions regarding your project and offer advice and suggestions regarding future development independent research and studio practice - during the module students are expected to follow up on suggested directions regarding project direction Meet the course leader John, pictured aged six on holiday in Woolacombe John Chandler, Course Leader BA (Hons) Graphic Design As course leader John brings a wealth of experience in education having worked for a number of establishments both in the UK and the USA. John has been course leader since 2012 having worked on the course since John s main creative career has been as a Freelance Illustrator. He has undertaken many commissions including the illustration of several books amongst which are the Gary Rhodes Cook Pack by Van Der Meer, Body Language by Alan Pease and The Mighty Book of Boosh by the Mighty Boosh. John has also been a regular contributor to The Independent on Sunday, DIVA Magazine and The London Magazine. As well as illustration John has also worked on many other projects including artist in residencies with The RSPB and c2c Rail and exhibited at the Millennium Dome, now the 02. John is a published author and has written and illustrated a number of books the last one being Picking up the Threads published by Pitch which looks at why football teams wear the colours they do, it was described by magazine as a great book to read on the bog. Outside of the creative sphere John is a big West Ham fan, avid reader, is married, has a daughter and two cats, Popcorn and Wheelbarrow. How will my work be assessed? Coursework is assessed in a range of different ways in order to accommodate a variety of learning styles and aptitudes including portfolio and sketchbook submissions, group presentations, written essays and research folders. There are no examinations.

6 What can I do after this? Many of our graduates find employment with design studios or set up as freelance designers for design studios, advertising agencies, publishing houses, printing firms or web and digital design studios. Others choose to further their studies through postgraduate education. The positive atmosphere on the programme often results in some of our graduates starting their own graphic design studios; one example of this is award-winning local design studio, Six Red Squares. You can also progress to further study with universities such as University of the Arts London, including: MA Graphic Design Communication MA Graphic Media Design MA Communication Design MA Graphic Branding and Identity Additional costs You may need to purchase art materials for your course which will vary according to your solution to particular briefs. For example the quality of paper will vary in price. Some costs you should factor in include: Second year students should own a good quality portfolio case to assist when applying for work placements or attending job interviews, this will cost approximately 50. Third Year students will show their work at an industry event such as New Blood, this will cost approximately 200, but will hopefully be off-set by sponsorship and fund-raising. Additional costs for larger purchases will again vary according to the requirements of individuals (for example some may wish to purchase a digital SLR camera, but most wouldn t). All students will have access to the University and Forum outside of University hours but many choose to purchase a Mac to assist their studies. Students wishing to do this will get an HE discount and the cost of this (dependent on the model you choose) is approximately You will also qualify for a discounted sign-up to Apple s Creative Suite which will give you access to Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, etc for 15 per month (at time of writing). Please note that as this course may incur more than the normal printing costs, the University currently gives BA Graphics students double the yearly amount of free printing at time of writing this is per year. Graduate destinations Employers of our graduates have recently included: Jaguar Design Black Square Litho Printing BBB Midi magazine publishers Roamers Caterers Compass Creative Financial Times 07 Heaven Design

7 Structure Year one An emphasis on the core skills of graphic design you will need as a designer, coupled with an encouragement to take risks, make year one an exciting introduction to the course. When we say risks we mean risks, we d much rather you fail spectacularly every now and again than produce safe-outcomes well within your comfort zone. We want you to shake things up! Modules Introduction to Graphic Communication: This unit will introduce learners to the fundamental skills of Graphic Design. The students will explore through practices and theory the use and application of different hand rendered, computer application media and the appropriate application of image and type in various graphic disciplines. Historical and Contextual Studies: This unit offers a broad introduction to contemporary cultural studies, and its link into more traditional art and design history. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of the subject but to introduce students to sufficient themes and discourses within this area of study for them to explore areas of personal interest which fall outside of the indicative unit content. The unit is designed to be viewed as a companion to the practical units concurrently undertaken by students, so that academic and visual research undertaken for this unit will also inform their own design production. Illustration: This unit will introduce learners to the fundamental skills of illustration, including narrative image making and the principles of image making applications. The students will explore through practices and theory the use and application of different hand rendered and computer application media within the confines of illustration. Digital Design Solutions: This unit offers a broad exploration of the most frequently used digital design software applications and a critical examination of their scope and limitations for the creative designer. The unit aims to develop students' digital design skills building upon hand rendered methods and the links between these two approaches which will be explored so that students will begin to be able to select design methods fit for purpose. Students will be encouraged to demonstrate their knowledge and formulate independent and analytical approaches to working relating to the digital design process. They will explore the visual language and the structure of communication through digital design experimentation. Typography 1: This unit will introduce learners to the fundamental skills of typography. Students will be required to develop their basic knowledge and practical skills in the use of typography, within a blended understanding of using type with appropriate imagery (illustrative, tactile, digital and/or photographic) being the overall goal. Students will be encouraged to look at the subject of typography in terms of the argument of legibility versus illegibility, contextual use and application. Alternative Media & Thinking: This unit will explore the use of visual language to communicate with a specified target audience. The creative and imaginative use of photographic, graphic and illustrative imagery in 2D and 3D will form the basis of each student's response and allow each to explore how to represent effective meanings without necessarily showing the subject matter pictorially. Discussions about a variety of visual considerations including style, genre, signs, analogies and cultural symbolism appropriate to a specified context will be investigated. Year two

8 You will be introduced to the key concepts of visual communication, focusing on collaborative, experimental and independent ways of working. We ll continue setting you challenging briefs; just how do you produce a piece of packaging for a Knock, Knock joke? Or how do you design a map with a tea bag for inspiration? You will also begin to explore the creative industries via a personal and professional development programme, while your own practice is enhanced through critically analysing the work of others. Modules GD 201 Experimental Design Solutions: Students will examine the practical aspects of merging the best of traditional and new (digital etc) mediums to explore how these constraints positively affect aesthetic beauty, accessibility, balance, legibility, and ease of use for viewers of an intended visual message. This unit also contrasts key differences between meanings and messages which are intentionally designed with or without the use of other forms of visual imagery. Corporate ID & Branding: This unit deals with corporate identity and the core values of branding. Students will be expected to research the historical origins, philosophy, culture and contexts that have helped develop the concept of corporate identity. Students will also consider and gain practical experience of creating effective design solutions that focus on branding. Professional Promotion and Industry Research 1: This unit will give students the opportunity to investigate the scope of careers available within the wider field of graphic design, to consider specialisms within this field that may be of interest to them, to prepare personal promotional materials, and to undertake primary industry based research, ideally through a work placement, however in the event that this is not possible, through job shadowing, interviews, or other forms of research. Typography 2: In this unit, students will acquire knowledge about typographic principles and theories and then apply this knowledge to a directly relevant practical assignment. The key for each student is identify and use these kinds of information resources to better examine how type design and typographic hierarchies can enhance, inform and even alter their design process not only in the context of this units practical assignment, but also within the broader contexts of their developing and maturing graphic design practice Cultural Contexts and Dissertation Proposal: The purpose of this unit is to assist students in developing appropriate research, statistical and critical methodologies to support their dissertation, and construct an appropriate proposal for their dissertation. Students will be required to engage with a range of critical and analytical methods; to consider their underlying assumptions and to assess their limitations. Self Directed practice (placement): This unit will provide the opportunity to develop an understanding of the graphic designer in a commercial setting. The placement will give awareness to the business of and allow students to analyse the roles, responsibilities and the necessities of communication, teamwork and the development of their own personal skills within the graphic industry and should complete a minimum of 60 hours. The specific content of this module is therefore defined primarily by the student, but it will also provide a clear framework within which a research timetable supports a period of self-directed study, followed by a phase of conceptual, technical and aesthetic exploration that will lead towards development of an independent process. If unsuccessful in obtaining a work placement, this unit will be linked to a live project brief to attain the credits required. (The live project brief will require a similar time commitment to a placement and will run alongside other on- going projects). Year three The focus of this year encourages you to move towards a more self-directed programme of study. You will work on set and self-initiated projects, prestigious competition briefs and live industry projects, whilst establishing

9 professional practice links and completing your dissertation. The third year is all about you re-inventing and challenging the world of graphics. Modules Dissertation: This unit allows for the opportunity to develop a critical awareness, in-depth research, and to form a sustainable argument for an area of investigation. Students will negotiate with a supervisor a line of enquiry that is relevant to their chosen field of study and undertake an avenue of research that could, but is not limited to, Graphic Design. Industry-led Brief: In this unit, students will be entering one of the major industry competition briefs such as the Penguin Design awards or the D&AD New Blood awards. These industry led briefs are recognised industry-wide and can lead to significant opportunities for winners. Students will be encouraged to develop their opinions and views about how live briefs should be approached. Students will review key areas of industry principles which can assist their final year's progression regardless of any specialised or generalised interests. Subject Realisation: The aim of this unit is to identify a subject of personal significance and a working process that has the potential for sustained investigation. Learners will review and examine work produced in year two of the programme and address their choice of media and working process through discussion and exploration of alternative practices and media. By establishing a critical statement of intent, learners will form an intellectual and creative foundation for their final major project. Professional Promotion 2: By this stage of the degree students will be considering the next steps of their career, be it for example working for a company, setting up as a freelance designer, or further study. This unit will give students the opportunity to consider the options available to them, and to prepare appropriate promotional materials. In addition it will tie in with the Subject Realisation, so that each student will have the opportunity to produce self-promotional materials as advertising for their end of year show, and for distribution to prospective clients and employers who will visit the show. Fees Low-cost higher education Our fees are well below the national average and are among the lowest in the region, so studying with us is great value for money! Click for more about higher education funding. Entry requirements You will need a minimum of 160 UCAS points from one or more of the following: at least two A-levels BTEC/UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma/Subsidiary Diploma/Certificate [QCF] BTEC National Award/Certificate/Diploma [NQF] Access to Higher Education Diploma International Baccalaureate AQA Baccalaureate Progression Diploma Advanced Diploma

10 Powered by TCPDF ( You will also need GCSE English at grade C (old specification) or Grade 4 (new specification) or above OR a Level 2 equivalent such as functional skills. To find out how many points your qualifications are awarded, view the UCAS Tariff tables. You will also be required to undertake a portfolio based interview. Portfolios should include examples of recent project work and may reference a variety of media. Exceptional Entry Applications from mature students who do not possess the entry requirements as listed above, but who possess related professional experience or professional qualifications, are welcome to apply. You will need to demonstrate by interview, exceptional entry portfolio (this is likely to include evidence of paid or unpaid work experience) and/or written assessment that you are suitable for the course. In the first instance we suggest you contact HEAdmissions@southessex.ac.uk to discuss your application. Applying Full-time courses Applications for full-time courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), quoting institution code S43 and the UCAS code for your chosen course. Part-time courses (incl. short full-time) Applications for all part-time Honours Degree, Foundation Degree, PGCE, CertEd, Certificate of Higher Education and Diploma of Higher Education courses at South Essex College should be made directly to the College using the online application form or by completing a paper application form and mailing it to our freepost address: HE Admissions South Essex College Freepost SMU 110 Luker Road Southend on Sea Essex SS1 1BR Need more info? Take a look at applying for your course» Course options Venue Starts Attendance Duration Provision Course code Cost Southend Campus (Luker Road) Monday, September 19, 2016 Full time 3 years Higher Education W Apply Now