BA (Hons) Graphic Design BA (Hons) Graphic Design & Illustration 2013-2014 Leicester Media School
Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Exploring your subject 4 1.2 Four key themes 5 2 Programme Team 2.1 Programme Team contact details 6 3 Programme Overview 3.1 Programme progression model 7 3.2 Module structure of programmes 8 3.3 Programme overview: Level 4 (year 1) 9 3.4 Programme overview: Level 5 (year 2) 10 3.5 Programme overview: Level 6 (year 3) 11 2
1. Introduction 1.1 Exploring your subject Graphic Design as a subject provides a framework for developing skills, knowledge and understanding that supports your aspirations to enter the creative industries at a high level of responsibility or to undertake further study at postgraduate level. The study of the subject supports the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that are applicable to a range of visual communication disciplines. These include printmaking, photography, typography, information design, illustration, animation, graphic systems, book- - - making, publishing, interactive design, broadcast graphics, packaging, art directing, editorial design, advertising and branding. In addition, the subject develops core art and design skills: abstraction artworking audience empathy brief writing career planning client liaison/relationship building conceptualisation contextual knowledge craftworking critical awareness display and exhibition skills ideation process iterative process juxtaposition literature searching personal organisation primary and secondary research project planning project management problem- - - solving observation reflective practice team working transformation verbal explanation verbal presentation visual information analysis visual information synthesis working to a brief. 3
1.2 Four key themes Graphic Design at De Montfort University concentrates on the creative aspect of the subject developing ideas and communicating thinking. This is in direct response to the need of the creative industry for innovative graphic communicators and problem- - - solvers. To achieve this, the curriculum develops four key themes involving the whole person: Investigation using your eyes: seeing, researching, observing, visualising Information using your head: thinking, theories, principles, concepts Imaging using your hands: doing, media, techniques, processes, craft Intuition using your heart: feeling, judgments, critical analysis, reflection, response. These four themes overlap and are related to level of study, learning patterns and level of tutor support. For example, simple observational drawing obviously requires some hand- - - eye co- - - ordination, but also visual investigation (looking and seeing), critical judgment about whether it looks right and some understanding of the principles of still- - - life drawing. The aim of the course is to produce graduate graphic designers who excel in the creative, craft and conceptual aspects of the subject. These designers will then be able to continue to develop in a rapidly- - - changing commercial environment, since the course has equipped them with a high level of intellectual development, graphic literacy and technical skill. The programme progression model shows how you will develop these key themes across the three years of the course. Throughout your course, you will be expected to engage in research, not only as prescribed in a project or assignment, but as part of your natural investigative processes as a designer. Many successful designers are habitually: Curious Recording Collecting Questioning 4
2. Programme Team 2.1 Programme team contact details Please refer to the list below for our contact details. You may not be able to contact part- - - time tutors out of term time, or when they are actually teaching, and to some extent this applies to all of the teaching team, so it s generally better to contact us by e- - - mail at all times. Management & Administration Stephen Brown Diane Taylor Clark Summers Head of School Associate Head of School Course Administrator sbrown@dmu.ac.uk dtaylor@dmu.ac.uk csummers@dmu.ac.uk 0116 257 7173 0116 257 7392 0116 257 7671 Graphic Design Course Core Team Ben Archer John Crawford GD Course Leader Year 2 Tutor Year 1 Tutor Module Leader Module Leader GRDN2001/2 3003 GRDN1001/2 jcrawford@dmu.ac.uk barcher@dmu.ac.uk 0116 257 7539 0116 207 8291 Ian Newsham GDIL Course Leader Module Leader ILLU1002 2002 inewsham@dmu.ac.uk 0116 207 8730 Emma Powell Year 3 Tutor Module Leader GRDN3001/2 epowell@dmu.ac.uk 0116 207 8538 TBA Module Leader GRDN1003 2003 @dmu.ac.uk 0116 250 6147 Brian Motte GD Tutor advertising & branding GRDN2002 3001/2 bmotte@dmu.ac.uk 0116 250 6147 Gary Fozzard GD Tutor Interactive media GRDN2002 3001 gfozzard@dmu.ac.uk Jeff Avery GD Tutor Interactive media GRDN2002 3001 javery@dmu.ac.uk 0116 257 7567 Technical Support & Library Staff Mark Thrower Tim Hall Carol Keddie IT Support, Portland Bldng IT Support, Fletcher Bldng Subject Librarian, Art & Design mthrower@dmu.ac.uk thall@dmu.ac.uk ckeddie@dmu.ac.uk 0116 257 7580 0116 250 6290 0116 207 8039 Kimberlin Library, via main desk 5
3. Programme Overview Each level of study you undertake has a different, but strategic and integrated role in developing your skills and potential as a graphic designer. The Progression Model below profiles each level and the skills you will be expected to be developing and demonstrating at the end of each level. Please note that the increasing student independence, reduced tutor input is not a stop/start proposition this is something that happens gradually throughout the duration of the course. 3.1 Programme progression model Level 4/Year 1: ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONS INVESTIGATION IMAGING INTUITION INFORMATION core tools experimental responsive foundational Level 5/Year 2: PURPOSEFUL LEARNING increasing student independence, reduced tutor input INVESTIGATION IMAGING INTUITION INFORMATION applied integrated informed specialist Level 6/Year 3: AUTONOMOUS LEARNING increasing student independence, reduced tutor input INVESTIGATION IMAGING INTUITION INFORMATION self- - - directed personal, refined, self- - - initiated professional objective 6
3.2 Module structure of programmes: Graphic Design/Graphic Design & Illustration Level 4 / Year 1 Core modules GD/GDIL GRDN1001 Graphic Studies Context & Communication (includes Critical & Contextual Studies (CCS)) 60 credits double module GRDN1002 + ILLU1002 Image- - - Making GRDN1003 + ILLU1003 Media for Print Level 5 / Year 2 Core modules GD/GDIL GRDN2001 Integrated Graphic Studies (includes Critical & Contextual Studies (CCS)) 60 credits double module GRDN2003 + ILLU2003 Media for Screen + pathway modules GD GRDN2002 Applied Graphic Studies + pathway modules IL ILLU2002 Applied Illustration Studies Level 6 / Year 3 Core modules GD/GDIL GRDN3001 Major Negotiated Pathway Projects (includes Critical & Contextual Studies (CCS)) 60 credits double module GRDN3002 Creative Competition Projects GRDN3003 Applied Professional Practice Studies 7
3.3 Programme overview: Level 4 (year 1) Level 4/Year 1 of Graphic Design enables you to explore the fundamentals of graphic communication and discover your direction and potential. In this context, the fundamentals serve as a foundation. They can be returned to and studied repeatedly with greater degrees of complexity. This can bring you closer to philosophical and theoretical perspectives on the subject, and lead to further study in related disciplines. Fundamental concepts are simple and time- - - proven; they relate to how we create graphic information and ideas and how audiences respond to them. Level 4/Year 1 is the year to experiment with ideas and visual language, pushing the competencies you have achieved so far. You need to explore your creative potential and extend your range of skills and thinking through learning from tutors and peers, as well as personal influences. Level 4/Year 1 is also concerned with building a sense of community between you, your fellow students and the course team, to develop a shared vocabulary based around the design process and, in a practical sense, what it means to become a graphic communicator. Lastly, Level 4/Year 1 develops your personal direction to the point where you can select specialist pathways available at Level 5/Year 2 in preparation for Level 6/Year 3. You should feel confident in making an informed choice of specialist study. During your final weeks of study, you should meet with your personal tutor to discuss your choices and direction for Level 5/Year 2 study. Graphic Design/Graphic Design and Illustration Level 4/Year 1 modules GRDN1001 Graphic Studies - - - Context and Communication 60- - - credit double module Module leader: Ben Archer Studio tutors: Ben Archer, Ian Newsham CCS tutors: Ruth Jindal, Ming Turner GRDN1002 + ILLU1002 Image- - - making Module leader: Ian Newsham Drawing tutors: Wendy Newsham, Wendy de Verteuil GRDN1003 + ILLU1003 Media for Print Module leader: Ben Archer Digital media tutor: TBA Printmaking tutor: Nick Mobbs Photography tutor: Anna Smalley 8
3.4 Programme overview: Level 5 (year 2) By this point in your studies you will have explored and developed an understanding of the fundamentals underpinning Graphic Design and gained confidence in your skills as a visual communicator. In addition, at the end of Level 4/Year 1, you will have decided in what area of study you want to specialise. Level 5/Year 2 is about more than just specialising, however. It marks an important transition in your study as you develop from academic foundations towards independent purposeful learning. You will begin to take more responsibility for engaging with your studies at a higher level. Skills and knowledge you developed at Level 4/Year 1 will now allow you to explore the subject with more freedom and creativity, to achieve a higher level of technical and intellectual accomplishment, and, working with your personal tutor, to set appropriately higher goals for your personal development over the subsequent year. Level 5/Year 2 is designed to equip you with the full range of skills, knowledge and experiences to manage your studies effectively in Level 6/Year 3, and to be confident that you can attain your personal goals. Graphic Design/Graphic Design and Illustration Level 5/Year 2 modules GRDN2001 Integrated Graphic Studies 60- - - credit double module Module leader: John Crawford Module lccs tutors: Ruth Jindal GRDN2002 Applied Graphic Studies Module leader: John Crawford Advertising tutor: Brian Motte Editorial design tutor: John Crawford Interactive tutor: Gary Fozzard Packaging design tutor: Ben Archer Photography tutor: TBA Printmaking tutor: Nick Mobbs Bookmaking tutor: Emma Powell ILLU2002 Applied Illustration Studies Module leader: Ian Newsham Interactive tutor: Gary Fozzard Photography tutor: TBA Printmaking tutor: Nick Mobbs Bookmaking tutor: Emma Powell Powell GRDN2003 + ILLU2003 Media for Screen Module leader: Ian Newsham/John Crawford Digital media tutors: Dan Morley, Sophie Mitchell, TBA 9
3.5 Programme overview: Level 6 (year 3) Level 6/Year 3 is the transition point between your studies and your career, or further study at postgraduate level. Successfully completing Level 5/Year 2 will have equipped you with the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to take charge of your own learning to achieve autonomous learning. Level 6/Year 3 autonomous learning involves negotiating, planning, managing and implementing a major design project or undertaking a significant piece of research within your chosen specialism. Level 6/Year 3 also contains significant opportunities to work closely with industry, and to undertake live competition projects from industry, as well as developing skills and knowledge to enable you to make the transition into professional practice. The most significant aspect of Level 6/Year 3 is that you will take the major responsibility for generating your own work. There will be opportunities to add to your professional practice marks through enterprise activities, such as: Mentoring students from other year groups by acting as a Guru, as part of the Guru mentoring scheme Undertaking a major piece of freelance work, or work placement Designing, developing and promoting your own graphic brand as an emerging practitioner Working on promotional concepts, organising sponsorship and fund- - - raising events as part of the degree show publicity team. The climax to the year is the Degree Show, where you will present an exhibition of your best work for public viewing, along with your portfolio and contact details. This is also the point when industry comes to recruit junior designers or select graduates for internship, placement or freelance work. In addition to your studio work, a major piece of written material allows you to research and investigate a design- - - related historical or contemporary topic of particular interest or relevance. This should be related to one of your major projects this year. It could also be a critical contextual biography, demonstrating reflective analysis of your personal pathway of investigation. Graphic Design/Graphic Design and Illustration Level 6/Year 3 modules GRDN3001 Major Negotiated Pathway Projects 60- - - credit double module Module leader: Emma Powell CCS tutors: Ruth Jindal, TBA GRDN3002 Creative Competition Projects Module leader: Emma Powell GRDN3003 Applied Professional Practice Studies Module leader: John Crawford 10
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