Graphic Design BA (Hons)

We’ll teach you how to turn numbers and facts into engaging visuals like charts and infographics. Find out how to choose the best way to present information—whether it’s stats or stories—and create designs that make sense for the people who will see them. Use professional software to make data functional and attractive. Your goal will be to become adept at making designs that tell a story and are easy to use.

When you finish, you’ll be ready to take on the world as an information designer who can turn tricky ideas into clear, interactive designs that teach and excite people. Come learn how to speak to the world through design.

Working with your peers, you'll utilise library and IT resources to investigate major design movements and influential figures.

You'll use your findings to create engaging visual presentations, and develop core academic and technical skills.
 

Take part in lectures, discussions, and projects to understand how to interpret graphics and design in society, politics, and history. Experienced lecturers will be there to help you refine your academic writing and research skills, all with an eye on visual communication. You’ll look at a variety of media, art, and design to appreciate the strong influence images have.

Finish this module and you'll be ready to analyse and create graphic designs for today's culture, setting the stage for more advanced studies. This is your first step to thinking more critically about how we communicate visually.

Engage with communication theories and enrich your designer's toolkit with novel research methods and creative techniques. From brainstorming to building prototypes and studying real-world examples, we’ll show you how to come up with fresh ideas. You’ll learn to look at other designers’ work critically and find your own creative path, using design thinking as your guide. We’ll help you become a reflective practitioner who can think deeply about your work and talk about it confidently.

Finish this module with a fresh approach to how you research, create, and share your designs. Come and discover how research can drive your creativity to new heights.

You’ll study great work from the past and today, and grasp motion graphic principles from text animation to pacing and sound design. Master the same software that professionals use, from the first idea to the final product. Work with other students like you’re in a real motion design studio, figuring out how to solve design challenges together.

Once finished, you'll have a showreel and portfolio that shows your ability to captivate with motion storytelling. Learn how to be a creative motion designer for all kinds of screens.

You’ll delve into creating grid systems, type compositions, and layouts for both print and digital formats.

Learn about the latest design practices through context-focused study. Use technology effectively for various formats and purposes.

By the end, you’ll have the essential skills needed to create stunning and practical publications.

You’ll enhance your skills in typography, layout, and production. Your focus will be on materials for in-depth reading, like books and journals.

Study examples and learn how to bind books, then get to design and produce your own printed book. You’ll pick out paper, use both digital and screen printing methods, and work with print settings in InDesign software.

Our workshops, tutorials, and feedback sessions will guide you from idea to publication.

This module equips you with essential practical skills for success in typography and editorial design jobs in graphic design.

You’ll look into important topics like sustainability and representation. Learn about the important role you have in society as a graphic designer. We’ll help you think deeply about an issue you care about and then make something that shows your understanding of that issue. You’ll get to talk about challenging ideas in workshops and learn how to look at research without bias.

When you finish, you’ll be ready to tackle tricky questions and use your design skills to make a difference. This module will help you figure out what you stand for, find your unique style, and make thinking about right and wrong a key part of how you create.

You'll test different strategies and how they resonate with target demographics. You'll combine analysis with software mastery, working to commercial deadlines, and demonstrating professional skills.

With core abilities reinforced through lived experience, this module provides invaluable experience of real workplace demands.

You’ll adopt research methodologies to gain insights into user needs and inform design decisions.

You’ll conceptualise solutions that are focused on the human experience and apply UX principles through an industry project. Using technical skills in UX software, such as Figma and Sketch, you’ll craft interfaces that feel intuitive.

This module will enable you to bridge gaps between products and people through user-centric design.

Building upon your foundational experiences from your first year, this module delves into the realm of large-scale graphic design through a blend of cutting-edge analogue and digital techniques.

In this module, you'll immerse yourself in a world where traditional boundaries of graphic design are redefined. You'll engage with a variety of tools and environments, such as the CCIXR, motion and 3D technologies, projection methods, and the Eldon Production Centre. The use of CNC, CAD fabrication tools, and woodworking will not just be an exercise but a journey into creating immersive environments where design is not just seen but experienced.

This module focuses on:

• Understanding design theory and cutting-edge applications for large-scale graphics.
• Experimenting with analogue and digital techniques for creative problem-solving in large-scale projects.
• Integrating emerging technologies into your design practice.
• Developing new methods for data utilisation to produce innovative large-scale graphics.

This module will equip you with unique skills and a standout portfolio for your future career in graphic design.

You’ll experience a new culture by exploring art, design, or performance at an international partner university. This adventure adds a global angle to your learning and helps you develop skills for jobs all over the world.

You’ll work by yourself, think deeply about what you’re learning, and see how it connects to your degree. When you return, you’ll have broadened your creative outlook and job opportunities.

Choosing this module lets you explore diverse approaches and build international connections.

Join a team of creative students and do a project together. Try new things and see how they can help you.

You’ll also grasp how to use your skills with others. Sometimes you’ll be a leader, sometimes a helper. Talk about your ideas and learn from them. You’ll make something to show what you learned and share it with others.

This module helps you gain new skills and understand other fields. You’ll be a smart and creative person, ready to solve real-world problems.

You’ll choose learning tasks that add up to 60 hours, like internships, volunteering, research, or remote study that match your career plans. Workshops will help you make meaningful goals and think about what you’ve accomplished. Through this, you’ll grow the knowledge, skills, and qualities you need to thrive in the workplace.

By looking at your growth through active participation and reading, you’ll become a perceptive, eager job-seeker who stands out.

As a team, you will embark on a journey of entrepreneurship, starting with ideation and ending with the launch of your product or service. You will analyse complex factors influencing a successful launch, conduct thorough research to assess feasibility and gain valuable insights into marketing, manufacturing, and sales strategies.

Working together on pitch presentations, you will discover your strengths as an entrepreneur or team member. This module provides transferable skills essential to thrive in creative industries, whether you plan to launch your own company or seek employment with top organisations. You will develop the mindset and abilities to spot opportunities and act on them, which will benefit your career.

Examine historical representation across disciplines to see how images offer bold perspectives throughout history, as you sharpen your analytical skills by comparing different visual histories and academic arguments. You'll discuss critical issues in using visual culture as a form of historical storytelling. When you finish this module you'll be ready to choose a topic for your final year project.

You'll explore design, fashion, illustration, photography, film, television and online materials associated with feminist art canons, representation of disability and the treatment of victims of true crime on screen. You'll also consider research methods and to prepare for your final year project.

Analysing depictions and theories of the body, you will articulate critical perspectives rooted in textual analysis. With scholarly writing as key outcome, your engagement with academic sources and tutorial support will inform identification of coherent research strands. The module provides conceptual building blocks to anchor studies at the intersection of culture, identity and creative practice.

You get to choose what you want to study deeply. You’ll examine different sources, collect information, and understand the bigger picture. We’ll be there to help you get better at making designs based on your research, picking the best ways to explore your ideas, and explaining why they work. Learn to use different methods—from surveys to prototyping—to effectively share your ideas. You’ll also perfect your abilities in presenting your work and thinking about what makes you unique and skilled.

Gain the confidence and sharp thinking you need as a designer to take on tough projects and come up with exciting new solutions.

You'll apply your previous knowledge to research and execute a significant project on a topic of your choice. The project will involve a lot of visual and written exploration, where you'll experiment with various techniques, methods, and materials.

While working on your project, consider the message it conveys, the setting it will be presented in, and the intended audience. You should also think about how it could be used professionally.

The module will culminate with you presenting your ambitious idea in a professional manner, such as an exhibition, a portfolio, or another suitable platform.

Throughout this module, you'll have the opportunity to refine your graphic design skills, including the ability to receive feedback and make modifications. This experience will prepare you to pursue creative careers or further studies after graduation.

You'll take part in contests by leading design institutions, honing your problem-solving and innovative mindset. We’ll help you refine and show a wide range of technical abilities—from traditional letterpress to modern book cover design—all with professional guidance. Learn to critically evaluate your distinctive style by looking at current design practices. Through expert advice on project handling, you’ll handle pressing deadlines, preparing you to excel in a real-world setting.

When you finish, you’ll have a portfolio that stands out and industry contacts that could help fast-track your professional goals.

Come join us to compete on the world stage and earn esteemed credentials.

You'll build strong organisational and time management abilities like those you'll use in the design industry. Through research, development and practice, you'll work within specific design rules and deadlines.

When you complete this module, you'll have the skills to communicate effectively with clients and demonstrate skills in using design software.

You’ll learn to craft a personal brand and create a striking portfolio that showcases your abilities. We’ll guide you in everything, from writing a standout CV to mastering job interviews, equipping you with the know-how to present your unique brand. Working in a team for our annual showcase will improve your problem-solving creativity and project management skills. 

We’ll also assist you in enhancing your online profile, ensuring you leave the course ready to impress potential employers. 

Realise your full potential and smoothly make the move from student life to a thriving career in the creative industries.

With the guidance of your tutors, you get to select a theme for an extensive research project, commonly known as a dissertation. Your project will showcase your in-depth research and analysis, which will be based on both original and secondary sources.

You will meticulously examine your sources, conduct your own research, and learn the best practices for writing a compelling academic paper. This dissertation project will enhance your ability to formulate research questions, consolidate information, make persuasive arguments, and present your ideas clearly.

Once you complete the project, you will have conducted an in-depth and thorough study. It will demonstrate your profound understanding and interest in a particular aspect of visual culture.

Critically analysing cultural artefacts and debates to formulate a response, you'll engage theory, historical contexts and academic conventions. You'll carry out practice-based research through prototyping and visual studies.

This will culminate in a scholarly body of work and a reflective portfolio that will showcase research mastery and creative thinking.

You’ll spend 24–48 weeks at a chosen company, learning from professionals and helping out with actual projects. Gain confidence, knowledge, and skills by taking on more responsibility with gradually less help. As you progress, you’ll make professional connections and think about how you’re doing. Take in what you learn about how industries and businesses work.

This placement is an ideal chance to grow in your career. By using what you’ve learnt in a workplace, you’ll understand more about your own strengths, what you need to work on, and your plans after you graduate.

After this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get extra credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable part of your education.

This experience lets you learn firsthand how to set up and run a small business. You’ll absorb professional practices and business situations that matter to your entrepreneurial goals. Make important connections while working independently within set rules. Think deeply about your strengths, weaknesses, criteria for success, and future plans.

This opportunity is useful for your career. It lets you use what you’ve learnt in your degree in the real world and helps you understand your capabilities.

After finishing this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get more credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable step in developing an entrepreneurial way of thinking.

During this module, you'll spend 6 months working on your own business venture, then 3 months gaining industry experience. This opportunity allows you to apply what you've learned in a practical setting while exploring different career options. You'll also have the chance to develop professional relationships and expand your network.

Assess your personal strengths and weaknesses to set goals for the future. Throughout the module, you'll demonstrate increasing independence while still valuing the support of others. Gain a broader understanding of the world through real-world experiences and insights. Additionally, you'll earn valuable credits for your CV and enhance your skill set.

By the end of this module, you'll graduate with the practical experience that employers are seeking.

Evaluating international contexts, you'll critically relate on-site activities to your disciplinary knowledge, gaining global creative insights. Working independently abroad, you'll complete relevant assignments, honing skills transferable to your future creative career.

Upon returning, thoughtful reflection will reveal your personal growth as you process new worldviews and cross-cultural competencies. This invaluable opportunity provides a chance to expand your creative knowledge while developing adaptability as a global citizen.

Complete relevant tasks demonstrating your specialised skills and independence.

Gain global perspective, reflect deeply on personal growth, and build valued transferable abilities for professional life after university. Return home with experiences that inspire your practice and understanding of art’s global connectivity.