BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Full Time)

The BA Graphic Design course team believes that visual communicators should explore new ground and set trends. This course enables students to create a unique portfolio that will build the foundations for a design career or for postgraduate study.

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Key elements include:

• Encouragement to become an innovator in research and design
• Support to develop comprehensive visual communications enquiry skills
• Comprehensive study of culture, concepts and technology needed to thrive in today’s design industry
• Support to experiment, challenge the status quo and develop your own visual language
• Opportunities to choose subject areas most suited to your interests and career plans
• Comprehensive induction process and individual feedback throughout the course
• Dedicated graphic design studio plus print, photographic and 3D design facilities
• International field trips to cities such as New York, Amsterdam and Berlin
• Expert staff team with a wealth of professional and research experience
• Visiting design professionals offering up-to-date design insight and industry knowledge.

The quality of learning on this course has been commended by external examiners from major design institutions.

Industrial focus

Employability is at the heart of this course, which is structured to prepare students for work within the design and visual communications industries.

Students are encouraged to enter competitions, and the course has a long history of producing award-winning students and graduates. Live client briefs from the design industry also form an important part of the course.

Our graphics graduates now work as designers, art directors, and interactive and editorial designers. Many also develop successful careers as freelance designers.

Course content

Year 1

Six core units:

• Introduction to the Design Process
• Design Exploration
• Introduction to Typography
• Image Design
• Digital Design
• Design in Context.

Year 2

Four core units and two option units:

• Graphic Structure
• Competitive Context
• New Media Design 1 and 2.

Options:

• Independent Project – Book OR Independent Project – Print
• Solution Process OR Curriculum Plus (Work-based Learning, Foreign Language, Community Volunteering).

Year 3

Three core units:

• Professional Context
• Final Major Project
• Visual Communication Research Project.

Why choose Solent

Studying on our supportive and dynamic degree course, you will develop the skills needed to become an innovative and inventive designers.

• High level of success in recognised national design competitions.
• Offers a wide range of graphic facilities including letterpress, screen printing, print-making, photographic studios, darkrooms, and Apple Macintosh suites.

Assessment

Projects, presentations, group projects, group critiques and the final -year project.

Projects/work experience

Recent project work can be viewed on the course’s own dedicated website: www.southamptongraphics.co.uk|

It contains an electronic exhibition of last year’s final degree show, multimedia work and a selection of the course’s publications.

Key career skills

Creative thinking, presentation, project management, visual communication, evaluation and problem solving.

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Graduate quotes

Diana Garcia, Graduate

“This course gave me the opportunity to develop the skills needed to become an independent and confident graphic designer. The best thing about the course was the opportunity to express and explore my own ideas. There were no restrictions. I had the freedom to experiment and grow as a designer. Each year provided me with a better understanding of visual communication and the design process.

“I am now doing an internship, working full time in a London-based design studio, where I am able to put all the skills and knowledge gained during my degree course into practice in the professional world!”

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Paul Mathews, Graduate

“Winning the overall award for the ‘Chartered Society of Designers’ was a real confidence-booster in my second year, and it made a real difference to my exit portfolio.”

Paul Jones, Graduate

“I was part of the team that applied for, and won, funds to complete an advertising campaign for the British Heart Foundation. This ‘live’ project allowed us to design and organise a campaign with a large print budget attached.”

Key info from UNISTATS