Course description
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Do you find yourself appreciating typography, product packaging, magazine layout or book design? Do you find yourself thinking about the latest brand or curious to witness the impact of what an original design could make?
Our BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree offers you the opportunity to enhance your creative potential through exploratory design initiatives, be it paper, web, digital, animation or print. You’ll determine your own preferred specialism within the wide range of graphic design practice.
The degree will examine the combination and significance of font style, image-making and layout which are the building blocks of graphic design. You’ll explore these through an investigation of visual language, context and dynamics, broadening your understanding, proficiency and expertise.
You will learn to apply problem-solving methods to deliver visually powerful solutions to briefs that effectively communicate information and ideas. You’ll be encouraged to expand your definition of graphic design through brainstorming, researching contemporary practices and techniques in print and new media, and defining and refining your unique house style.
You’ll be challenged and encouraged to expand your definition of graphic design both on and offline. Throughout your course of study, your specialist tutor will support you and your work, enabling you to work independently, ready for the world of visual creative.
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Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
Graphic Design is an open access degree; this means that there are no formal qualifications or experience required to join the course. All you need is a passion for the arts, and willingness to learn.
All OCA courses require students to be IT literate, have a good internet connection, and have a good standard of English equivalent to CEFR B2.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the institute website.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Final Award Title and Type: BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Upon successful completion of the course students are able to:
- Demonstrate a personal creative voice through the use of creative, analytical, visual and practical skills, techniques and media
- Articulate a critical and contextual understanding of contemporary graphic design practice and their location within it
- Generate creative ideas and solutions, adapting and translating them into outcomes that communicate effectively
- Demonstrate informed and rigorous research, enquiry and reflection
- Select and apply creative, visual, technical and analytical skills in the realization and presentation of suitable ideas in response to a range of projects and/or contexts
- Develop an autonomous, sustainable and reflective practice that can be applied to professional, post-graduate and/or personal development contexts
Training Course Content
Core Units
At Level 1 (HE4) you will complete one mandatory unit, Graphic Design 1: Core Concepts. This unit introduces the use of basic visual language and the application of practices and processes of graphic design. You’ll have the opportunity to develop practical competencies, explore your creative potential, and appreciate how to communicate effectively.
Study at Level 2 (HE5) is underpinned by two core units: one specialist unit in graphic design, Graphic Design 2: Working with a Client, and one diverse unit, Visual Skills 2: Visual Exploration. The second unit contains graphic design options that support a process-led approach to generating ideas and developing visual and technical skills across a choice of media and technologies.
A shared structure of course units at Level 3 (HE6) provides a framework for you to contextualise your practice, develop a specialist understanding of graphic design, synthesise critical ideas and visual work through a body of written and visual research (Graphic Design 3: Visual Research), and undertake a self-directed major project (Graphic Design 3: Advanced Practice) culminating in an exhibition and/or publication (Graphic Design 3: Sustaining your Practice).
Optional Units
Alongside the core unit at Level 1 (HE4), you can choose to study either Book Design 1: Creative Book Design, a course unit exploring editorial layout and design and/or Visual Skills 1: Visual Dynamics, a course unit that provides a practical framework to explore and develop your creative processes.
If you choose to study only one of these units, you can go on to take a third elective course unit, choosing from a range of disciplines including:
- Visual Communication 1: Graphic Fiction
- Illustration 1: Key Steps in Illustration
- Illustration 1: Illustration Sketchbooks
- Photography 1: Expressing your Vision
- Visual Studies 1: Creative Arts Today
Course delivery details
As a flexible degree, you can complete the programme in 4–9 years, with a maximum of three years to complete each level of the course.
Expenses
UK 2020/21 Fees
- Foundations: £900 per course
- Level 1 (HE4): £4,050 for the level
- Level 2 (HE5): £3,340 for the level
- Level 3 (HE6): £3,340 for the level
Outside of the UK 2020/21 Fees
- Foundations: £1,050 per course
- Level 1 (HE4): £4,500 for the level
- Level 2 (HE5): £3,690 for the level
- Level 3 (HE6): £3,690 for the level
Continuing Studies
Upon completing the BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree, you’ll be set with skills to help you navigate the workplace. You could use your practice across a variety of professions such as a graphic designer, illustrator, web designer, print designer, wireframer, marketeer – the choice is yours. Prospects can help you with a variety of options of where your degree could take you.