This course fosters creative capability, critical insight, professional awareness, and cultural sensitivity through individual and collaborative work in a contemporary studio setting. Students engage in a dynamic learning environment that integrates practical exploration of materials and processes with theoretical research and analysis, all grounded in professional practice. The interplay of critical theory, industry contexts, and design is essential, promoting problem-solving and innovative techniques. Collaboration underpins the program, enhancing design practices for real-world application, while emphasizing the designer's interdisciplinary role in the creative industries. Extensive connections with studios and agencies provide access to industry speakers, workshops, talks, and live briefs, building confidence for future careers or advanced studies.The program spans three years, beginning with foundational studies in visual language, including typography, image, narrative, and screen-based media in dedicated design spaces. In the second year, students adopt a self-directed approach, focusing on critical assessments, audience considerations, ethics, and live industry briefs through group workshops. The final year emphasizes professional skills in business, marketing, and project management, culminating in a dynamic portfolio via competition briefs and exhibitions. An optional four-year path includes a placement year to boost employability through practical experience.
Year one – Working in dedicated design spaces, you will focus on the fundamentals of visual language. You will investigate methods and design practice around type, language, image, narrative, meaning, and message. You will also explore typography, print, drawing processes, and screen-based media to form a comprehensive understanding of graphic design. Year two – Taking a more self-directed role, you will develop your design practice, critical assessments, and seminars. This is where audience, context, distribution, and ethical issues become fundamental to your practice. We run group workshops and challenge you with innovative live briefs from real industry partners. Year three* – Build on your understanding of professional practice, business, marketing skills, and project management. You will develop a dynamic portfolio of work by participating in a series of self-directed competition briefs as well as creative exhibitions. These industry experiences and professional networks support employment opportunities and advance your understanding of interests you may wish to pursue in your career. *If you choose to study this course over four years, this will include a placement year (also known as a sandwich year, work placement, industrial placement, or year in industry), which provides a fantastic opportunity to enhance your employability and gain practical experience in your field of study. The placement year typically occurs after year two and before year three.
A local representative of Leeds Arts University in Singapore is available online to assist you with enquiries about this course.