Visual Communication, BA (Hons)

Course summary

This course provides a multidisciplinary environment that focusses on design methods. This practical course is ideal for students who want to explore a breadth of creative sectors, pursue their own interests, and work directly with industry for real-world results. Through a carefully structured three-year process, we will teach you to become a highly-skilled and creative visual communicator with an authentic and individual voice, ready for employment in the creative industries.Learning through doing is central to our approach. You will be given opportunities to develop analogue and digital skills in a wide range of media throughout the course, including illustration, photography, video, graphic design, 3D making and event design. You will then apply these skills to a range of practical briefs using a carefully structured problem-solving approach, drawing upon our staff’s extensive academic and industry experience.Employability through work-related learning is another core aspect of the course. We provide regular opportunities to work on live projects, and students routinely engage with the local community, business clients, and external partners to produce solutions for real commercial enterprises.Our successful alumni work in various industries, including illustration, television, photography, graphic design, film, animation, visual merchandising, and teaching. Graduate employers include leaders in all areas of the creative sector. In addition, many former students are now established freelance practitioners working for clients across the UK and overseas.

Year one – Core principles of design and communication are introduced within graphic design, photography and film, printmaking, and illustration. Through practical briefs, you will unpick communication processes including persuasion, narrative, documentary, and reportage, where your own interests will inform the content of your work. You may have the opportunity to collaborate with other students across disciplines at the University. You may also work with businesses and communities in the city and exhibit your work. Year two – You will develop your creative practice and apply your skills to real life-projects (whether self-directed, client-based or competitions). During the year, you will start to investigate the professional world related to your emerging practice. This specialism could be in any number of applications or subject areas, as directed by your own interests. You will develop an impressive portfolio of work to help secure vital work experience. Year three – In the last year you consolidate the focus of your creative practice. You will develop your professional and entrepreneurial skills through engagement with visiting professionals, external events, and exhibitions. Work culminates in the realisation of a graduate folio which reflects your individual philosophy and career aspirations as a creative thinker and visual communicator.