Graphic Design, BA (Hons), with industry placement

This broad-based Graphic Design course at the Bath School of Design integrates key aspects of graphic design and illustration practice. Students explore design conventions across print, screen, and interactive media, challenging them through structured modules led by experienced staff. The four-year program includes a Professional Placement Year, where participants undertake 9-13 months of external work experience between their second and final years, supported by career services and bursaries up to £1,500 for costs like travel and accommodation. Through studio-based learning, students develop skills in typography, image creation, and interactive media via workshops in areas such as screen printing, photography, and digital design.In the first year, core modules focus on graphic communications and practical skills, including drawing and animation. The second year emphasizes interactive media and professional development, allowing specialization or an interdisciplinary approach. The final year involves portfolio projects and live briefs to address real client problems, with critiques and written feedback forming the assessment method to refine work and prepare for industry.

Year one – You’ll study carefully-structured studio modules examining the core aspects of graphic communications, typography and image. You’ll learn to conceptualise, produce, and critique type and images. Attending specialist workshops will help you develop practical skills. Workshops include: drawing, screen­printing, letterpress, etching and lithography, photography (analogue and digital), motion graphics, and animation (analogue and digital). You’ll gain an awareness of the industry through a Professional Contexts module, and a contextual framework through a Historical and Critical Studies module. Year two – You’ll explore interactive media in the context of type and image. You can choose to focus on graphic design, illustration or interactive media, or keep an interdisciplinary approach. A Professional Development module will help you consider and develop your professional identity as a practitioner and your Historical and Contextual Studies module will prepare you for your dissertation. Year three – This is the Professional Placement Year. Year 4 – You’ll produce of a series of portfolio projects. Live briefs will give you experience of dealing with clients, real production problems, and solutions. Portfolio clinics conducted by professional designers help you consider and prepare your portfolio before graduation, and career workshops help you get ready for career networking, opportunity finding or further study.