Graphic Design, BA (Hons)

Our BA (Hons) Graphic Design programme at UCA Farnham balances traditional practices with future-oriented skills, preparing students for evolving careers in a rapidly changing industry influenced by AI. It offers comprehensive training in graphic and UX design, encouraging confident experimentation with old and new technologies. Students benefit from a supportive environment with expert guidance, a strong student-to-staff ratio, and modern facilities, while engaging in live briefs with partner organisations to explore their creative potential. For related options, consider BA (Hons) Advertising, Illustration, or Visual Communication.The three-year curriculum begins with foundational technical and conceptual skills in Year 1, focusing on the design process through experimentation. Year 2 emphasises specialisation in areas like information design, branding, and digital technologies, promoting research into industry needs. In Year 3, students undertake live international projects, a dissertation, and a major project to demonstrate advanced enquiry and practical application.

In Year 1, you'll learn the technical and conceptual skills that will give you a solid foundation from which to explore the areas of specialist activity that exist under the broad definition of 'graphics'. With tutor guidance and tuition, you'll also investigate the design process itself, ensuring that creative outcomes are reached through a combination of experimentation and formula. The aim is to produce outcomes that have real purpose and that clearly communicate messages and meaning. In Year 2, the focus is on finding your own specialist way of working. This will include (but won't be limited to) information design, publishing and narrative, branding, typography and print media, and digital technologies. Research into the overlap and relationships between these specialist areas will be encouraged, to seek out ways of working that reflect the needs of industry whilst simultaneously exploring the outer reaches of graphic communication. In Year 3 you'll work on live international projects and competitions. You’ll also undertake self-initiated critical and practical enquiry via a dissertation and extensive final major project.