BA (Hons) Graphic & Communication Design
The course provides a studio and workshop atmosphere where the skills and disciplines of graphic and communication design (e.g. digital, illustration and printmaking) can be fully explored. This is supported by state-of-the-art teaching facilities including specialised classrooms, workshops, a printmaking/bookmaking room, photography studios and Apple Mac suites, to ensure you get the finest experience. You will be introduced to the role of the contemporary graphic designer and will develop innovative and original ideas, whilst working with a range of processes and formats in response to the ever-changing demands of the professional industry.
The course provides you with the skills and disciplines needed to embark into the creative industries with confidence. You can also take part in international design competitions and live projects, as well as listening to talks from visiting practicing designers and artists. The course offers a wide-ranging and specialist practice - the course structure allows you to balance the relationship between breadth and specialism, giving the designer room for exploration and experimentation.
UCAS Code: W210
UCAS Institution Code: Y70
Modules
| Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Typography: Design Projects | Branding Design Projects | Research Project |
| Digital & Photography | Contextual Influences 2 | Independent Project |
| Contextual Influences 1 | Narrative Storytelling | Creative Futures |
| Print & Bookmaking Workshops | Professional Practice | Competition Briefs |
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for this course are 72 UCAS tariff points, a Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject or A Levels. Maths and English must be at a minimum of a grade 4. Significant relevant prior learning and experience will also be considered. You might be asked to submit a portfolio of work to support your application.
On receipt of your application, you will be asked to provide a portfolio that demonstrates your ideas and abilities creatively. This may showcase work you have done at school or college, or alternatively this may capture independently devised projects. You will then be invited for interview in which you are able to discuss the course and ask any questions you may have.
How will I be assessed?
Students will develop portfolios of work in response to a brief, these portfolios will be assessed. You will also be encouraged to present ongoing work to your peers and staff as well as industry figures and design studios.
Skills you will learn
Throughout the degree students will develop skills in; a range of digital design skills, conceptual and theoretical methods of design, visual and verbal communication skills, understanding of the creative, social and ethical context of visual communication, critical thinking, creative thinking, analytical response skills, printmaking and photography.
Method of delivery
The programme is delivered face-to-face in the design studios and workshops, where you will learn a wide range of design skills through practical and project-based activity. This is supported by lectures, seminars, tutorials and independent studio practice. You will also take part in field trips, exhibitions, design conferences and cultural centres, as an exciting and memorable way to put knowledge into context.
Additional costs
Course materials, field trips, and printing costs approximately £70 per year. Creative Cloud software license for home use is approximately £16.24 monthly for the first year, then £24.96 monthly after this.
Your next steps
Some students choose to continue study on to postgraduate courses such as Master’s degrees, specialist short courses or teacher training programmes. Upon completion, most students choose to begin their career within the industry in a variety of roles, for themselves or as part of a design agency. On successful completion of the course you might go on to become a Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Web Designer, Editorial Designer, Publisher, Branding Manager, Advertising Executive or Brand/Package Designer etc.
“After having my child, I didn’t think that university or studying for a degree would be an option for me without moving away, so I was really pleased when I found out that this degree was offered at York College University Centre.
This course has been very fun and educational, and my tutors are very understanding. I’ve got a huge interest in art and graphics, and this degree has taught me a variety of skills, from book making to web design and photography."
Monica is a designer and loves exploring image and print. She grew up in the south and gained her Master’s degree in Sequential Design and Illustration at the University of Brighton in 2006. During this year she moved to North Yorkshire. Monica studied for her PGCE while teaching the Extended Diploma in Graphic Design and has also taught across the Foundation Diploma and the BA. She has been teaching at York College for 12 years which she couples with her own business. She is still practicing as a designer and is creator of Twenty Birds, a gift and homeware range selling direct to customers and to trade. Bringing this up-to-date industry knowledge to the students enables a bridge from studying through to career.
Lisa is a graphic designer, artist and print-maker. Having achieved a 1st Class Honours degree in Graphic Communications at UCA in 2008, she went on to work for several years as a designer of children’s books, working for publishing houses including Simon & Schuster, Little Tiger Press and Usborne Publishing. After relocating from London to Yorkshire, Lisa completed a Master’s degree in Creative Practice at Leeds Arts University, where she discovered a particular passion for screen printing, which is now her main artistic output outside of teaching.
