MA, PGCE, BA (Hons), FHEA
You are using an outdated browser. Most of this website should still work, but after upgrading your browser it will look and perform better.
- Home
- Undergraduate Courses
- BA (Hons) Creative Direction
BA (Hons) Creative Direction
BA (Hons) Creative Direction spans the creative economy. You'll learn how to engage and develop ideas into full-scale projects that apply themselves to the entire industry – your role as the director oversees them.
- Duration: 3 or 4 years full-time
- Placement year: Optional 1 year
- Course code: W222 (UCAS)
- Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
- Duration: 3 or 4 years full-time
- Placement year: Optional 1 year
- Course code: W222 (UCAS)
- Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
Overview
On BA (Hons) Creative Direction, you'll develop the conceptual thinking, creative problem-solving skills, and strategic vision necessary to occupy a role that's the beating heart of the creative industries – the Creative Director.
BA (Hons) Creative Direction course information
Creative Directors are employed across all sectors of the creative economy, whether that's advertising, the arts, design, fashion, gaming, music, publishing or TV and film. They develop an intimate knowledge of their brand’s customers and direct all communication, controlling every point where their brand encounters their audiences, customers, and users. They do this by developing a team of creatives from a range of disciplines to assist in the design, development and delivery of their organisation’s products or services.
On BA (Hons) Creative Direction, you'll work with a team of designers and content creators of illustration, photography, video and many other mediums and environments to deliver creative solutions to defined problems.
This course aims to nurture innovative and forward-thinking individuals who can shape and influence the creative landscape. It provides a platform for you to explore your creativity, develop leadership qualities, and become industry-ready professionals capable of making a significant impact in the evolving creative industries.
On this course, you'll be introduced to design thinking, learn to encourage problem-solving by learning about the freedom of ideas. You'll learn innovative brainstorm techniques, capturing even the smallest of ideas that'll nurture and grow into solutions that have impact. You'll learn to listen, placing people at the very heart of design projects; being empathetic and responding to client needs and aspirations.
You'll discover industry and consumer insights that lead to the development of innovate solutions to problems. You'll also gain confidence in the idea generation process, learning to trust your own judgement, your design team and to know your customers and users; becoming adept at managing projects, people, and resources to deliver on time and on budget, surpassing expectations at every stage of the process.
There'll be opportunities to engage in a range of hands-on projects, collaborative exercises, and industry simulations, applying learning in real-world contexts. You'll also have the opportunity to work with industry professionals, agencies, and clients, gaining valuable insights and building a professional network.
It's the blend of real-world experience, project management and design skill that makes BA (Hons) Creative Direction unique. At AUB, we're a creative community that represents the industry as a university-wide team. This course places you at the very heart it as you learn to express yourself, design, develop and deliver as a Creative Director.
Placement year
All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.
If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.
Meet the BA (Hons) Creative Direction course team
M.Sc., PGCLTHE, BA (Hons), FHEA
"We're all creatives at AUB, and the Creative Direction course is an opportunity to place yourself at the centre of a vibrant community that reflects the wider creative industries. The most creative act is to design projects that inspire those around you and stimulate the interests of your client’s, their customers, and their users. I look forward to being inspired by your creative ideas."
Watch our videos
Jennifer Anyan (Director of School of Arts, Media and Creative Industries Management) sits down with Fiona Hayes, an international Art Director, Designer, Creative Director and Consultant to discuss her current project, a coffee table book, and the significance of communication and collaboration.
Fiona addresses the challenges of creative direction, emphasising team dynamics and project management. She encourages students to focus on skills and highlights the necessity of personal creativity in the age of AI. The evolving role of creative directors in brand identity is also explored.
This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view
Accept to viewApplication process
Meet our Industry Patron – Fiona Hayes
Meet the Industry Patron for BA (Hons) Creative Direction, Fiona Hayes.
Fiona is a creative director, designer and educator with over 35 years of international experience in publishing, fashion and the art world.
Among other clients, Fiona has developed art direction for Condé Nast across a range of brands, including eight editions of Vogue, and remains Design Director-at-Large for Vogue Hong Kong.
Studios and resources
You'll learn in flexible spaces with the very latest in technology, with equipment sourced specifically for your projects, including audio visual, the latest digital technologies, and sector leading printing facilities.
We provide all the resources that you'd expect to find in a real creative business. Our exhibition spaces include TheGallery, a major resource for contemporary art and design in the South of England with exhibitions that've received both national and international recognition. It hosts several artist talks, panel discussions and other events to support the exhibition programme and is open to the public.
Students on BA (Hons) Creative Direction will also have access to AUB's specialist arts library, print workshop, dedicated Mac suites and a base room.
Teaching, learning and assessment
What our BA (Hons) Creative Direction graduates are doing
Roles achieved by graduates of a similar course, which shares learning with this new course, include:
- Head of Operations at Designwerk
- Global People and Development Manager at Moving Brands
- Marketing Manager at Spotify
- Owner, Founder, Director, Jimmy’s Iced Coffee/Entrepreneur
Trips and visits
The academic year is planned to include educational visits. During the year, at least one excursion to London or another UK cultural hub is available. Due to Bournemouth's proximity to London, excursions can easily be planned to London’s art galleries and museums to supplement academic work. Professional progress as practitioners depends on primary research; trips give you confidence, promote independence, and present opportunities for your future professional and personal development. Any additional trip fees are disclosed before the visit.