BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy

BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy is an innovative and unique course on which you'll learn the necessary design skills and strategic thinking to excel in the evolving communication landscape. Tailored for individuals passionate about creative design, you'll integrate strategic thinking into your creative process, generating meaningful and impactful communications.

The curriculum takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating creative design, visual identity, digital and print media, advertising, and branding. This is expertly balanced with a focus on business operations, marketing strategies, and consumer behaviour, enabling a robust understanding of both the artistic and commercial aspects of communication design.

Throughout the course, you'll delve into research methodologies, refining your abilities to examine complex issues and make informed strategic decisions. You'll learn to scrutinise markets, recognise target audiences, and comprehend user behaviour, all informing and enhancing your design process.

By the time you graduate, you'll be proficient in creating strategic communication designs that convey messages effectively, tell compelling stories, and promote brands successfully. The skills acquired are transferable across a multitude of industries, presenting graduates with an array of career opportunities, including roles such as marketing strategists, graphic designers, brand strategists, creative directors, and more.

You'll have access to state-of-the-art resources, including a creative studio and computers loaded with industry-standard software. You'll also be encouraged to engage in collaborative work through shared spaces that promote creativity, innovation, and collective learning.

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.

The first year of BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy is structured into three comprehensive units: Introduction to Communication Design, Communicating Ideas through Strategy, and Designing in Context.

The first unit, Introduction to Communication Design, provides an understanding of research methodologies and the design process, complemented by practical skills like image-making, visual thinking, and typography. Emphasis is placed on sketchbook use as a valuable tool for ideation and design exploration. Additionally, you're introduced to basic digital skills, establishing a solid base for future units.

The second unit, Communicating Ideas through Strategy, introduces the aspects of design strategy, idea generation, audience identification, and team collaboration. This unit promotes the crucial role of strategic thinking in effective communication design, including the history and theory of design. You get to explore how research and strategic planning influence the translation of ideas into impactful designs.

The final unit, Designing in Context, expands on your understanding of narrative, audience, environment, and context in communication design. It emphasises the significance of tailoring design decisions to the target audience and environmental factors. The unit also allows you to develop your pitching skills, necessary for presenting your ideas convincingly.

The first year supports you to confidentially study at HE level and provides a solid basis for the second year of the course.

The second year introduces you to more advanced topics via three units: Design Communication and Testing Strategy, Preparing for Creative Industries, and Design Practice and Strategy.

In Design Communication and Testing Strategy, you'll explore designing and defining systems, understanding audience and stakeholders' influence on these systems, and review the role of hierarchy in controlling message and meaning. You'll develop advanced typography skills and you'll be required to enhance their presentation skills. You're also introduced to the concept of prototyping and testing strategies, a crucial part of any design process.

Preparing for Creative Industries is a year-long unit offering industry-focused briefs, enriching guest speaker sessions, and insights into design agencies. It facilitates you in understanding your identity and voice within the creative industry. You undertake self-branding exercises, begin structuring their portfolios, and you're introduced to networking skills. Entrepreneurship opportunities are also covered for those of you who may want to start up your own business venture and preparations for an optional placement year commence, giving you a practical perspective on your career path.

In the final unit, Design Practice and Strategy, you're encouraged to draft your own design proposal with integrating strategy. This includes an expanded learning agreement and a self-initiated project, accompanied by a strategy presented in a written report format. This unit fosters autonomy and allows you to tailor your learning to your specific areas of interest, further enhancing your strategic design capabilities.

In the third and final year, you engage in two units during the first term: Professional Practice and Working Strategies, and Creative Strategy.

The Professional Practice and Working Strategies unit introduces you to real-world applications of your skills, involving you in national competition briefs and working strategies, such as design sprints and agile workflows across various projects. Concurrently, the Creative Strategy unit allows you to demonstrate your gained knowledge through writing a project proposal and a comprehensive report on an existing project brief. This exercise fosters deep research, analysis, and strategic planning to achieve the desired project outcomes.

The last two units, Design Practice and Preparing for Creative Industries 2, span across the second and third terms. The Design Practice unit essentially serves as a final major project, offering you the freedom to craft your own project brief and produce a substantial portfolio piece. This platform enables you to showcase your capabilities and align your work with your career aspirations post-graduation.

In tandem, Preparing for Creative Industries 2 builds on the self-branding exercises and networking opportunities introduced in the previous year. You'll understand the logistics of establishing a business, gaining insights into intellectual property and copyright considerations. This unit fosters awareness of contemporary trends, ensuring that you're well-prepared for a successful career in the fast-evolving creative industries.

• 8 Creative Conscience Awards
• 28 D&AD Awards (Design and Art Direction)
• 1 IDA Award (International Design Awards)
• 35 ISTD Awards (International Society of Type Designers)
• 1 OFFF Festival Award
• 3 RSA Student Design Awards (Royal Society of the Arts)
• 2 YCN Awards (Young Creative Network)

Graduates from our similar, previous courses have gone on to work in a variety of creative industries, from international design agencies and motion graphic studios to book publishers and app developers. They've filled roles such as junior designer at Penguin Random House and art director at AKQA Paris. Alumni have also founded careers at:

• BBC
• BBD
• CHS
• Conrad Design Group
• Dam Digital
• Design Studio
• Dyson
• Eleven Miles
• Elmwood
• EPM Agency
• ITV
• Jack Renwick
• Justified Studio
• Make Studio
• Otherway
• Sky
• Superunion
• Tatler

Roles achieved by graduates from our similar, previous courses include:

• App designer
• Art director
• Artworker
• Brand designer
• Creative director
• Digital designer
• Editorial designer
• Event director
• Game developer
• Graphic designer
• Illustrator
• Interaction designer
• Lecturer
• Marketer
• Motion designer
• Photographer
• Studio founder
• Technician
• Type designer
• Visual merchandiser
• UX/UI artist
• Web designer

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.

Visiting tutors play a pivotal role in the BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy course, as they bring diverse perspectives and unique skill sets, enriching the learning experience and fostering a deeper understanding of the standards and expectations of the creative industries. Industry professionals provide invaluable insights into the creative industry, sharing their expertise and experiences. They conduct workshops, lectures, and participate in critiquing student work, offering constructive feedback from both an education and industry perspective. Their presence can also offer you the opportunity to network and learn about potential career paths, industry trends, and professional practices.