MA RCA
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BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Graphic Design is about communicating to inform, educate, entertain and persuade.
Graphic design course information
Our graduates go on to play an active role in the creative industries, from branding consultancies to digital design, publishers to packaging. Many of our graduates have established their own companies. Experimentation and discovery are important values on this course. There is no ‘right answer’ and you will be supported to find your own path as you learn more skills. In addition to developing creative design strategies, we encourage you to bring your own experiences and interests to your work. We value conceptual approaches that attract attention, and then evoke an idea or emotion that is relevant and on target.
As a graphic designer, you’ll have to make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations. You’ll have to react quickly to new information, evolving briefs and advances in technology. On this course, you’ll learn to innovate under pressure and handle issues such as user- centred design, sustainability, emerging technology, service design, information design and interactive design. You’ll engage with leading design companies who set briefs, give talks, and help us to develop the curriculum. You’ll discover your own approach to visual problem solving and graduate with the technical, critical, and conceptual skills that are highly prized by the industry.
Our teaching staff are exceptional. We’ve recently been awarded Gold by the TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework) which assess quality of teaching.
They’re inspiring teachers, researchers, industry practitioners and technicians who are all here to support you with your studies and help you to achieve outstanding outcomes.
Level 4 (first year)
In your first year, you’ll be exposed to the full breadth of graphic design skills and solutions.
We’ll introduce you to a range of techniques to explore through the course. You’ll learn the importance of staying flexible to communicate across a broad range of media.
You’ll explore screen, print, interactive, web, typographic and theoretically based issues. Your practical work will depend on writing skills too because graphic design often involves images working with text.
Your first year provides you with the opportunities to develop cognitive, creative and technical skills through integrated theoretical and practical engagement. Units in the first level of the course provide an introduction to fundamental skills, principles, processes and knowledge.
All units in your first year are designed to provide you with experience in the studio and IT areas and to promote confidence in using technical processes, methods and materials necessary to the study of graphic design.
Study at this level provides a broader contextual understanding of the subject. Theory and practice are seamlessly integrated into all units. Skills in research, critical analysis and evaluation, communication of interrelated practices and technologies, are delivered to enhance the student’s creative potential.
Level 5 (second year)
During Level 5 you are required to relate creative aims to critical and contextual frameworks.
Learning agreements drive the self-initiated project in our ‘Innovate: Consolidate’ unit. This allows us to emphasise the progressive change in teaching methods that allows you to develop more confident and reflective approaches to your learning and demonstrate your increased self-directed learning.
Theoretical understanding at Level 5 builds on work undertaken at Level 4 to extend student knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and issues of the visual arts, within appropriate theoretical frameworks.
In the final term, contemporary practice and contextual awareness and research of graphic design is broadened and deepened by the ‘Defining and Refining Themes and Issues’ unit.
Level 6 (third year)
Level 6 encourages you to confirm your particular creative aspirations and to extend the scope and depth of their enquiry.
All subsequent units require you to define your study through Learning Agreements, which you’ll negotiate with the teaching team. These provide a focus to enable you to demonstrate the integration of your learning on the course.
The Major Project unit provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate the maturity of your creativity, intellectual enquiry and expressive abilities. Your final major projects will focus on your identity as an individual designer. You’ll be encouraged to view your project as a springboard into a career and use it to open doors into industry.
Likewise, the ‘Investigative Study’ unit affords opportunities to pursue a programme of advanced independent research, consider links with the Major Project, or demonstrate that the level of skills in research; analysis, criticism and communication are appropriate for entry in employment or postgraduate study.
All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons); however, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you will automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.
For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.
For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.
For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.
A BA without Honours may be awarded if you have achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.
Course team
On the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, you’ll benefit from the expert guidance of our experienced teaching staff. You can read more about their specialisms by exploring their profiles below.
MA, BA, PGCE
PhD, MA, BA(Hons), NTF, FHEA
MA, RCA, PGCHE
BA, MRes, PGCert
MA
MA
MA RCA, BA (Hons)
BA (Hons), MA, FHEA, PGCert
How is Graphic Design changing the world?
How to apply
Once you've found the perfect Undergraduate course, you can apply to study via UCAS, including direct entry applications to second and third year.
When applying through UCAS, use the institution code A66. All of our courses take place on one site, so we don't have a campus code. We'll then use your completed UCAS form to make decisions about your application. You can find out more on entry requirements in our apply section.
When you apply to one of our courses, it's important that you help us get a good picture of both you and your work – so you'll need a great personal statement. We want to know more about why you're interested in the course, your key influences, and what you hope to do after your studies.
If you're invited for an interview, many of our courses will ask to see a portfolio of your work so we can get more insight into your ideas and abilities. To help you, we've created guidelines outlining what we expect from your portfolio for each course.
Student gallery
Take a look at recent student work.
Portfolio requirements
We’ll use the information in your UCAS application to make a decision on your application, including your online portfolio, personal statement and your qualifications.
We’re looking for a passion for graphic design and an ability to articulate your work, be open minded about graphic design, and an understanding of the background behind graphic design.
For courses that require a portfolio review or an audition, the Admissions team will be in touch with you and request a digital portfolio or audition.
We'll hold Offer Holder days in Spring and invite applicants to visit the campus and meet the course team, or if you're unable to visit us you'll be able to attend a virtual Offer Holder Day.
Your portfolio should show evidence of life and observational drawing, typographic design, photography, text and image. We like to see both finished work that shows attention to detail and good craft skills and work sheets that show an understanding of problem solving methodologies.
Your portfolio of work is the most important element of your application, and there are particular things we will be looking for:
- Ideas in any format: sketchbooks, idea sheets, visual diaries
- Conceptual thinking: quality of innovation, imagination, experimentation
- Research and analysis: evidence of questioning and primary investigation
- Typography: basic understanding of subject and expression
- Life drawing: include two or three favourite drawings
- Three-dimensional work, photograph and include images only
Do not just include finished work, we would really like to see how you initiate and develop your ideas
Showcase your key skills in idea creation, typography, photography, problem solving, drawing and digital skills.
Try not to show your work as details in close- up, show the work in its entirety.
Show films as stills or edited storyboards. Please add titles and short captions to describe your film work.
Universities interviewing for creative courses will expect to be presented with a portfolio to help them understand your ability and range of work. Your portfolio could be your golden ticket into receiving an offer so making sure it’s presentable, well-organised and accessible is essential.
Graphic Design is a dynamic creative field and at its core, it is about communicating to inform, educate, entertain, and persuade.
Experimentation, discovery and transformation of ideas into tangible expressions are important values on this course. Process led we gain insight into unfamiliar contexts and explore opportunities to turn user needs into human centred solutions. There’s no right answer and you’ll be supported to find your own path as you learn more skills.
Fees and funding
The fee that you pay the Arts University Bournemouth provides the necessary equipment and training for you to complete your course.
You may also choose to buy some items of personal equipment such as a laptop or tablet computer, but this is not required; desktop and laptop computers are available for you to use in common study areas, including a loan system in the Library.
Learning and teaching
Graphic Design is a practice-based course. The studio, and a studio culture, is central to the ethos of the course. The emphasis is on building creative skills, cognitive processes and methodologies. The diversity of the student group brings benefits of cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural experience.
The course objectives are met by structuring the learning progressively and by incorporating a wide variety of learning and teaching methods and experiences. Including: project-based learning, workshops, lectures, seminars, educational visits, group critiques and tutorials.
You'll develop creative cognitive skills, including research methodologies, critical analysis, problem-solving, communication and presentation as well as specialist technical skills.
You'll be encouraged to experiment, take risks, and try out new things. The moment when new- found skills and knowledge are connected to your existing skillset and understanding, is seen as an opportunity for insight, creativity and learning. Projects involve phases of research discovery, problem finding, insight gathering, problem solving, and spotting opportunity for innovation.
Throughout, the programme integration of theory, critical thinking and practice is promoted. The learning experience emphasises the disciplines required of a creative practitioner and promotes the development of transferable skills, preparing you for a variety of employment routes and postgraduate study.
A team of staff that include professional Graphic Designers, researches and relevant visiting practitioners delivers the course. The course is outward facing and works closely with design agencies and other organisations at local, national and international levels.
Staff are responsible for co-ordinating individual units of study, and for selecting appropriate methods of delivery according to subject matter and student experience.
The study time allocated to each unit in the course incorporates a balance of formal teaching, tutorial support and independent learning.
Midway through the larger 40 credit units Formative Assessment will take place to help you keep on track, monitor your progress and support your achievement.
You'll have the opportunity to take part in major graphic design competitions, for example in second year, Creative Conscience, and in final year, the International Society of Typographic Designers Licentiate scheme that gives the opportunity to attain a specialist professional qualification and the Royal Society of Arts Student Design Awards as well as Design and Art Direction new Blood student awards offer opportunities to participate in industry-based briefs.
The course is structured progressively to provide increased opportunities for independent learning as you reach the final year of the course.
The tutor leading the unit will use a variety of methods of delivery in order to encourage your participation in the learning process. Progressively teaching is directed at providing you with the critical judgement necessary to take increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning towards individual goals. Throughout the units within a year and (year on year) across the course, you are encouraged to gradually become more autonomous, and to consider yourself as a professional designer.
Teaching is both directed at individual learning and working in teams to enable you to learn the value of peer collaboration.
Contact hours include all scheduled teaching sessions, but also supervised time in the workshop or studio.
Learning activities include: studio workshops, lectures, technical demonstrations, tutorials (individual and group), project reviews, presentations, independent study, field trips, AUB and London shows.
Typical contact hours can be found below:
Assessment and feedback
Each unit is assessed separately, and the assessment forms part of the unit. Assessment both provides a measure of your achievement, and also gives you regular feedback on how your learning is developing.
For every unit of your course, we will inform you of what you are expected to learn; what you have to submit; how your work will be assessed; and the deadline for presenting your work for assessment. This is made available through Unit Information, which is on your course blog.
You will receive a final mark for each unit in the form of a percentage, which will be recorded on your formal record of achievement (transcript). Each component of assessment is graded using a notched marking scale, whereby only certain marks are used within each grade. The only marks available within any ten-point band are *2, *5 and *8 (e.g. 62, 65, 68). These marks correspond to a low, mid, and high level of achievement within each grade band.
The University has agreed that, during 2019/20, it will run a pilot project. This will mean that on some courses, one unit at Level 4 will be assessed on a Pass / Fail basis only, with written feedback but no numerical grade. If your course has been selected for the pilot, your Course Leader will tell you this, and the details will be clearly expressed on the Unit Information Sheet.
All learning outcomes must be passed to successfully complete the unit.
On successful completion of your Honours degree course, you will be awarded a degree classification based on your unit marks. The final classification is determined using all unit marks at Levels 5 and 6 using two different algorithms, which are detailed in the HE Student Regulations. If the two algorithms produce different results, you will be awarded the higher class of degree.
If you have joined Level 6 through either the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route or having completed a Foundation Degree (FdA), the final classification is determined using only your unit marks at Level 6.
For further information on assessment, progression, awards and classifications, please visit https://viewpoint.aub.ac.uk
What our graduates are doing
Our graduates go on to play an active role in a wide range of communications businesses from design consultancies to media companies, publishers to packaging. And many set up their own companies.
Graphic Design has close links with industry, and graduates are actively recruited by leading national and international design companies, including:
- Forpeople
- Coley
- Porter Bell
- Moving Brands
- NB Studios
- Bond&Coyne
- Pentagram
- Sky
- Walker Agency
- Tide
- Ustwo
- Nice & Serious
- Bright Blue Day
- Multi-adaptor
- Dyson
- Ogilvy
- Bow&Arrow
- 20 Ten Creative
Careers include:
- Graphic Designer
- Brand Strategist
- Brand Consultant
- Motion Graphic Designer
- UX/UI Designer
- Packaging Designer
- Art Director
- Social Media Strategist
- Experience Designer.
Some graduates choose to take postgraduate courses before embarking on their career.
You'll also be supported in your career planning by AUB Advantage Career Hub
You can find out more about our alumni by browsing their profiles below.
Izzi Hays
Izzi graduating from the AUB in 2017, and since has worked alongside some of the world’s biggest brands such as Google, and YouTube...
Steven O’Neil
I’m a multidisciplinary designer based in London, with a particular interest in design thinking and brand strategy whilst honing...
James Addison
BA (Hons) Graphic Design alumnus James Addison works as creative lead at forpeople, a design studio based in London...
Kieran James
When I heard that the number of asthma attacks was increasing, I decided to see what I could do about it...
The success of this course is represented by the sheer number of awards that our students win, from D&AD New Blood Awards, Creative Conscious Awards and Shine Awards. Here our some other awards our students have achieved:
- ISTD Accreditation Award
- Coley Porter Bell, Shine Award, Winners 2019/2020
- RSA Student Design Awards, one winner and eight finalists
- Three Creative Conscience winners, Gold/Silver/Bronze
- JDO Mash-up Award, three finalists
- Adobe Awards finalists 2019/2020
- Dragon Rouge, Bronze
Trips and visits
As part of the learning process you'll gain insight into the industry by visiting a range of design studios. You may also get the opportunity to take part in cultural course trips, previous trips have included:
- Berlin
- London
- Barcelona
- Madrid
- Venice
These trips are optional, and some may incur additional costs.
During the past year our course has welcomed a wide range of inspiring speakers, to provoke discussion, deliver practice advice and workshops.
- Pali Palavathanan, TEMPLO
- Rob Nicoll, Co-Founder & CMO Chip[s] Board ltd
- Dr Cathy Gale, ‘X’ PhD research
- Rosie Isbell, Senior UX designer
- Rachel Andrews, Web developer, co-founder of Perch CMS and Notist
- Régine Debatty, Writer, curator, critic, We make money not art
- Alex Kosmidis, Joe Egan, Forpeople
- Tammy Johal, designer, Tide
- Izzi Hays, Creative Strategist Multi-adaptor
- Ruth Andrade, Lush
- Rebecca Ford, Head of Design and Innovation, The RSA
- Servra Davies / British Council
- Laura Yarrow, Senior UX designer, Experience UX
- Ted Hunt, independent, discursive, critical designer
Due to the current travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines, it is unlikely that any trips will be planned in the first half of the new academic year. We will follow Government advice as soon as it is available for the remainder of the year.
