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Graphic Design Welcome Guide : Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

Welcome to BA (Hons) Graphic Design

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you in October.

A message from your Course Leader

On behalf of the course team, I would like to warmly welcome you to BA (Hons) Graphic Design.

The course nurtures an open-minded approach to learning, helping students explore innovative technologies while tackling important social, ethical and environmental design challenges. Through experimentation, exploration and iteration, students learn how to uncover insights, defining meaningful problems, and identify strategic creative opportunities for positive change.

We support students in developing the confidence to express their ideas authentically and use their creativity to make a difference. By working collaboratively and applying user-centred design principles, students learn how to create engaging experiences that have real-world impact. Above all, we believe design has the power to inspire emotions, build meaningful connections and influence the way people see, think, and interact with the world around them.

– Marion Morrison, Course Leader

Before you join us

Edo komon are detailed textile patterns developed for Japanese kimono, and were used during Japan’s isolationist period known as the Edo era. With subjects derived from the everyday environment, people were able to define their individuality. The fabric appeared plain from afar but revealed intricate everyday subjects on closer inspection.

We want you to cleverly design your own individual pattern from subjects in your everyday environment. For inspiration consider everyday tools, nature (trees, birds, animals, plants), architectural details, geometric shapes, letterforms, etc. – whatever forms and colours best reflects your individuality.

Create your own intricate ‘pattern’ digitally using Adobe Illustrator or Procreate or using ‘hands on’ analogue stencils or mono prints. Format: 310mm x 310mm – you can design edge to edge or add a border.

How to submit your summer project

During the first week, share your designs to avella@aub.ac.uk. We'll collaborate to create a wall of pattern ideas in the studio and use this as a great opportunity to meet each other and share work.

You should also consider visiting exhibitions, listening to TED Talks and podcasts, cooking a nice meal, making some music, reading a good book or spending some time daydreaming!

The Library at AUB is extremely well resourced and includes all key texts that you will need for your course. Below is a short list of key texts that will be useful to read during your studies. Books are expensive and all these are available from the Library at AUB. You’ll receive a comprehensive list of key texts in your Course Handbook at the start of each unit.

  • Dunne, A. and Raby, F. (2013) Speculate Everything. London. The MIT Press.
  • Shaw, A. Design for Motion: fundamentals and techniques of motion design
  • Fletcher, A. (2001) The Art of Looking Sideways, Phaidon, London.
  • Benbunan, J: Schreier, G; Knapp, B (2019) Disruptive Branding: how to win in times of change
  • Fry, T. (2008) Designing Futuring. Sustainability, Ethics, and New Practice. Berg.
  • Nobel, I. and Bestley, R. (2016) Visual Research. Research Methodologies in Graphic design. AVA London.
  • Rawsthorn, A. (2018) Design as Attitude. JRP Ringier, Zurich.

Magazines are expensive – you're not expected to go out and buy them, but if you come across an independent magazine store, these are some to look out for:

  • Creative Review
  • Design Week
  • Baseline
  • Eye

Over the summer, please try to look at these websites, pages and videos:

Current student work

Have a look through some of the work our current students are producing to get an idea of the type of work you may be making on our course.

Inside a packaging design for Lush, showing a deck of cards, plus various Lush products.

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Jordan Robertson typography poster
A series of posters with various large-print typography displayed on a wall.
A packaging design open with its contents laid out of a table, including a notepad, cards and stamps with musical instruments on them.
A visual mood board or mind map showing different ideas on the theme of Passwords.
A deck of cards splayed out on a plain surface. The cards have a colourful check pattern and cartoon vegetables in the centre.
Two BA (Hons) Graphic Design students viewed from the back; one of them is pointing at a screen with a colourful mood board on it.
A series of posters with various large-print typography displayed on a wall.
A packaging design for Lush, with a black and purple colour scheme, open with its contents on display.
A promotional poster for a product called Top It. The poster shows a point of sale and six varieties of packaging for the product.

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Two images showing a piece of packing from different angles (the front and underneath). Text reading "Every challenge you face today makes you stronger tomorrow" appears on the left-hand image.
Typographer E Beveratou working with BA (Hons) Graphic Design students on AUB campus.
Mood board showing various colourful illustrations of animals and branding designs. Two blocks of text appear in the top-left corner of the page.
Packaging design for a Lush product called "Muddy Buddy" with its contents out on display.
Packaging design for a Lush product called "All you need is Lush". Its contents are laid out in front of the open packaging box.
Packaging design for a Lush product called "Rootin' for You". The box is open showing various Lush products, with a deck of cards laid out in front of it and a poster. Text reading "Blossom in your own way" appears on the poster.
A deck of cards with colourful designs laid out on a plain surface.
A packaging box design for a Lush product called "Quilted Comfort".
Two images showing Lush product designs. The left image is a close-up of a deck of cards showing a colourful bubble character in various poses. The right-hand image shows the product packaging with all its contents on display.

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BA (Hons) Graphic Design students at the front of a seminar room giving a pitch presentation in front of their peers.
Several images of the packaging and contents of a Lush product called "Social Lite".
Packaging box design for a Lush product with some of its contents on display, including instructions to make an origami butterfly.

What to bring on your first day

On your first day bring along:

  • A notepad or sketchbook
  • Pens or pencils
  • Your ID and documents for face-to-face registration (see the "Next Steps" tab for more details)

Digital capabilities

This course uses Apple Macs or PCs.

If you intend to buy a computer, we recommend a laptop suitable to run design programmes. However, as BA (Hons) Graphic Design students, you'll have access to a range of iMac computers in our Mac Suite. You're also able to hire (for no charge) laptops from the Library and cameras from our Central Media Store on campus when required.

Follow AUB Graphic Design on social media

Explore more

Overview

We’re looking forward to you welcoming you to BA (Hons) Graphic Design. See you in a few weeks!

Exterior of the North Building on AUB Campus, with the words "Arts University Bournemouth" going vertically down a purple background on one side. A couple of trees line either side of the pavement in the foreground.

Next Steps

Find out the useful dates and contact before you start here.

Latest news and events

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AUB explores cultural and environmental legacy of synthetics at PlastIC Symposium 2026
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AUB's first-ever Festival of Creativity hailed a resounding success
Three people are seated on a grey sofa in an office space. The woman on the left wears a blue blazer and smiles, the man in the middle is dressed in a white shirt, and the woman on the right is in a green top. Yellow banners with images and text about 'Being a' are displayed nearby.
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Being a Boy regional tour continues with display at Tom Hayes MP's office
Dark blue banner with a logo made up of multicoloured arrows and text reading "Plastic Innovation + Curation Research Centre" in the middle.
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PlastIC Research Centre at Arts University Bournemouth announces 2026 Symposium
An Arts University Bournemouth student dancer posing during a performance at TheGallery, with a piece of AI generated artwork in the background.
The Physical Muse
Black tile with white text reading "People's Emergency Briefing" and red text underneath it reading "Community Screening".
People's Emergency Briefing
A person wearing a brown fluffy jacket stands in front of a framed artwork, which is a collage of various coloured leaves and shapes. The frame is white and enhances the vibrant colours of the artwork mounted on a plain wall.
Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 – formal opening and private view
An art gallery showcasing four large artworks on white walls. On the left, a black and white fabric piece displays intricate patterns and motifs. In the centre, a framed monochrome portrait is displayed. The right side features two textured pieces of art.
Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 – touring exhibition