Graphic Communication

If you are interested in how people read and understand images and text, and want to help them in almost every aspect of their lives, the Graphic Communication degree at the University of South Wales is for you. You’ll develop skills that are essential for creative communication, including printed media, advertising, corporate branding, publicity, editorial, and information and interactive web design. The emphasis is on practical studio-based work, reinforced by lectures and seminars.

There are live projects each year, working directly with design companies and industrial clients to enhance your portfolio and employability. You’ll also have the opportunity to enter industry competitions and follow in the footsteps of our award-winning students such as Samantha Withers, winner of Starpack, and Kirsty Alexander, who came third in the Puffin Book Prize.

In your first year, you will get a solid grounding in the elements of graphic communication. You can develop and push your creative ideas using traditional media and new technologies. You will explore type, brands, life drawing, and computer graphics using industry-standard software.

In year two, you can focus on specific areas of graphic communication such as print or interactive media, and explore design theory to support your practical work. To ensure you are ready for the workplace, we will introduce you to aspects of professional practice and development.

Your final year is an exciting one as it is your chance to shine. There are plenty of live briefs and competitions that culminate in a major project and the annual design show. For this, you will have the challenge of creating your own brief to showcase the skills and creativity you have developed.

Year One
•Graphic Communication projects
•Visual Studies
•Design in Context
•Computers Graphic Applications

Year Two
•Graphic Communication Projects 2
•Graphic Communication Projects 3
•Graphic Design in Context
•Professional Design and Practice
•Creative Industry Collaborative Project
•Work Experience

Year Three
•Graphic Communication Final Project
•Critical Research
•Design Management
•Design Competition

Your work is assessed entirely through the submission of coursework, with the majority (80%) through a practical portfolio of work. The remaining elements integrate practice and theory through written and other forms. You will be encouraged to discuss your work critically with staff, leading designers and other students, through individual and group critiques in a supportive studio environment.