Graphic Design

Graphic design at Solent University harnesses the power of visual communication and encourages you to explore a range of professional techniques to develop your own unique visual style. Throughout the course you will learn industry standard manual and digital technical skills to create visual products for a range of printed and digital mediums, and explore academic theories and visual culture in the context of contemporary graphic design.

Your professional development is supported by a wide range of high-end printing and design facilities. These include two Vandercook letterpresses, three screen print beds and three Intaglio/etching presses for calligraphy and etching work. Students also have access to photographic studios and darkrooms; a fully equipped workshop for metal and wood-working, and Apple Macs with the latest Adobe Creative Suite software.

The course’s teaching team come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, and many are still active in the industry. The team’s close links with practising professionals have enabled past students to take part in a variety of work-based opportunities, live briefs and placements - in 2024, students contributed to a Solent Mind campaign which advocates for better mental health.

Graphic design students are also encouraged to submit their best work to design competitions, securing valuable exposure. Past students have found success at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Student Design Awards, the Design and Art Direction (D&AD) Awards, and the Creative Conscience Awards. Recent successes include two final year students - Alfie Agostinelli and Oscar Trangmar - who won a coveted pencil at the 2023 D&AD New Blood advertising and design awards.

This course is also available as a one-year top-up, please contact our admissions team for further information.

If you’re looking to study our graphic design degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the art and design foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the art and design foundation year.

Who is this course for?
This graphic design programme is ideally suited to students from a fine art, design or illustration background who want to improve their communication skills while developing a professional portfolio.

What does this course lead to?
Recent graduates work in a variety of areas including graphic design, illustration, multimedia design, web/UX design and motion graphics and are working for companies such as:

Wake Media
Stagestruck LTD
Aviva
KPMG
Gotta Be! Marketing
Photon Energy
Mitchell and Stones
Red Funnel Group
NTT Data Europe
Twinkl Educational Publishing
Aurum Solutions
Silverback
Capital Hair and Beauty
Ordnance Survey
Dulema Studio
SCAS Education
Indigo Graphics
Hendy Group
Octopus Energy
Select Car Leasing

YEAR ONE
CORE MODULES

Intro to Graphic Design
Type, Layout, Image
Creative Thinking
Making Type Move

YEAR TWO
CORE MODULES

Design Innovations
Design Narratives
Brand, Strategy, Commercial
Design for Purpose

FINAL YEAR
CORE MODULES

Identity and Industry Toolkit
Design Challenges
Final Major Project: Research and Development
Final Major Project: Making

You may be assessed at the end of each block by:
Creative design projects
Final major project
Design based portfolios
Essays
As part of this course, you will study one module at a time, giving you the chance to build a deeper understanding and see the results of your hard work more quickly. With regular assessments and feedback, rather than exams all at once, you’ll also benefit from improved focus, and a more manageable workload.