Graphic Design (with Foundation Year)

Why choose this course?
The Graphic Design degree will help you develop both your graphical style and flair for creative image-making. The course covers the practical, professional, and artistic sides of working as a graphic designer with an individual artistic voice, equipping you for a successful career in the creative industries.

You will:

• Learn how to create compelling images, work to professional standards, and understand how your work fits into the industry.

• Be introduced to a broad range of creative skills, from the generation of ideas to their technical production through printmaking, traditional and digital media, with an emphasis on design and the development of a unique personal style.

• Be introduced to professional creative processes and encouraged to expand your abilities through workshops and practical projects.

• Learn how to interpret a brief, identify, and solve problems, develop creative individuality, and produce a professional portfolio.

• Gain personal, professional, and entrepreneurial skills including working as a freelance designer: from marketing and self-promotion to contracts, invoices and working with clients.

• Be encouraged to work on live briefs and competitions.

Key Course Features:

• You will be part of a vibrant and creative community of commercial artists including illustrators, animators, and comic artists.

• You will be taught by a teaching team with a broad range of experience working professionally in the design and creative industries.

• We encourage you to take on commissions and learn how to produce high-quality production prototypes to pitch to clients.

• Be part of an end of year degree show exhibition - view the 2022 Degree Show e-magazine, Unjammed.

What you will study

YEAR 1 (FOUNDATION YEAR)
The foundation year will introduce you to the key elements of art and design, including graphic design, animation, illustration, photography, and film, applied and fine art. You will explore the creative thought process relating to various art and design disciplines, developing your ability to put ideas down on paper quickly. There will be a range of practice assignments that will increase your recognition of strong ideas and original concepts.

MODULES
Visual Investigation
Materials and Methods
Creative Processes
Progression Project
The Skills You Need
Contextual Studies

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 4) - Core skills
Level 4 introduces you to the fundamental principles of graphic design that will help you develop your style. This includes developing an understanding of the tools and creative techniques you will be using, the historical contexts and theories of graphics, print, production techniques and an understanding of the graphic design industry.

MODULES
Semester 1
History & Context
Visual Communication
Digital Communication

Semester 2
Social Design
Story Telling: Theory and Practice
Interactive Design

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 5) - Advanced skills
Level 5 enables you to develop your individual approach to the role of graphic design in society, the conceptual aspects of design, the practicalities of preparing work for production as well as exploring the fundamentals of running a business as a freelancer.

MODULES
Semester 1
Motion Design
Print and Production
Critical thinking

Semester 2
Creative Futures: Making a Living
Design Project: Graphic Design

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6) - Specialism
Level 6 is focused on your specialism. You will work with staff to pitch the projects that demonstrate your graphic style, your skills and abilities, your ambition, and your understanding of the graphic design industry.

MODULES
Semester 1
Specialist Project: Graphic Design

Semester 2
Creative Futures: Professional Practice
Live Brief

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Teaching & Assessment
There are no set exams. Assessment is continuous and relates to all aspects of the programme, providing more carefully defined emphasis on formative assessment and feedback on your coursework throughout the academic year. We will advise you on your level of attainment and direct you towards a strategy for further progression as assignments and modules are completed.

There are varied formats of assessment to encourage your learning through group seminars, critiques, and tutorials. This can be through group interaction with critical analysis where you will submit a range of work including sketchbooks, design sheets, finished artwork, screen-based work, technical/ production files, journals, essays, and audio-visual presentations. There are reviews of work at key points before Christmas and before Easter and this provides time for you to reflect on your progress prior to a final or summative year end assessment.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s FAQs can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.