Graphic Design (with Integrated Foundation Year) with Diploma in Creative Computing

OVERVIEW

Graphic Design at Norwich University of the Arts is a contemporary ideas-led course that specialises in branding, identity design and packaging. The course is highly regarded amongst industry for its unique focus on clever and witty visual ideas, often taking a steer from the classic graphic design text, A Smile in the Mind.

You will work on brands and identities for a range of organisations and businesses including designing the brands, or re-branding, within the food and drink categories. Very few courses have a reputation for doing this, and this course is rightly famous for it. You will also work on a broader range of design problems such as brand promotion and extension, editorial design and digital design.

Typography, copywriting, imagery (photographic and illustrative) and print applications lie at the heart of all your work. You can also get involved in motion design as part of your solutions and/or to bring your projects to life on screen.

INTEGRATED FOUNDATION (YEAR 0)

This course includes an integrated foundation year (Year 0), which promotes developing practical, technical and creative skills and confidence. Building on your prior experience, you will be introduced to some of our workshops to assist your skill development, with an increasing emphasis on professional standards and independent study. The course places emphasis on your personal commitment to study, while supporting you in your progression.

KEY FEATURES

• Share your first year with other graphics students, and continue to work alongside each other, allowing for a unique cross fertilisation of knowledge, skills and experience

• Develop skills in typography, printing, layout, photography, design research, idea generation, visual narrative and story telling

• Become adept at understanding and deciphering a brief, researching and generating ideas, problem-solving, developing the most successful concept, and executing and presenting the final work

• Create clever ideas-based solutions for organisations and brands, packaging, design for good/change and campaigns that aim to address the problems we face in the world

• Participate in workshops and classes run by external professionals, undertake project briefs initiated and taught by designers from industry, and enter national and international design competitions judged by the design industry

• Engage with industry through portfolio reviews and surgeries, talks from practising alumni focused on portfolio development and employability, interview practice and graduate portfolio showcase events

DIPLOMA IN CREATIVE COMPUTING

The year-long Diploma in Creative Computing year takes place between Year 2 and 3 of the course and is designed to introduce you to creative computing and gain an understanding of how you can use coding skills to advance and complement your creative practice. You do not need any prior experience of coding to participate, just a curiosity about creative computing and a desire to push your own practice digitally.

YOUR FUTURE

You will be asked to consider the design industry in terms of the sectors you wish to work in, and the potential roles that are available to you. You will have the opportunity to create a range of employment focused tools including a CV, email/covering letter and a career overview and strategy. By the time you conclude the course you will have developed a professional portfolio and a strong sense of where you want to work within the industry.

Students have found employment at some of the most prestigious design agencies including Turner Duckworth, JKR, Magpie, The Cabinet, Hat-Trick, The Chase and many more.

OUR STUDENTS’ WORK

Explore our online Graduate Showcase – celebrating the very best Norwich University of the Arts graduate work at nuagradshowcase.com

Course Modules

You can find more information about the content of the BA (Hons) Graphic Design (with Integrated Foundation Year) with Diploma in Creative Computing with Diploma in Creative Computing course at https://norwichuni.ac.uk/4-year-degrees/

The University assesses you through the coursework you produce as you complete each unit. Each unit will require you to present a portfolio of work which may include finished pieces of work, written work, your research, and a reflective journal which allows you to evaluate your learning and highlight your strengths and areas for further development. You can find out more information about our assessment methods at https://norwichuni.ac.uk/ba-hons-graphic-design/