2012
Course overview
The BA (Hons) Graphic Design (1 Year Top-up) course at Southampton Solent University aims to provide students with the knowledge needed to thrive in the design industry. We also aim to create a platform from which you can push the boundaries of the discipline through experiment, exploration and the development of a personal visual language.
The course team believes that the future of the discipline depends on the ability of visual communicators to operate as cultural architects. We encourages you to become instigators in the research and design process and to sustain a breadth and depth of enquiry across a wide range of visual communication activities.
Students need a skills set that will allow them to react to developments in culture, concepts and technological change. However, if the boundaries of graphic design are to expand, education must create opportunities to challenge the status quo.
We aim to provide students with the knowledge needed to survive in today's design industry.
Industrial focus
You will be encouraged to enter major competitions such as the D&AD Awards, The Royal Society of Arts awards, the Young Creatives Network awards and numerous subject related competitions. The course has a long history of achievement in these schemes, producing many award-winning students and graduates. The course also offers opportunities for students to choose their own subject areas, to research and develop over an extended time frame.
Course content
Three core units:
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Professional Context
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Final Major Project
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Visual Communication Research Project.
Why choose this course?
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Experiment with a wide variety of media, both digital and traditional. High level of success in recognised national design competitions.
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Offers a wide range of graphic facilities including letterpress, screen printing, printmaking, photographic studios, darkrooms, and Apple Macintosh suites.
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A broad range of opportunities to create a unique portfolio that will build the foundations for a career in the profession or postgraduate study.
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All units are sustained by a weekly tutorial, where your project work will be reviewed and supported by experienced graphic design tutors.
Assessment
Projects, presentations, group projects, group critiques and the final year project. Key review points are used to enhance feedback and help improve your performance.
Key career skills
Creative thinking, presentation, project management, visual communication, evaluation and problem solving.
Project work
Recent project work is posted on the course's own dedicated website www.southamptongraphics.co.uk. The site contains an electronic exhibition of last year’s final degree show, multimedia work and a selection of the course’s publications.
Professional briefs, from industry set award schemes and client briefs from the design industry.
Graduate profile
Diana Garcia
“This course gave me the opportunity to develop the skills needed to become an independent and confident graphic designer. The best thing about the course was the opportunity to express and explore my own ideas. There were no restrictions. I had the freedom to experiment and grow as a designer.
The friendly staff involved in the creative courses helped and inspired me, providing me with the confidence to develop my communication skills, especially through the coursework and the projects. Equipment was readily available and the staff were always on hand to help.
Alongside my course, I jumped at the chance to work part-time as a web developer and graphic designer with the e-Development Centre through the University's Jobshop scheme.
I am now doing an internship, working full time in the London-based David Collins design studio, where I am able to put all the skills and knowledge gained during my degree course into practice in the real, professional world!
If you are creative and spontaneous, you'll enjoy working and learning in the relaxed yet stimulating environment of the BA (Hons) Graphic Design Course.”