Skip to main content
Solent Unviersity Southampton logo
Solent Unviersity Southampton logo

BA (Hons)Graphic Design

3 years
2023
UCAS code:
GD01
Institution code: S30
Campus:
Southampton City Centre

Why study a graphic design degree at Solent University

Carve out your career in design across print and digital platforms. Solent gives you freedom to explore your craft in dedicated design studios within our Adobe Creative Campus.

  • 0%
    of graduates in highly skilled employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2022)
  • 0%
    overall satisfaction for academic support (NSS 2022)
  • Enter industry competitions to gain exposure for your creative work. 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 Young Creative Network (YCN) Awards.
  • Solent is an Adobe Creative Campus. You will have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which contains the full suite of Adobe professional software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Premier Pro, and more.
  • Access to high-end printing and design facilities, including two Vandercook letterpresses, three screen print beds and three Intaglio/etching presses for calligraphy and etching work.
  • Pitch for paid work with commercial clients through our in-house agency, Solent Creatives.
  • You will build a professional portfolio to evidence your experience.
  • We are a well-established university in the art and design field, with links back to 1855, and we offer a traditional art school for the 21st century.

This video 'Why study BA (Hons) Graphic Design' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.

Graphic design at Solent University encourages you to explore a range of professional techniques and develop your own unique visual style. Throughout the course you will 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.

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 Young Creative Network (YCN) Awards.

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



Course features

  • Foundation year available

    If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years

  • Further studies

    After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent

  • Specialist facilities

    This course has access to specialist facilities

  • Top-up option

    If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a 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.

Meet the team

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Specialist facilities you will have access to include two Vandercook letterpresses, three screen print beds and three Intaglio/etching presses for collagraphy and etching work. You’ll also have access to specialist photographic studios and darkrooms, and a fully equipped workshop for metal- and wood-working, including a Hobart laser cutter/engraver.

And as Solent is an Adobe Creative Campus, all students also have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes the full suite of Adobe professional software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Premier Pro, and more.

    Make your application

    Not ready to apply?

    Come to an open day