Communication Design - Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography

Four honours degree awards are available including Communication Design and/or specialising in Graphic Design, Illustration or Photography.

Year 1

You will develop competencies in the fundamental elements of the creative process including research, ideas generation and development, resolution and reflection. You will learn a broad range of core skills and knowledge that enable informed choices and decisions to be made as the curriculum progresses.

Year 2

In Year 2 you will apply your knowledge and understanding of key theoretical principles through the delivery of integrated thematic and theoretically driven projects. Design briefs are delivered through a combination of studio, contextual and critical study activity that focuses on outputs that connect with personal interests.

Year 3

You can opt to specialise in Graphic Design, Illustration or Photography and will undertake increasing levels of self-directed study and studio project work enabling a greater focus on developing specialist interests in preparation for Year 4. You further develop your insight into your professional context and explore the requirements of new business start-up.

Year 4

You will develop your own design brief in response to personal interests, researching subjects, themes and design questions that will underpin your study and final design outcomes. You apply critical design skills to a range of projects while collaborative design briefs and competitions provide opportunity to promote work at our annual Degree Show and externally at a national and international level.

Learning Methods

You will explore graphics, illustration and photography within studio based collaborative practice and are taught using both traditional and digital technologies and techniques. Open plan studios with dedicated work spaces create a vibrant learning environment through shared learning experiences while a programme of critical theory-based study exploring design culture and context supports your studio learning.

You will have the opportunity to participate in a diverse range of external activities throughout the duration of the course including international field study trips, national competitions and live collaborative projects with a wide variety of external partners. Our Enterprise Partners Network includes Hatch, Elevator, Scottish Institute for Enterprise Aberdeen, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce and NESTA.

Activity Summary

Year 4

• Lectures - Approx 50 students per group, length of time varies per week
• Seminars - Approx 12 students per group,1 - 2 hours per week
• Webinar - Approx 50 students per group, length of timevariesper week
• Tutorial -1 - 12 students per group, 0.5 hour per week
• Project Supervision - Approx 50 students per group,1 - 2 hours per week
• Demonstration - Approx 50 students per group, length of timevariesper week
• Practical class or workshop -Approx 50 students per group,length of timevariesper week
• Supervised time in studio / workshop - Approx 50 students per group,length of timevariesper week
• Independent Study - Approx 50 students per group, length of timevariesper week
• Field Work - Approx 50 students per group, length of timevariesper week
• External Visits - Approx 50 students per group, length of timevariesper week
• Placement / Work Based Learning - Approx 50 students per group, length of timevariesper week

How long is a BA (Hons) Communication Design: Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography course?

The duration of a Communication Design course is 4 years. This includes lectures, workshops, independent study and other activities.

Independent Study

Throughout the course particular emphasis is placed on your development of independent learning through self-directed design project/s. By Year 4 you will undertake independent study, reflecting on your previous 3 years’ experience of building expertise and specialist knowledge within your chosen pathway and towards a level approaching professional practice.

Staff Delivering on This Course

The dedicated academic and technical staff on this course have a wide variety of design backgrounds and their knowledge and experience will provide you with a deep understanding of the Communication Design disciplines.

Industry experts contribute to the course as Professional Associates and through the Guest@Grays lecture programme, which invites national and international illustrators, designers and photographers to speak about their work. The course works closely with the University’s Library, Study Skills and Careers staff and academia from other Schools and departments of the university.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed eachyear:

Year 1

• 1written assignment, including essay
• 3portfolios

Year 2

• 2written assignments, including essays
• 3portfolios

Year 3

• 2written assignments, including essays
• 3 portfolios
• 1oral assessment

Year 4

• 1dissertation
• 1 portfolio

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Placements

You will have the opportunity to undertake a 10 week optional placement in Year 3, Term 2. This will enable you to gain first-hand experience and a real insight into professional practice. Past placement opportunities have included working with local, national and international creative companies and designers such as Timorous Beasties, Modest Studio, Bright, Bespoke Atelier, Tellyjuice, Slurpy Studios, Lomography, Satumaa Family Business and Imajica Brand Evolution.

You are responsible for finding the placement with support from the placement office and academic staff.

Study Abroad

In Year 3, Term2, there is the opportunity to undertake a period of international study exchange with our partner colleges across Europe, Canada and the US

Job Prospects

The breadth of experience and choice of specialisms offered by this course ensures you have a number of employment opportunities in various roles.

Is Communication Designa good career choice?

Previous BA Communication Design graduates of Robert Gordon University have gone on to pursue the following careers:

• Graphic design
• Illustration
• Photography
• Publishing
• Digital design
• Web design
• Marketing

A number of our graduates have established their own design consultancies while others are working as freelance designers, illustrators and photographers for prominent publications, major design consultancies and media organisations such as the BBC and Channel 4. A number have extended their academic understanding through further study at the Royal College of Art and other postgraduate institutions.