Graphic and Communication Design BA

Program Overview

The BA Graphic and Communication Design program at the University of Leeds combines critical thinking, research skills, and creative practice to prepare students for the evolving design industry. Through a curriculum that emphasizes social and economic impact, students develop user-centered approaches and the adaptability to meet future challenges in the field. With access to state-of-the-art facilities and industry connections, graduates are equipped with a broad skillset and a deep understanding of design's transformative potential.

Program Outline

Graphic and Communication Design BA | University of Leeds

Degree Overview:

Studying BA Graphic and Communication Design at the University of Leeds bridges the gap between thinking and doing, valuing research activities and contextual studies as much as creative practice. Through a combination of making, reading, and writing, you'll become a critical and innovative thinker and practitioner; informed by the past, able to challenge the present, and be prepared for the future. Our challenge-led teaching, situated within one of the few Russell Group research intensive universities to offer this subject, will help you to develop the key theoretical, practical, and professional skills vital in the creative industries. You'll embrace user-centred approaches, being taught graphic design as a transformative system to create powerful social and economic impact. By offering you a year in industry or a year studying abroad, we provide the flexibility to support you in shaping your education to reach your ambition. With two independently-led projects in the Final Year, you have the chance to specialise and tailor the focus of your studies and produce two ambitious and large bodies of work with which to impress potential employees.

Outline:

Year 1

• Compulsory Modules:
• Design Studies: Foundation (20 credits):
This module provides opportunities to develop the foundational skills of scholarly research, academic writing and critical thinking. You’ll be immersed in key issues and debates informing the changing values and future of design and consider how these have been influenced by social and historical forces. It will equip you with the skills to read and understand academic texts and apply theoretical ideas to your own design practice. You’ll also be introduced to research methods for finding and analysing texts and images. You’ll develop your awareness of the complexity of challenges that design and society faces and an ability to analyse the relevance of and make connections between the contexts, issues and subject fields that will shape your future studies and professional careers.
• Creative Challenges and Communication (20 credits): This module involves a range of rapid and team-led design jams as you are taught a variety of design thinking skills that are both broad and discipline specific.
Being able to visually communicate design solutions in a range of formats is fundamental to this module – principles of type choice, layout and image usage are taught.
• Optional Modules (20 credits each):
• Colour Design
• Creative Thinking
• Introduction to Photography

Year 2

• Design for Interaction and Experience (20 credits): This module teaches skills in planning and designing post digital experiences.
Team-based demonstrations introduce you to the potential of emerging technologies that may shape the future of design. You will engage with new media theories that help contextualise your work.
• Graphic and Communication Design for Society (40 credits): This module expands your understanding of design as a problem -solving discipline that communicates with others and tackles the complexities of the role that graphic and communication design plays in society and industry.
Concepts of interaction, expression, and empathy within design are explored, building on and developing the core concepts learnt in Year 1 modules, to explore how design functions in and shapes people's lives.
• Optional Modules (20 credits each):
• Contemporary Illustration
• Collage Culture
• Contemporary Photography
• Advanced Colour
• University of Leeds Discovery Module

Year 3

• Compulsory Modules:
• Major Research Project (40 credits):
In your final year, you’ll carry out an academic research project, building on the research and analytical skills developed throughout your studies. You’ll select from a range of project types, enabling you to focus on a subject of specific interest, developing the skills required for your future career.
• Graphic Design Self Directed Project (40 credits): This module provides students with the opportunity to formulate a major graphic and communication design project proposal that aligns with their personal interests and career aspirations.
You’ll demonstrate their ability to propose a substantial body of work within a set framework, execute their proposal and demonstrate visual communication skills. The project proposal will be negotiated through ongoing discussions with staff and fellow students.
• Optional Modules (20 credits each):
• Contemporary Advertising
• Collaborative Marketing and Promotion
• Fashion Styling and Photography
• Social Design
• University of Leeds Discovery Module

Assessment:

You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods, these may include visual 2D and 3D responses, portfolios of text and image, blogs, short videos, presentations as well as more traditional essays, reports and occasional exams. Some of your assessments will be based upon collaboration with your peers. This collaboration could be in the development of artefacts, proposals and/or various forms of visual and textual communication in response to problem-based issues. The nature of assessment will change as you progress through your course:

• Level 1: Assessments focus on your understanding and acquisition of new knowledge and practical, digital, academic and professional skills.
• Level 2: Assessments focus more on establishing how well you understand, analyse and apply this new knowledge and new skills in relation to real-world, local and global settings.
• Final Year: Study becomes more self-directed with forms of assessment often being negotiated and agreed with tutors.
Throughout each year of study, it is to be expected that you’ll find that assessments are progressively more challenging. Formative assessment gives staff an opportunity to give you feedback on personal progress, in good time before a summative deadline. Given the range of assessment types in any one level of study, formative assessment and feedback enables you to reflect upon your personal progress and establish which forms of assessment allow you to play to your strengths.

Teaching:

Creative problem solving and design thinking methods are central our teaching in the School of Design. Your learning will be enhanced by a range of contemporary teaching methods which encourage active learning and are underpinned by inclusive and authentic learning activities, including team working, creative sprints and industry facing scenarios. We follow a campus-based blended learning approach, you’ll have a range of resources in the virtual learning environment which are accessible at all times, including videos and pre-work to help you prepare. Collaboration with staff and your peers is the foundation of our teaching and learning, giving you input into their learning journey. Two of your core modules will be studied with classmates from other design disciplines, here you will benefit from our community of learners, to contribute their diverse perspectives, and to encounter those of others, with global industry practices in mind. A typical week in your first year may include 8 to twelve hours of in person and online study, one to four of specific workshop and studio session, regular personal tutor sessions. Private study is important at university and a potentially significant change from the way you have been taught previously. This is space where you can reflect and critique materials from taught session, including further reading, writing, designing and making. You’ll be guided through this process by your tutors to help you develop your knowledge and research skills. The ability to work independently is a key skill to your development as creative professional and thinker. You’ll also have the ongoing support of your Academic Personal Tutor. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Careers:

Flexibility, resilience and transferable skills are desirable attributes for creative industry professionals. In the School of Design, as well as providing you with research led, industry informed subject-specific knowledge, we aim to equip you with the best possible skills for a variety of careers. Design thinking, combined with excellent research and criticality skills are increasingly valued across a wide range of sectors; therefore, your degree from the University of Leeds opens opportunities across disciplines and multiple industries, as well as in your course-related specialism. On completing this course, you’ll have strong visual and critical awareness, as well as a commercial understanding of advertising and fast-changing markets. All of these qualities are highly valued by employers in a range of industries. Graduates have gone into careers in a number of different fields. We have a range of dedicated spaces where you can work independently. We also have a number of practical workshop studios and specialist facilities: sculpture programme studio, 2D programme studio, fashion design studio, knit and weave studio, photography studio, print workshop, laser cutting and 3D print workshop, printmaking workshop, XLab for Immersive Technologies and 3D workshop. We also provide a range of other support to enhance your experience and prepare you for the workplace: free dedicated software, a wide range of technical induction programmes free access to LinkedIn Learning Tutorials, free camera and video recorder loan, supporting a Degree Show, external promotion, Yorkshire Fashion, visiting speakers from industry or other institutions around the world. We highly value research activities and contextual studies as integral to contemporary creative practice. We believe that this means you’ll graduate with the flexibility and adaptability that employers are looking for. You’ll be equipped with a broad range of resilient skills that allow you to be able to address the vital design challenges of the future. You’ll learn and co-create with classmates across programmes, addressing global challenges through cross disciplinary design and creative thinking. As well as mastering your core creative discipline, you will be able to respond reflexively to change and future challenges. You have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. You can also spend a Year in Industry during your third year. Students have carried out placements at companies such as Tequila, FutureBrand, Spiekermann Partners, Zitromat, Show Media, The Chase, Saatchi + Saatchi, BBYO, SSY, Allgood, Prego, Elle Magazine, McCann – Erikson, Yell, Radio Aire and NE6. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas. Industrial placements are taken after your second year. This will extend your studies by 12 months.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law. Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages. Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26 Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024. Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. Read more about paying fees and charges. There are additional costs of study that students need to cover. We estimate that these additional costs could be as described below, but this amount may vary depending on how you decide to respond to university briefs and the range of materials and techniques you decide to adopt. Equipment and material costs Students need to cover the cost of printing their work during the course, including specialist print workshop costs. Students also need to cover costs of copying and supplying their own basic materials (eg pens, pencils, cutting tools, paper, ruler) and more course specific materials (eg sketchbooks, specialist papers, specialist fabrics, sculpting materials, specialist tool), as well as print portfolios. The approximate cost of these items in recent years has been: • Level 1 – £100 - £170 • Level 2 – £100 - £150 • Level 3 – £200 - £600 Some of our courses require the development of work using industry standard specialist software. As/if required by your course, the School will provide this to you when you arrive. We also use a blended learning model where you’ll need to access course materials and video conference using a computer or mobile device (eg laptop, tablet, smartphone). Costs for a laptop will vary depending on the exact specification. You should expect to pay between £1000 - £2,500. But, you may decide to purchase your own equipment (from Year 1 or as your studies progress) which will result in additional costs. Examples include a drawing tablet (£50 - £500) and a digital camera (£200 - £1500). Read more about additional costs. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview. Scholarships and financial support There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.