Crossover teaching and interdisciplinary projects provide an energetic and flexible learning environment for creative collaboration, whilst specialist areas of study in graphic design, illustration and interactive design are supported and encouraged. You’ll be able to work across a range of media, explore and express your ideas through word, image, concept, media, narrative, text, taught by a team of full-time and visiting tutors, all active practitioners themselves.
Teaching takes place through critiques, debates, tutorials, presentations, lectures, self-directed learning and peer review. We have excellent studio spaces and workshop facilities in specialist craft areas, such as letterpress, photography, silk screen, etching and lithography to complement state of the art digital resources.
In your first year you’ll be given a broad introduction to drawing, print making, photography, design methods, typography, moving image and digital media. You’ll be encouraged to think visually and analytically, learn to work as part of a team and independently. You’ll gain an awareness of the industry through a Professional Contexts module, and a contextual framework through a Historical and Critical Studies module.
As you move into Year 2 you will explore interactive media in the context of image and word. You can focus on graphic design, illustration or interactive media, or keep an interdisciplinary approach. You might choose to spend a semester in Europe as part of the Erasmus exchange programme. An optional course trip abroad will show you design studios and working practices in other cultures.
In your final year you’ll concentrate on: independent, self-initiated projects, live projects, competitions and you’ll be encouraged to find connections between your studio practice and contextual studies. ‘Live’ briefs provide experience of dealing with clients and production, preparing you for employment or further study. You may decide to enrol in our successful Buddy Scheme and be mentored by a local design professional.