Graphic design is a vehicle for communication as well as self-expression. It is about communicating to inform, educate, entertain, persuade, or any combination of these. This course aims to foster self-confidence and the ability to develop informed design strategies; it will also encourage you to bring your own experiences and interests to the course. You will develop your own unique and individual approach to visual problem solving. Graphic designers need to be able to make decisions in complex and unpredictable contexts and react quickly to new information, evolving briefs, changes in situations and advances in technology. Innovation is therefore central to the course and will be critical to your development. 

You will engage with a variety of contextual and design issues such as user-centred design, sustainability, emerging technology, service design, information design and interactive design.

How does Short Courses Study Abroad work?

In Year 1 you will be exposed to the full breadth of graphic design skills and solutions. You will be introduced to the range of differing techniques that you will go on to explore through the course. It is essential that students are flexible and diversely skilled so that they can communicate across a broad range of media. The scope of topics you will explore include: screen, print, interactive, web, typographic and theoretically based issues. Practical work often combines writing skills because graphic design usually involves, in one form or another, image working in conjunction with text.

Autumn Term Modules: 3 October 2011 - 9 December 2011 
Maximum Credit Points available: 60
Maximum Study Time: 600 Hours

• Introductory Studies
• Typographic Studies
• Introduction to Concepts and Contexts in Visual Culture

Spring Term Modules: 3 January 2012 - 23 March 2012
Maximum Credit Points available: 60 
Maximum Study Time: 600 Hours

• Graphic Design Studies
• Locating Contemporary Practice
• Idea Generation and Visualisation

Year 2 focuses on the application of knowledge in different contexts. It is also about practicalities as it aims to provide you with a solid grounding in the knowledge and skills needed to take an increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning.

Autumn Term Modules: 3 October 2011 - 9 December 2011
Maximum Credit Points available: 45
Maximum Study Time: 450 Hours

• Visual Systems
• Preparation for Practice

Spring Term Modules: 3 January 2012 - 23 March 2012
Maximum Credit Points available: 45
Maximum Study Time: 450 Hours

• Text Sequence and Interaction
• Defining and Refining Themes

Summer Term Modules: 10 April 2012 - 1 June 2012
Maximum Credit Points available: 30
Maximum Study Time: 300 Hours

• Innovate: Consolidate

Study Abroad Short Course students at the Arts University College Bournemouth pay £3,650 per term for tuition fees (2011/12).

A closer look at this course

• Student Work