Credit Points: 15
Study Time: 150 Hours

Focusing upon contemporary graphic design practice and visual culture this unit will develop your deeper knowledge and understanding of current developments, issues and debates relating to your specialism, within the context of critical consideration of the past. This unit will explore core concepts and developments that have shaped graphic design and that have informed related debates in recent years. It will interrogate the role, presence and profile of graphic design and the graphic designer within a global commercial culture.

The unit will explore contemporary graphic design and key developments in the late 20^th century and early 21^st century in relation to key critical and analytical considerations and within relevant theoretical frameworks. In particular the unit will investigate and interrogate key views and activities that influence the role and positioning of graphic design across wider social, cultural, political and technological and economic contexts.

The unit will encourage you to develop your research, communication and critical and analytical skills so that you may develop and progress your views and ideas relating to your practice. It will encourage you to investigate contemporary practice and to place such knowledge and understanding in relation to wider developments, the views of others and key issues and concerns within culture and society – such as commercialism, globalisation, design ethics and responsibilities, innovation and copyright.

This unit builds upon the earlier Introduction to Concepts and Contexts in Visual Culture unit so that you may develop further and deepen your understanding of graphic design and related contexts. This unit gives you the opportunity to develop further your use and application of key academic skills and to develop your studies to support and develop your practice.

Indicative Outline Syllabus

• Key critical theories and debates relating to contemporary graphic design 
• Referencing and reinterpreting the past 
• Notions of copyright 
• Design ethics and responsibilities: The First Things First Manifesto and beyond 
• Notions of Postmodernism and Deconstructivism
• Contemporary International Graphic Design Practice – developments, issues and markets 
• Notions of reality Contemporary Innovation and change within visual communication
• Specialist syllabus application and content

The course specific details and reading lists for the common theory units are given in the individual Unit Handbooks.

Method of Delivery
Lectures; seminars; tutorials; screenings; independent study.

Aims

A1 To develop further the core academic skills introduced during the preceding unit: Introduction to Concepts and Contexts in Visual Culture.
A2 To extend and deepen your knowledge and understanding of historical constructs in relation to contemporary practice.
A3 To examine key theoretical and contextual issues and debates. 
A4 To develop critical analysis and reflection.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Evidence your competence and confidence in research, essay writing and academic conventions.
LO2 Express your understanding of contemporary practice in relation to historical constructs.
LO3 Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of critical theories and contextual issues in relation to contemporary practice.
LO4 Demonstrate your skills in critical analysis and reflection.

Reference Material

Key
These sources are identified as essential reading to help your studies.

Heller, Steven and Lasy, Julie. (1993). Borrowed Design: use and abuse of historical form.
New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Klein, Naomi. (2001).No Logo. London: Flamingo.
Noble, Ian and Bestley, Russell. (2005). Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design. AVA Academia S.
Roberts, Luciene. (2006). GOOD: An introduction to ethics in Graphic Design. Lausanne, Switzerland: AVA publishing SA.
Woods, Tim. (1999). Beginning postmodernism. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Recommended
These sources are identified as recommended reading; sources that will help your studies further.

Glaser. Milton. (2006). The Design of Dissent: Socially and Politically Driven Graphics. Rockport.
Heller, Steven and Vienne. Veronique. (eds).(2003). Citizen Designer: perspectives on design responsibility. New York: Allworth Press.
Poynor, Rick. (1998). Design without Boundaries: visual communication in transition London: Booth- Clibborn Editions.
Poynor, Rick. (2001). Obey the Giant. Birkhauser.
Rothschild, D & Lupton, E. (2001). Graphic Design in the Mechanical Age.

Magazines, Journals and Organisations
AIGA // Creative Review // Design Week // Eye // Grafik Magazine // Design Observer

Please note that additional reading lists to support your studies, relating to specific sessions and themes, will be identified in your unit handbook and distributed in sessions accordingly.