Credit Points: 15
Study Time: 150 Hours

As Graphic Designers we are often called upon to understand ideas outside of our subject specialism and to visualise them in ways particular audiences might understand.

Furthermore, we may be required to configure and structure information in order to make a plausible or convincing argument.

This unit will require you to gather information related to an unfamiliar issue, and to explore ways of communicating an understanding about this topic in both objective and subjective ways.

You should consider various media, as well as sites of display and evaluate the ways in which these might affect the interpretation of your intended message by an audience.

The types of information you might consider could be political, informative, or persuasive.

Outline Syllabus
An indicative guide to the content covered by this unit.

• Idea generation techniques
• Approaches to contextual enquiry
• Techniques for image making and manipulation
• Information graphics
• The advertising message
• Political posters

Aims

A1 Provide you with the opportunity to develop problem-solving skills and the ability to generate ideas.
A2 To develop the technical competences and design skills necessary to communicate messages effectively.
A3 To acquire knowledge and understanding through visualising information.
A4 To enable you to develop methodologies through which design solutions are supported by research and enquiry.

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

LO1 Demonstrate problem-solving skills and concept generation in order to create a range of alternative ideas.
LO2 Evidence layout, image manipulation, and software skills to communicate messages effectively.
LO3 Communicate ideas through the visual display of information.
LO4 Present a design process in which your final outcomes have been informed by research and enquiry.

Reference Material

Key
Klanten, R., Bourquin, N., Ehmann, S., (Eds). (2008) Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design. Berlin: Die Gestalten Verlag
Leborg, C. (2004). Visual Grammar. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.
McQuiston, L. (2004). Graphic Agitation 2: Social and Political Graphics in the Digital Age. London: Phaidon Press Ltd.

Electronic Key Texts
Electronic Key Texts, which are prefixed with a #-symbol are important extracts from books or journal articles that may be accessed from any desktop or laptop computer on or off-site, viewed by multiple users simultaneously and are available from the University College's Blackboard webpage.

# Antonelli, P., and Aldersey-Williams, H. (2008) Design and the Elastic Mind. New York: Museum of Modern Art. pp. 46-57
# Pipes, A. (2007) Drawing for Designers: Drawing skills, Concept sketches, Computer systems, Illustration, Tools and materials, Presentations, Production techniques. London: Laurence King. pp.120-131

Recommended
Berger, J. (1972). Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin.
Crow, D. (2007). Visible Signs. Switzerland: AVA Publishing.
Poynor ,R. (2001). Obey the Giant. Birkhauser.
Sagmeister, S. (2004). Made You Look. London: Booth Clibborn Editions.
Smithsonian Institution (1992). Art as activist - revolutionary posters from Central and Eastern Europe.
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
Williamson, J. (1978). Decoding advertisements - ideology and meaning in advertising. Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd.

Magazines and Journals

Baseline // Communication Arts // Eye Magazine // Graphik // Graphis // Information Design Journal (IDJ) // IDN // Typographic // Visible Language

Websites
Typophile