BA (Hons) Visual Communication

VISUAL COMMUNICATION COMBINES SKILLS IN ILLUSTRATION, GRAPHIC DESIGN, TYPOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL DESIGN TO CREATE IMAGES THAT PERSUADE OR INFORM.

From the start, the course focuses on hand-drawn imagery to develop a feel for the shapes and styles that connect with audiences. Practical experiences will be used to develop your skills. We’ll help you to build your visual awareness and understanding of the world around you. In addition to plenty of theory and debate, you’ll have the chance to work on live briefs with other students and find work placements in creative businesses.

Visual Communication underlines the importance of good ideas. You’ll leave with all the practical skills that you need to work in a vibrant and exciting industry. Our graduates work as freelancers in small design companies and with larger firms, both locally and internationally.

LEVEL 4 (FIRST YEAR)

In your first year, we’ll introduce you to the communications industries and the skills you’ll need to make a career within them.

We’ll introduce you to the diverse areas of visual communication: text and image, illustration, photography, typography.

You’ll learn to think critically and gain an understanding of design methodology, as well as learning to appreciate the importance of experimentation, creativity and risk taking.

You’ll develop practical skills, such as mark-making and typography. We’ll also teach you design and software skills through workshops and learn about the different aspects of professional practice.

You’ll also have the chance to work with industry, including creating ideas for advertising campaigns or editorial design.

LEVEL 5 (SECOND YEAR)

In your second year, you’ll add new skills to your portfolio – including digital design. You’ll also have the chance to work in a creative business.

Level 5 will see you design for both print and screen. You’ll learn about web design, the use of visual language, packaging and branding.

The main focus of the year is on gaining further insight into the broad subject discipline of visual communication, alongside an increasing appreciation of design aesthetics.

You’ll develop your conceptual skills, critical analysis, creativity and self-expression and work on a range of stimulating live projects.

You’ll discover more about industry through independent research, participation in ‘live’ projects and prestigious competition briefs.

Your practical work will be underpinned by sound theoretical principles and an awareness of cultural, social, political, ethical and environmental issues.

LEVEL 6 (THIRD YEAR)

Your third year brings your learning together, as you use your practical skills to create solutions for industry projects.

We’ll encourage you to develop individual, independent lines of creative enquiry and demonstrate design and technical skills at an advanced level.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop your career interests by actively pursuing your practice within contemporary discourses. You’ll carry out extensive and specific research and develop your practice, gaining an understanding of the context and behaviours of an audience.

You’ll have the opportunity to work on collaborative projects with industry professionals and will leave AUB with plenty of useful contacts.

COURSE TRIPS

As part of your course you may also get the opportunity to take part in course trips, previous trips have included:

• Amsterdam
• New York
• Berlin