Design

COURSE CONTENT

Level 4 (first year)

Your first year is about forming a foundation for good design knowledge as well as introducing you to the core skills of a professional Designer. This includes design foundations such as design history with an emphasis of combining theory and practice in the form of design projects.

You'll be introduced to design tools and methods, making processes and techniques, design research and exploration, as well as communication and presentation of your design concepts and solutions. Attending the course will support you in your independent decision making and you'll be introduced to realistic self-assessment. This will build your resilience and confidence as a designer.

During your first year, you'll start to think about your personal position as a designer. W'll challenge your previous assumptions about design through the exploration of design ideas, critical thinking, visualisation skills and interpretation. You’ll attend specialist demonstrations, as well as practical studio and workshop sessions.

Level 5 (second year)

The second year is a continuation of your first year during which we expect you to deepen your understanding of design and further develop your design practice. We'll challenge your ability to communicate your concepts and solutions through projects, research, making and writing.

You'll be living and breathing design through increased engagement with industry and society. We'll encourage you to develop interests and lines of enquiry which will inform the choice of creative and career directions in third year. The journey through your second year will be one of self-discovery, improved design skill sets, confidence building and independence.

Level 6 (third year)

Your third year will be a project-driven year with opportunities to work on live industry briefs, enter competitions, write your own briefs and work collaboratively with other students in your year. The final year is exciting, intense and inherently more complex as it'll be dominated by research-driven project work.

Some of the project work will overlap, so you'll have to manage your time well as you'll be working to tight deadlines. You're encouraged to promote your professional intent, direction, creativity, individuality and strength in your specialist area.

There will be an opportunity to showcase your work at the end of the year in local and national graduate shows.

COURSE STRUCTURE

All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons). However, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you'll automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.

For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.

For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.

For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.

A BA without Honours may be awarded if you have achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.