Graphic Communication with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

Foundation year

Working in a lively and energetic environment you will be given the freedom to expand your knowledge in conceptual development, practical skills and creative exploration underpinned by broad critical understanding and emerging theoretical principles.

You will work individually and collaboratively to develop a stimulating visual portfolio of work that evidences your enthusiasm for further study within a specific subject area.

BA teaching staff from across both Birmingham School of Art and the School of Visual Communication will work with you throughout the course and you will have full access to all of the University facilities.

The two first semester modules will run in conjunction with each other to enable understanding of the relationship between developing work and potential contexts.

These modules will form the building blocks for future work and will focus on developing confidences with techniques, learning skills and productivity. The two final semester modules will run in conjunction with each other to enable a positive integration between Perspectives on Practice and Creative Realisation.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

• Understanding Context20 credits
• Creative Development & Production40 credits
• Perspectives on Practice20 credits
• Creative Realisation

First Year

Your first year of study will introduce you to the basic skills and critical framework within Graphic Communication. You will be taught through a series of modules, which provide you with the knowledge to further explore this ever-expanding discipline.

You will develop skills that encompass composition, line, form, narrative, type, imagery, colour, juxtaposition and ideation. From these fundamental principles, you can tailor the remainder of the course to areas of graphic communication that are of particular interest to you and your future career aims. Through your modules you will discover the application and use of colour, light, scale, composition, the typographic hierarchy, motion design, UI and interactive design.

Fundamental visual communication issues will be addressed through a series of core lectures and theory seminars. You will also have the opportunity to work with other students from across the School by selecting one of five in house options.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):

• Introduction to Visual Communication20 credits
• Principles and Practice of Graphic Communication40 credits
• Enterprise of Graphic Communication20 credits
• Discourse20 credits

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules:

• Narrative (Space and Place)20 credits
• Narrative (Time and Sequence)20 credits
• Narrative (Sound and Movement)20 credits
• Narrative (Text and Image)20 credits
• Narrative (People and Identity)20 credits

Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

Second Year

Through a combination of theory and experiment, you will learn how to evaluate and apply principles to practice, and will receive opportunities for placement, field study, collaborative and interdisciplinary work. We shall help you to develop your own personal direction, focusing towards the establishment of a specialised and flexible area of practice.

You will learn how to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences. You will enhance your ability to work collaboratively within a working environment, demonstrating knowledge of the main methods of enquiry within the field.

You will develop your critical awareness, individual style and perspective and. You will formulate approaches to solving problems, helping you to further understand the creative role, opportunities and responsibility of the contemporary designer.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):

• Context of Graphic Communication
• Identifying Direction
• Live Project

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules.

• Work Placement
• Collaborative Practice

Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

Final Year

During your final year of study you will be supported in establishing the confidence to acknowledge and assert your own distinctive work identity. You will be required to demonstrate within your work a particular view of what constitutes a design proposition.

You will enhance your communication skills, allowing you to develop confidence and understanding, allowing you to capably articulate your views and knowledge to others.

The final year of the programme is designed to help you demonstrate a systematic, extensive and advanced knowledge of contemporary Graphic Communication. You shall work autonomously or collaboratively to a professional standard on self-generated projects, with creativity and imagination.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

• Critical Practice
• Major Project