module specification

This module introduces Level 3 students to discipline-specific ways of working in the research, design development, realisation and delivery of visual communication projects.

Students will respond to briefs, generating and developing ideas through basic research methods for graphic designers and illustrator-animators, followed by conceptual and material design and development processes. Students will be expected to respond flexibly to related issues that may be discovered through the research undertaken. Students will produce digital and physical outcomes that will use standard industry conventions and techniques. The project proposals will be evaluated in relation to the briefs set and the context as revealed by the research and development process.

The module is supported by the accompanying module DN3003 Visual Communication: Industry and Context which will deliver the specific techniques and contextual understanding that professional practice requires.

Students will be expected to accept and demonstrate responsibility in relation to their ideas, their management of the project process and to reflect on and evaluate their progress. They will begin to understand their interests and abilities in the field, so that their progression to Level 4 modules after semester 1 is accompanied by confidence and self-direction.

DN3003 Visual Communication: Industry and Context (co-requisite)

The syllabus covers basic skills and key concepts in Visual Communication providing an overview of subject-specific methods and approaches.

Skills and design development will be taught through a series of workshops and lectures. Students will be taught skills and methods they can use independently in order to enable self-directed study.

The Introduction to Visual Communication: Practice module is closely aligned with and complementary to the Interior Design: Industry and Context module.

Key Areas:

• investigation through contextual research (LO1);
• understanding concept development (LO3);
• testing and experimentation to develop ideas working towards a design proposal (LO1, LO2, LO3);
• description, evaluation and critical reflection through sketchbook and portfolio (LO2,4);
• developing a portfolio of project work (LO3, LO4).

Scheduled teaching ensures that independent study is effective and addresses the learning outcomes and assessment tasks. Students are expected to; and have the opportunity to continue with their studies outside of scheduled classes. There will be a range of learning strategies deployed and individual learning styles will be accommodated.

The module’s learning outcomes, its contents and delivery, have been scrutinised and will be regularly reviewed to ensure an inclusive approach to pedagogic practice. The module and course utilise the University’s blended learning platform to support and reinforce learning, to foster peer-to-peer communication and to facilitate tutorial support for students. Reflective learning is promoted through assessment items and interim formative feedback points that ask students to reflect on their progress, seek help where they identify the opportunity for improvement in learning strategies and outcomes, and make recommendations to themselves for future development.

Throughout the module, students build a body of work, including reflections on progress and achievement. The School’s programme of employability events and embedded work-related learning within the curriculum supports students’ personal development planning. Through these initiatives, students are increasingly able, as they progress through the year, to understand the professional environment of their disciplines, the various opportunities available to them, and how to shape their learning according to their ambitions.

On successful completion of the module, to the standard expected at Level 3, students will be able to:

1. gather information in order to explore, analyse and describe visual communication outputs to enable sound understanding of set briefs and design choices available;

2. show growing confidence and ability in discipline specific formats, analogue and digital media, materials, processes and techniques;

3. analyse information gathered and relate understanding to the brief set, communicating a viable project proposal;

4. manage the project process exercising self- and time management, awareness of own capabilities and ability to plan self-development.

Assessment for the Project module involves the submission of a portfolio of work as detailed in the brief set. All learning outcomes are assessed within the portfolio. Work presented must be carefully organised and labelled to indicate the project’s development and outcomes.

Students are expected to produce a careful and coherent presentation of their project development and proposals, together with individual critical evaluation of relative successes and failures, and to communicate and debate this with others.

Formative feedback and feedforward is provided in class, in tutorials and at set review points. This provides opportunities to reflect on progress to date and discuss strategies for further developing skills and discipline knowledge.

Students must attend and engage with all timetabled studio and workshop sessions and tasks set both in-class and as self-study.

Introductory projects aim to cover as broad a range of subject practice as possible. Project handouts include additional research and reference material for students to follow up. Later projects become increasingly subject specific and students will be directed through such reading in taught sessions and through Weblearn.

Core Texts:
Mülller-Brockmann, J. (1981) Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Niggli

Michael, P. (2007), Hand Job: A Catalog of Type, Bedford Arts

Zeegen, L. and Roberts, C. (2014) Fifty Years of Illustration, Laurence King

Hyland, A. & R. Bell (2003) Hand to Eye: Contemporary Illustration, Laurence King

Caldwell, C. (2014) Editorial Design: Digital and Print, Laurence King

Leslie, J. (2013) The Modern Magazine, Laurence King

Journals:
Eye magazine
Varoom
Creative Review
Computer Arts
Eye on Design

Websites:
Itsnicethat.com
creativebloq.com
eyeondesign.aiga.org

Electronic Databases:
E-Flux Journal
e-flux.com/journal
The Serving Library
servinglibrary.org
Lynda.com