module specification

This final project module enables graphic design students to prepare for independent practice in the workplace or to move onto higher studies. In this module, students will utilise skills and ideas conceived and developed in the parallel 'Project Design and Development' module, fully realising a self-directed final project brief in appropriate form by the end of the module.

Students will exercise and display their conceptual and creative abilities through selecting, analysing and applying knowledge, skills and understanding.  They will negotiate and complete a fully researched project in order to properly understand their strengths, interests and position in the field of graphic design and their potential for future professional development.

Students will show that they understand the complex and changing nature of problems in the graphic design industry and can devise and apply realistic strategies for constructing, applying and managing a process designed to offer innovative solutions.

A professional standard of realisation, contextualisation and presentation will be expected, providing the elements for a professional portfolio of practice with which to enter the field of employment or self-employment or further studies.

This module seeks to enable students to:

• devise a fully holistic process to realise the outcomes of a graphic design research and development project;

• achieve outcomes of a professional standard of realisation and presentation;

• contextualise and present outcomes to a professional standard, showing that they have understood and managed complex and ambitious tasks;

• work independently, self-reflectively and with concern for the ethical issues and principles attached to the project showing understanding of their particular strengths, interests and position in the field, and their potential for further development.

Pass & Completion (120 credits) of Prior Level

Through a negotiated and agreed individual project, students will gain experience of:

• planning, recording, managing and conducting a process for the production and completion of a researched proposal;  LO1/LO2

• aligning skills and knowledge in various areas of expertise and endeavour – technical, intellectual, creative, organisational, critical and interpersonal – to the successful conclusion of an integrated project;  LO4

• liaison with industry figures in the pursuit of the project;  LO3

• professional expectations of styles and quality of presentation;  LO4

• critically assessing their own work against standards expected in your field.  LO2

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 from year to 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.

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding
KO1 transform and realise the outcomes of a design research and development project into a holistic plan for the production of the graphic design practice;

Cognitive Intellectual Skills
LO2 work independently, managing complex problems and tasks, critically analysing their own work and defending it including in the context of ethical issues arising;

Transferable Skills
LO3 show their work in a fully contextualised way and to a professional standard, explaining or illustrating their position in their field, their strengths and interests and how they can continue to develop their professional capacity;

Subject Specific Practical Skills
LO4 carry out such a plan, achieving professional standards of project management and realisation or visualisation as appropriate and expected in the graphic design industry.

At regular critiques or tutorials students are expected to produce a coherent account of their project progress, together with critical evaluation of successes and failures to date. Formative feedback will be given in response to the project plan. The final mark is given at the end of the module, following assessment of a comprehensive portfolio of all relevant developmental and presentation work and the final outcome itself. Satisfactory completion of relevant technical and workshop activities and continuing independent practice will also be monitored.

All students are required to undertake formal interim presentations with evidence of continuous reflective journals responding to studio critique and tutorial guidance. Work presented will be subject to formal studio feedback from a panel of disciplinary specialists. This will inform final assessment marks and must be considered and acted upon by the student.

Work must be carefully organised and presented to a professional standard to indicate the development of work and the content clearly labeled. Students are required to attend timetabled studio and workshop sessions.

CoreTexts:
Armstrong, H. (2009), Graphic Design Theory: Readings From The Field, Princeton Architectural Press
Caldwell, C. (2014) Editorial Design: Digital and Print, Laurence King
De Bondt, S. and de Smet, C. (2012) Graphic Design: History in the Writing, Occasional Papers
Rand, P. (2014) Thoughts on Design, Chronicle
Lupton, E. (1999) Design Writing Research: Writing on Graphic Design, Phaidon
Phaidon Editors, (2017), Graphic: 500 Designs that Matter, Phaidon

Other Texts:
Baines, P. (2005), Type and Typography, Laurence King Publishers
Birdsall, D. (2004), Notes on Book Design, Yale UP
Brook, T. & Shaughnessy, A. (2017) Paula Scher, Unit Editions
Lewis, A. (2016), So you want to publish a magazine?, Laurence King
Triggs, T. (2003) The Typographic Experiment: Radical innovation in contemporary type design, Thames & Hudson
Jesmond, A. Smashing UX Design: Foundations for Designing Online User, Smashing Magazine Book Series
Mueller-Brockmann, J. (1999) Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Verlag Niggli
Noble, I., Bestley, R. (2005) Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design, AVA
O.oo, (2016) O.oo Imperfection Booklets: Risograph, O.oo Risograph & Design
Triggs, T. (2001) Below Critical Radar, Slab o Concrete Publications
William Purcell, K. (2011) Alexey Brodovitch
Weisbeck, M., Schmitt, M. (2015) Space for Visual Research, Spector Books

Resources relating to contemporary digital practice will be updated yearly and included in project briefs.

Journals:
Eye Magazine
Baseline Magazine
Creative Review

Websites:
Itsnicethat.com
grafik.net
awwwards.com/blog
smashingmagazine.com
creativebloq.com
http://eyeondesign.aiga.org/
http://www.eyemagazine.com/

Electronic Databases:
Flux Journal
eflux.com/journal
The Serving Library
servinglibrary.org
Lynda.com
Behance.com

Design Resources:
canva.com/app
marvelapp.com
pantone.com
color.adobe.com
stock.adobe.com

Additional texts and other reference materials will be identified by studio tutors annually
that support a specific studio theme.