module specification

The module examines the multifaceted role of illustrations and graphic practices to effectively communicate ideas. It explores a variety of multimodal illustrations and graphic narratives to comprehend how graphical communication functions as a reflection, critique, and influential force in conveying visual messages through drawings and graphic language. The exploration spans a variety of mixed media encompassing both traditional and digital practices.

Through a multidisciplinary approach, the module explores how diverse graphical mediums interact with contemporary societal issues including but not limited to climate change, domestic violence, and war conflicts. The module explores a broad range of areas and mixed graphic content from typography and political signage, graphic humour and satire, political cartoons to iconography and graphic novels. Drawing on multidisciplinary perspectives from across theoretical frameworks including illustrations and comics theory, visual cultural studies to information design, the module places a strong emphasis on graphical communication to achieve compelling visual messages.

The module aims to:
• Encourage students to enhance their understanding of illustrations and the broader language of graphic content in media communicative practices.
• Facilitate the exploration of graphical messages in terms of aesthetics considerations and their significance in visual communication.
• Provide diverse critical and theoretical perspectives for the analysis and creation of messages through a graphical lens.

• Exploring the art of Illustration in communication
• Symbolism in graphical communication
• Graphic advertising
• Environment graphics: signage and wayfinding systems for public spaces
• Political signage; Typography in modern protest
• Graphical humour and satire: Punch, Private Eye 
• Daily newspaper cartoons by C. Riddell, B. Jennings, Matt Pritchett and others
• Comics, frames and graphic narratives
• Graphic novels and climate crises: Here (2014) R. McGuire; Paying the Land (2020) Joe Sacco
• Crafting sequential art workshop

Teaching methods include formal lectures, seminar discussion, screenings, library sessions and tutorials.  Students are expected to attend lectures and seminars: in the seminars they will at times work in small groups and be given practice in listening to each other’s contributions and offering constructive criticism, and in chairing and reporting discussion to the plenary seminar group. The teaching and learning strategy aims at encouraging an inclusive and supportive learning environment that respects and values the contributions of individual students, and provides opportunities for individual intellectual development through a variety of learning opportunities.

The module booklet will be available online, as will lecture outlines and some readings. Weblearn or its equivalent will also be used for communication with students individually and as a cohort. In addition to guided reading, students are expected to read and to use variety of sources (primary and secondary) and use seminars and tutorials to raise issues, questions and seek feedback.

A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities including on-line discussions, evaluation of online resources, and access to electronic reading packs. The VLE will also be used to facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by research institutions, academic publications, professional organisations and other relevant sources.

Learning is actively encouraged in class through discussions and hands-on practical workshops where students participate in activities that involve exploring, designing and crafting graphical messages to foster their ability to communicate effectively through visual means.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of a range of illustrations and typographic elements to communicate ideas
2. Critically analyse how different visualisation techniques impact the effectiveness of graphical communication.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in researching, analysing and crafting graphical messages to effectively communicate ideas and concepts visually within broader social, political and historical contexts where graphical communication is employed
4. Explore and analyse diverse theoretical approaches to illustration and sequential art considering both narrative and visual qualities.
5. Demonstrate skills in visual research to produce practical graphical work.

Reading list:
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/4EE57FFD-3109-9BCA-AC5A-70DEFB8DB178.html?lang=en