module specification

This module gives you the opportunity to bring your individual perspective to the purposes that visual communication is used for in the world. You will be supported to bring together your skills, ideas and unique creative perspective in a professional and impactful way and to carefully consider your position and role as visual communicators in the world, developing a sense of your responsibilities as graphic designers, illustrators and animators. The purpose of the module is to equip you with practical experience and knowledge of how to successfully respond innovatively and ethically to creative project briefs, to connect a message to an audience in an effective way. 
You will work in a studio setting, working collaboratively and individually, supported by tutors, to respond to a range of discipline and level-appropriate briefs, some of which will  include live briefs and collaborations with external partners, gaining experience in how to conceptualise, plan and produce design outcomes that challenge and innovate in the areas of graphic design, illustration and animation. You will assimilate learning from other modules, working independently to deploy your understanding of when and how to apply the appropriate skills and tools to give shape to and communicate a creative vision. You will pursue reflective practice, applying what you have learned from analysing examples in order to support your design decisions, articulating ideas effectively and with reference to wider global creative practice in graphic design, illustration and animation.
The module also prepares you for independent learning and working, which is required at the next level of study (Level 6), ensuring that you can assimilate creative and critical thinking with practical and technical skills, and project management strategy.
Typically the module will cover:

• starting to understand the commercial environment, context and potential purposes and applications of design practice;

• beginning to develop a distinct personal voice and approach to your discipline, acquiring confident design research skills, analysing precedents and using case studies;

• issues such as the use and reception of language, methods of structuring information, both text and image, appropriate tone of voice, hierarchy, sequence and materials and processes;

• working across various formats and media such as publication and poster design, moving image formats, exhibition design, information design, recognising and debating the theoretical and ethical context;

• knowing how to conceptualise, plan and produce design outcomes that exploit the breadth of visual communication for a defined purpose, exploring and extending practice, creatively and technically.

Co-requisite: DN5027A Skills and Enquiry
Available for Study Abroad? YES

Through workshop and studio sessions and briefs set you will normally develop knowledge and experience of:

• the role of visual communicators in a wider global culture and society and the meaningful impact that can be achieved through your work;

• the importance of considering audiences and contexts for designed outcomes;

• applying the right skills, techniques, materials and processes to test ideas and create successful outcomes;

• responding to professional and creative project briefs and carrying out a robust project management process from concept through testing and development to outcome;

• articulating and presenting ideas to a range of collaborators and audiences from peers to industry professionals.

Scheduled teaching provides the guidance and foundation to ensure that independent study is effective in addressing the module’s learning outcomes and assessment tasks.

In-class activity makes use of varied student-centred approaches such as active, flipped and blended learning, so that a range of learning strategies is deployed, and individual learning styles are accommodated. Information is provided through a range of means and sources to minimise and remove barriers to successful progress through the module. The course team seeks to embed the University’s Education for Social Justice Framework in fostering learning that is enjoyable, accessible, relevant and that takes account of the social and cultural context and capital of its students.

Activities foster peer-to-peer community building and support for learning. Reflective learning is promoted through interim formative feedback points that ask students to reflect on their progress, receive 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 written reflections on progress and achievement.

The School’s programme of employability events and embedded work-based learning within the curriculum supports students’ personal and career 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.

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading books and journal articles, going to galleries and exhibitions, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing project work and presentations, and preparing for deadlines. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and Weblearn and Linkedin Learning, the online learning platform

On successful completion of the module, to the standard expected at Level 5, you will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

1. use a working knowledge of creative project management tools, creative discipline skills and processes that have impact through a range of media;

Cognitive Intellectual Abilities

2. demonstrate your understanding of how a holistic creative process is used to connect people and ideas through visual communication;

Transferable Skills

3. present and defend concepts, design thinking and outcomes at various stages of a project;

Subject Specific Practical Skills

4. apply skills in discipline appropriate tools and processes, both digital and analogue, selected appropriately;

Professionalism and Values

5. demonstrate good motivation, engagement with all aspects of the module, good timekeeping, independent working and attention to detail in documenting and reflecting upon learning.

The module will be assessed through the submission of an academic portfolio of creative and reflective work. Typically this will include a body of development work, with some finalised physical and/or digital work, sketchbooks, and reflective documents. Precise requirements for submission will be given in project briefs.

Work must be carefully organised and presented to communicate the development of ideas and the content must be clearly labeled with name, student number, module code and date.

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

Link to digital reading list

Journals:
Creative Review
Eye Magazine
Varoom
Printed Pages

Websites:
linkedinlearning.com
eyeondesign.aiga.org
creativereview.co.uk
itsnicethat.com
theaoi.com/varoom
lectureinprogress.com
creativeboom.com/