This module is concerned with the continued exploration and refinement of techniques, themes and tools that will inform an innovative approach to idea generation and insight gathering. The module places emphasis on the completion of a significant body of creative work that strategically reflects the individual's interests, achievements and ambition at Level 6. It requires work which demonstrates diversity of content and imaginative and appropriate realisations of design-led solutions to a professional standard. It requires you to consider how their ideas can be meaningfully applied in appropriate contexts and to specific audiences. The module builds transferable skills as it presents opportunity for you to collaborate with external partners and to seek insight directly from relevant communities and organisations via course set, self-initiated, 'live' and international competition briefs. The module encourages you to place emphasis on establishing an individual voice and point of view.
Consolidation and realisation of project work undertaken for this module will be evidenced in comprehensive project logs which explicitly show insightful research, analysis, evaluation and idea development processes and application of innovative visual communication design.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through studio-based projects and seminar sessions that will include workshops, subject-specific talks and lectures by staff and visiting industry practitioners. Group tutorials and critiques will take place alongside individual progress tutorials. You are expected to undertake self-directed study and to develop work independently following formative feedback and to access specialist areas of expertise as appropriate.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Guided studio projects, workshops, seminars, progress reviews, crits & tutorials | 200 |
| Guided independent study | 100 | |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
Projects and development work, seminar presentations, project logs and self-evaluations are formatively assessed in crits and project reviews throughout the module when you receive feedback on work produced and feed forward on work in progress. Project work is submitted and summatively assessed at the end of Level 6, in teaching block 2, during the summer term.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Demonstrate an effective working process and understanding of appropriate communication methods and media platforms. | Formatively assessed in tutorials, workshops, critiques and reviews. Summatively assessed across a body of work and associated research as presented at final assessment. |
| 2) Display project insight by researching both subject specific and visual references | Formatively assessed in tutorials, workshops, critiques and reviews. Summatively assessed across a body of work and associated research as presented at final assessment. |
| 3) Demonstrate independent thinking, critical reflection, intellectual risk taking and selective visual judgement. | Formatively assessed in tutorials, workshops, critiques and reviews. Summatively assessed across a body of work and associated research as presented at final assessment. |
| 4) Respond to professional, social and ethical issues which inform contemporary communication design. | Formatively assessed in tutorials, workshops, critiques and reviews. Summatively assessed across a body of work and associated research as presented at final assessment. |
| 5) Evidence an understanding of visual communication through a comprehensive body of exploratory project work | Formatively assessed in tutorials, workshops, critiques and reviews. Summatively assessed across a body of work and associated research as presented at final assessment. |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Studio Projects, Research & Analysis and Creative Development & Realisation | 100% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS a requirement that the major category of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Baseline Magazine
Creative Review: Advertising, Design & Visual Culture
Design Issues (MIT Press)
Eye: The International Journal of Graphic Design
I.D.
Print Magazine
Poynor, R. (2003) No More Rules: Graphic Design & Postmodernism, Lawrence King
Noble, I. (2011) Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design AVA Publishing
Brown, T (2009) Change by design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation, Harper Business
Foote, C (2009) The Creative Business Guide to Running a Graphic Design Business, WW Norton
Heller, (2008) The Design Entrepreneur: Turning Graphic Design into Goods that Sell, Rockport
Shaughnessy, A (2009) Graphic Design: A User's Manual, Laurence King
Shaughnessy, A (2005) How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing your Soul, Laurence King
Clark, H. & Brody, D. (2009) Design Studies: A Reader, Berg
Heller, S. (1999) Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design, Allworth Press
Heller, S. (2002) The Graphic Design Reader, Allworth Press
Poynor, R. (2005) Communicate: Independent British Graphic Design since the Sixties, Yale University Press
Rose, G. (2001) Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials, London: Sage.
Triggs, T. (2003) Radical Typography Design, Harper Design
Twemlow, A. (2006) What is Graphic Design For? RotoVision
Further recommended reading will be provided, as required, to support chosen subject areas.