Graphic Design

UCAS code: W211

Here's what Nottingham Trent University says about its Graphic Design course.

Master branding, typography, publishing, motion graphics, and more – all while tackling real-world design projects. Hone your professional and technical skills and develop a visual design language that's uniquely you. You'll go beyond theory, experiment with emerging technologies, and refine your technical skills to equip yourself to thrive in the ever-evolving graphic design landscape.

By the end of your degree, you'll graduate with a professional portfolio that showcases your unique design voice. Our graduates are making waves in the industry across fields such as art direction, branding and identity, editorial design, interactive design, illustration, and more.

Key features

• Gain hands-on industry experience: You’ll have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement of up to a year in length. Dependent on the duration of your placement, you could gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice.

• Showcase work at major events: You may be selected to exhibit at major design showcases like D&AD New Blood and New Designers in London. These events attract top creative agencies - giving you a platform to connect with future employers.

• Take part in global opportunities: Apply for a European or international exchange to one of our partner institutions, such as RMIT in Australia. You will also have the chance to attend optional study visits to a European destination.

• Work on real briefs for big brands: Respond to real-world briefs set by agencies such as Brand Opus, JKR, Elmwood and Vault49. You’ll also develop professional skills through placements, competitions, guest lectures and industry collaborations.

Employability

Many graduates secure jobs at well-known design consultancies. Some choose to use their skills in other fields, such as teaching and management, while others go on to set up their own business or work on a freelance basis.

Graduates from this course go into a range of roles. Recent examples include:

• designer, UNiDAYS

• junior designer, McCann Birmingham

• junior designer, Pentland Brands

• product development, Bakerdays

• freelance artist, Advocate AA

• junior designer; Landor

• junior motion designer; DixonBaxi.

[Year One]

• The Fundamentals of Graphic Design (100 credit points)
• Design in Context 1 (20 credit points)

[Year Two]

• Exploring the Graphic Design Industry (60 credit points)
• Design in Context 2 (20 credit points)
• Co Lab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking (20 credit points)
• Optional module. You will also choose one optional 20-credit module from: Publishing: Experimental Formats Typography: Use and Expression Telling Stories Motion Graphics Ethical Design Digital Marketing and Communication Exploring Creative Coding Drawing & Exploring with Natural Materials

[Year Three]

Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year (Sandwich) and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

• If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will still need to apply for this course with the full-time UCAS code.

[Final year]

• Developing a Personal Portfolio (100 credit points)
• Design in Context 3: Dissertation (20 credit points)

Year 1 coursework (100%). Year 2 coursework (100%). Year 3 coursework (100%).

People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. On this course you will be assessed on a range of individual and group presentations, and your final year project.

Your work in Year Two accounts for 20% of your final degree mark, and your work in your final year accounts for the other 80%.