UCAS Code: W213 E BA/GDNM apply for this course.
The Graphic Design: New Media course explores and critically investigates the creative potential of current and emerging technologies in the context of communication design practice. It seeks to place graduates with a specialised skill set where developments in technology are exploited in interesting and exciting new ways in the service of communication and media design.
Visit the OPEN GDNM show website to see graduate work: http://show11.gdnm.org/
One of the defining features of this course is its relationship with technology. The course is particularly designed to explore the consequences and opportunities offered to both media and design discourse and practice, by technological developments. This requires both a critical approach to emergent technologies as well as an understanding of their cultural and social implications.
Motion graphics, interface and interaction design in our view lead to the development of a specialised design practice in a broader communication design context. The reason we identify these particular areas for study (which in themselves contain the study of sequence and narrative, human computer interaction, time based design and animation) is that these areas are often two ends of the same solution in contemporary new media communication design practice. For example a new media artefact needs careful attention in terms of how it is physically experienced but almost without exception the result of this interaction is presented in animated form mediated by an interface.
Graphic design has a long and varied history, a contextual understanding of graphic design is coupled with the more recent history of new media and this serves as the foundation to the course. First we must understand this history, the practitioners involved, and the underlying theories that shape communication and media practice. With this knowledge we can explore and exploit all appropriate technologies, to foster the creation and reception of successful and effective pieces of communication. A thorough contextual understanding supports a forward-looking and speculative approach to design practice that can adapt to complex cultural and social issues.
We encourage experimentation and believe that experimentation facilitates innovation. Making is thinking and to this end we provide a curriculum rich in opportunities to experiment with complex media processes. Through expert led workshops and seminars, you become expert in niche and experimental areas.
The course is dedicated to fostering the independent, creative and inquiring mind, providing opportunities to develop critical and analytical skills while gaining the theoretical and practical skills necessary to work within this intense and challenging design arena.
The course ensures that graduates join are equipped with the skills to continue learning and developing in both life and work.
Syllabus (09/10 entry*)
Year 1
During the first year you are introduced to communication and new media design processes through wide ranging studio-based experimentation and you are encouraged to examine your field of study to enable you to situate your practice. A series of studio-based tasks, exercises and projects enable you to experiment with a wide range of processes, explore key concepts, practices and to develop concept generation and research skills.
- Design & media one – develop your understanding of image, text, time and motion in graphic design: new media through experimentation with a wide range of design and media concepts and processes.
- Researching design & new media – introduces methods and processes that enable you to survey the field of graphic design and new media and examine theories and practices relevant to it.
- Design & media two – develop your understanding of time-based design and extends the exploration to include linear and non-linear events and narratives in time and space from planning to execution.
- Active design process: research methods & iterative practice – you examine the contribution of research to design practice and encourages you to explore design practice in its social and cultural context.
Year 2
You undertake units that broaden your understanding of the complexities of the evolving field of new media and address critical design practice. In addition to course set briefs, you work on national and international competitions, in team situations and on briefs from industry. The design briefs that you are set combine a rich mix of theoretical and practical elements and enable you to start to explore a more specialist direction to your studies.
- Design & media contexts – extends your understanding, experience and skill set to address design problems in more specific new media contexts and encourages you to explore the changing roles of the producer, the user and the audience in the these contexts.
- Critical design process – introduces you to critical design practice to enable you to question your own practice and design practice in general in relation to the wider social and cultural contexts.
- Conceptual development & personal practice – you are given a set of briefs that are drawn from various areas of graphic design: new media practices from which you choose one based on your aspirations and experience on the course. This work is then be exhibited in an interim show.
- Design investigation & work-based learning – you seek to identify a specialist area of industry practice that interests you professionally and undertake an investigation that explains and explores this area.
Year 3
This year represents the opportunity for you to consolidate and integrate your professional, theoretical, conceptual and design skills. Preparation for life after the course is also an integral component at this stage, with investigations into further study opportunities and career planning and development supporting your academic study.
- Client and competition briefs – opportunity to work on live client and international competition briefs to test your skills developed over the first two years of the course under professional pressures.
- Active design process two – further develop and consolidate your research skills developed over the first two years of the course.
- Major project – creation and the production of a self-directed major project, developed through rigorous and structured planning, research and development.
- Portfolio review & exhibition preparation – development of an exhibition strategy for your major project as well as on the review and evaluation of your folio to date.
- Single dissertation - in a subject area associated to your main area of study.