BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Duration

3 years / 4 years with placement year*

Institution code

L28

UCAS Code

3 years W214 / 4 years W215

A photo of a printed magazine titled Burner. The magazine is black and white and there is a CD in the centre with an illustration of someone riding a rearing horse.
A photo of a printed magazine titled Burner. The magazine is black and white and there is a CD in the centre with an illustration of someone riding a rearing horse.

Tom Aggett

A photograph of an open booklet design, the two opened pages are orange and black. The pages have holes punctured in a linear design and the number 02 on the left-hand page.
A photograph of an open booklet design, the two opened pages are orange and black. The pages have holes punctured in a linear design and the number 02 on the left-hand page.

Raya Ayoub

A square consisting of four mock-ups of drinks can designs. The labels on the cans have large black letters that read: Mum said no, I make bad choices, and I’m pregnant.
A square consisting of four mock-ups of drinks can designs. The labels on the cans have large black letters that read: Mum said no, I make bad choices, and I’m pregnant.

Will Broadbent

A mock-up of pink and black promotional items including t-shirts, tote bags, lanyards, postcards and banners. The text on the items is bold and uppercase and reads: Up North.
A mock-up of pink and black promotional items including t-shirts, tote bags, lanyards, postcards and banners. The text on the items is bold and uppercase and reads: Up North.

Ruby Brown

Several colourful printed materials, including magazines and posters, on a black background. The printed materials include a range of fonts and graphics, and words like: sticky floors, rave scene, and dance.
Several colourful printed materials, including magazines and posters, on a black background. The printed materials include a range of fonts and graphics, and words like: sticky floors, rave scene, and dance.

Molly Dunn

A photograph of packing design for a soap bar, in the form of a small tin of fish. The design is bold yellow and black, with an illustration of a fish.
A photograph of packing design for a soap bar, in the form of a small tin of fish. The design is bold yellow and black, with an illustration of a fish.

Sophie Henton

A digital design showing the left-hand corner of a magazine page, part of a title “Fungg” appears. Below are paragraphs of text behind three overlapping images.
A digital design showing the left-hand corner of a magazine page, part of a title “Fungg” appears. Below are paragraphs of text behind three overlapping images.

Joe Hall

A digital design of a logo titled “Anbatik” in large red capitlised heading adorned with gold diamond shape stars.
A digital design of a logo titled “Anbatik” in large red capitlised heading adorned with gold diamond shape stars.

Amira Mutiara

A series of web page designs in a red, white and yellow colouring. The first web page features the “Anbatik” logo the rest have the titles “About”, “What”, “Where”, “Now” and “Why”.
A series of web page designs in a red, white and yellow colouring. The first web page features the “Anbatik” logo the rest have the titles “About”, “What”, “Where”, “Now” and “Why”.

Amira Mutiara

A red book titled Swissbalance+, with a light pink grid design and red cross from the Switzerland flag in the centre.
A red book titled Swissbalance+, with a light pink grid design and red cross from the Switzerland flag in the centre.

Josh Wilmot

A branded packet and bottle are positioned on a mossy rock in a forest. The branding features a photo of a building and light lime green background with white text that reads: Virtue.
A branded packet and bottle are positioned on a mossy rock in a forest. The branding features a photo of a building and light lime green background with white text that reads: Virtue.

Ben Wright

The Course

This course offers the opportunity to become creatively capable, critically informed, professionally aware, and culturally sensitive. You will work individually and collaboratively to produce extraordinary work in a modern studio environment.

We offer all our students a unique and engaging learning environment. Investigation takes place practically through materials and process, theoretically through research and analysis, and is rooted in professional practice. The relationship between critical theory, professional contexts, and design is vital. Problem-solving encourages increasingly individual exploration of processes and techniques.

Collaboration is central to our ethos and essential in developing design practice that has a readiness for professional application. We believe that an understanding of the collaborative role of the designer and appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary design is significant for a successful engagement with the creative industries.

Our links with studios and agencies are extensive and external engagement is a course strength. We draw from a range of industry speakers who represent the diverse creative community and student cohort. Experts run workshops on professional and practice-based specialisms, give studio talks and lectures, and portfolio surgeries. Live briefs are also set by studios, individual practitioners, and organisations within the wider creative sector and beyond.

We encourage engagement with the creative sector, which develops the confidence and understanding to allow you to make informed decisions about the future, whether preparing for this exciting industry or further study.

*The placement year is subject to approval.

The Structure

Working in dedicated design spaces, you will focus on the fundamentals of visual language. You will investigate methods and design practice around type, language, image, narrative, meaning, and message. You will also explore typography, print, drawing processes, and screen-based media to form a comprehensive understanding of graphic design.

Course Facilities

BA (Hons) Graphic Design students are based in a large, purpose-built shared studio. Students will have access to a wide range of resources with a drop-in facility so work can be undertaken, provided resource inductions have been completed.

For Graphic Design students this will include print resources which provide excellent facilities for bookmaking and paper-based printmaking using a range of processes; access to industry standard laser cutters; professional-standard, large-format digital printing and print finishing and a vinyl cutter enabling designs to be cut from many types of vinyl.

Computer suites house networks of Apple Mac computers featuring regularly updated, industry-standard software for a wide range of creative applications that support all our courses and a purpose-built specialist library which includes including special collections of artists’ books, photobooks and illustrated books as well as the University archive. Self service facilities are available throughout, supported by a dedicated and experienced team of library staff.

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Virtual Tour

Video showcase

Order a prospectus

Study Abroad

Studying abroad can help Leeds Arts University students gain valuable experience, broaden their horizons, develop international networks and experience their practice from a different perspective. Leeds Arts University has a global network of international partner universities in 15 different countries. Students can apply for a semester abroad in their second year of study.

Accolades

Students have won countless awards including D&AD New Blood Award, International Society of Typographic Designers, Penguin Book Awards, YCN Student Awards, RSA Student Design Awards and Starpak Students Awards.

Career Opportunities

Graduates go into a wide range of careers within graphic design which include working within a studio as part of a design team, in-house or set up their own studios. Careers include editorial design, branding, packaging, typography, printmaking, design for screen and more. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study.

Academic Staff

1

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Dr Simon Spawforth-Jones

BA (Hons) Graphic Design and MA Graphic Design - Course Leader

2

/7

Dr Peter Blagg

BA (Hons) Graphic Design - Senior Lecturer, BA (Hons) Illustration - Lecturer

3

/7

Nick Deakin

BA (Hons) Graphic Design - Senior Lecturer

4

/7

Dominique Fletcher

BA (Hons) Graphic Design - Senior Lecturer

5

/7

Mary Gibbons

BA (Hons) Graphic Design - Lecturer

6

/7

Ben Green

BA (Hons) Graphic Design - Senior Lecturer

7

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Mike Lewis

BA (Hons) Graphic Design - Lecturer

*Please note that our courses are subject to an annual review process in order to maintain their quality and enhance the student experience. As a result, Course Specifications may be amended for the coming year.

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