Graphic Design (with placement year)

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. Student have access to studio space equipped with industry standard tools and technology, and a wide range of other workshops and specialist equipment.

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. 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.

Year one – 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.

Year two – Taking a more self-directed role, you will develop your design practice, critical assessments, and seminars. This is where audience, context, distribution, and ethical issues become fundamental to your practice. We run group workshops and challenge you with innovative live briefs from real industry partners.

Year three – Build on your understanding of professional practice, business, marketing skills, and project management. You will develop a dynamic portfolio of work by participating in a series of self-directed competition briefs as well as creative exhibitions. These industry experiences and professional networks support employment opportunities and advance your understanding of interests you may wish to pursue in your career.

*This course includes a placement year (also known as a sandwich year, work placement, industrial placement, or year in industry), which provides a fantastic opportunity to enhance your employability and gain practical experience in your field of study. The placement year typically occurs after year two and before year three. Please see the Undergraduate Placement Year FAQs on our website for more information: www.leeds-art.ac.uk/undergraduate-placement-year-faqs