BA Honours Graphic Design Degree

Overview & facilities

The BA Graphic Design Degree with Honours at Middlesex University, London focuses on the communication of ideas and information to develop the skills and knowledge essential for a successful career in the creative industry. Students study graphic design, advertising, magazine design, photography, typography, TV graphics and web design. Join our BA Graphic Design Degree with Honours and you'll be exploring one of the most creative, exciting and continuously expanding modern communication media sectors.

Graphic design is everywhere from bands to brands, CDs to seed packets, fashion magazines to free sheets, T-shirts to tea bags, pop promos to pop-up books and web sites to building sites. Graphic designers create work which informs, persuades, entertains and sells through the organisation of image, type, materials and processes. Every day you are bombarded by thousands of graphic design images, messages and ideas, from the moment you open your cornflakes until the last TV ad or web site you see before you close your eyes to sleep.

Amazing facilities

The facilities, studios and workshops at our purpose built Art and Design campus in North London are some of the best in the country. They include excellent photographic studios, state of the art digital print out facilities, large numbers of studio and lab computers, a brand new 40 workstation digital darkroom, traditional darkrooms, an art and design library with over 75,000 books and screenprint, etching, metal, wood, laser cutting, plastics and ceramics workshops.

Excellent teaching staff

Our lecturers are all practicing graphic designers and illustrators, and teach in a lively and enjoyable way using project introductions, demonstrations, seminars, group and one to one tutorials. We have good staff to student ratios and specialist technical help in the workshop areas. Our students win major awards and we offer a wide choice of projects. We encourage students to develop their own personal style and to really enjoy themselves on the programme!

Successful graduates

Graduates from our programme have gone on to work for magazines, design consultants, advertising agencies and media providers all over the world, including BBC, Time Out, The Sunday Times Magazine, Eye, Zoo, Pentagram, Interbrand, Imagination, 20/20, Blue Source, Attik and Daddy.

Exciting projects

Our programme focuses on communicating ideas and information through problem solving projects in branding, magazine design, typography, corporate identity, information design, advertising and publicity, editorial design, packaging, exhibition design, editorial photography and art direction, television titles, animation and interactive web design.

Students explore computer design programmes, materials, print processes, conceptual thinking and the use of design to inform, present an argument or persuade, solve visual communication problems to a professional standard, and work on briefs that closely mirror the professional world.

At the end of your degree you will exhibit your work at the Middlesex University Art and Design Degree Show.  The show is a celebration of the end of your studies and the start of your creative career, it's a great opportunity to show off your talents to friends, family and creative industry employers. 

The Grove

From September 2011 this course will be taught at The Grove in Hendon. Click here for your virtual tour.

Programme flyer (front)

Programme flyer (back)

You might also be interested in the 12-week long Foundation course, which runs three times a year, successful completion of which will guarantee a place on a nominated BA Honours programme:

Foundation in Art and Design, Intensive Short Course

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 1

  Introduction to Graphic Design (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to explore research, thinking and communication skills to develop sound working methods, using logical and structured approaches to identifying and solving graphic design problems. It will encourage an experimental and questioning approach to the use of structure, materials, media and process. Fostering critical skills in the creation of the student s own work and in the discussion and evaluation of the work of others. It aims to introduce the creative and communications potential of typography, the breadth and diversity of historical and contemporary practice in graphic design and the dynamics of team working to enable the development of an open-minded and self-analytical approach to further study in the subject area.

  Introduction to History of Art and Design (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to present Design History Visual Culture as diverse and dynamic fields of study. It will introduce students to methodological approaches employed in the critical analysis of the production, representation and consumption of design and material culture, and it will encourage a historically contingent approach to comprehending design and material culture over the past century. The module will enable students to develop critical and descriptive languages of the History of Design. It will also provide the opportunity to question authorised and personal understandings of objects, subjects and environments

  Visual Communication Workshops 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to provide an opportunity to explore a variety of different graphic media and understand their value as methods of visual communication. It aims to encourage an inventive and experimental response to the use of processes and materials in workshop areas chosen from photography, screenprint, etching, lino print, letterpress, 3D design, magazine design, life drawing, animation, electronic design and bookbinding. The module also aims to offer students the opportunity to learn a range of transferable practical and technical skills in art and design, through material handling, exploration of process, production and presentation. This module also aims to provide students with the opportunity to identify and develop a range of specific transferable skills which will enable each student to independently engage in effective learning at first degree level. Additionally the module aims to provide an initial framework for the acquisition of personal and career development skills. Both of these main aims are further developed at level 2 and 3 through subject specific modules.

• Year 2

  Graphic Design Practice (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to encourage the development of a distinctive graphic and typographic visual language. It will enable students to investigate the potential of format and structure using the analysis and presentation of complex information as the basis for imaginative visual communication solutions. Students will learn to integrate and enhance the practices of problem solving and typography developed in earlier modules and to further extend a range of skills through a wide variety of project briefs. It will encourage a focus on exploring and refining concepts, resolving details and further developing the time management skills needed to meet the deadlines of professional external requirements. It also aims to develop practice skills through a choice of briefs from internationally recognised design competitions. It will enable the development of strong presentation and argumentation skills to support proposals.

  Visual Communication Workshops 2 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to develop an understanding of specialist subject areas of creative practice through studio and workshop based activities. It enables students to develop individual approaches to visual communication and to begin to identify broad areas of interest that could form the basis for further specialist study on their programme. It will encourage the acquisition of intermediate specialist skills to work effectively in creative workshop areas chosen from; advertising, life drawing, publicity, editorial photography, publishing, magazine design, animation, etching and print, interactive and web design. The module aims to further develop skills in using creative processes analysing, evaluating visual pieces of work and presentation methods.

• Year 3

  Critical and Contextual Proposition (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to enable students to identify and deliver a research project that is the product of sustained and creative engagement both with a range of research resources and an area of studio-practice. The module will consolidate skills of project identification, research organisation and development, time management, written and visual analysis and the presentation of a critical argument/thesis. The module further consolidates the development of skills required for autonomous learning.

  Professional Portfolio and Major Projects (90 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to provide the opportunity for students to extend their range of specialist skills in graphic design and visual communication and to pursue creative problem solving projects, self directed major projects and graphic authorship utilising production and presentation to a professional level. The module will enable students to develop an individual graphic design style and working methodology to and above the standard required by industry and postgraduate study. It will encourage students to further deepen and extend their knowledge and skills through a choice of briefs in corporate identity, publishing, publicity, advertising, retail, packaging, interactive media, live briefs set by leading designers and internationally recognised creative industry competitions. The module aims to enable students to develop their professional practice in graphic design through producing a professional portfolio or collection of work tailored to the area of graphic design, visual communication or new media that students wish to pursue as a career destination or as postgraduate study.

Entry & applying

We are looking for people who are excited about visual communication and creative ideas, interested in typography and aware of contemporary media. We interview all students who apply and look at a portfolio of art and design work. For applications from mature students we also consider work and life experience. Most successful applicants will come from an Art and Design Foundation Course or equivalent. We also accept strong candidates direct from school with A levels 220 UCAS tariff points in appropriate subjects.

Apply now

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

You might also be interested in the 12-week long Foundation course, which runs three times a year, successful completion of which will guarantee a place on a nominated BA Honours programme:

Foundation in Art and Design, Intensive Short Course

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

The BA Honours Graphic Design programme at Middlesex University has an excellent reputation within the design industry and our contacts with the creative business sector are very strong. Recent graduates work for magazines publishers, design consultants, advertising agencies and media providers all over the world. Graduating from our Graphic Design programme opens up a wide range of exciting career opportunities.

Graphic Design at Middlesex will prepare you for work for as a magazines publisher, design consultant, in an advertising agency or for media providers all over the world.

Middlesex has strong links with art and design employers. Our industry partners sponsor final year students, give visiting lectures and hundreds of art and design agencies, organisations and other employers attend our final year degree show each year.

Our Careers Service offers you a range of support both while you’re studying with us – and after you’ve graduated.

Placements

Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market – as well as being a fantastic experience. We encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity.

We have a dedicated Placements Service which helps you find and plan for a placement.