Art & Design

Graphic designers are visual communicators who bring ideas to life. Graphic design at Teesside is a well-established and highly successful area of study and offers you a broad and dynamic experience.

You work in areas such as advertising, branding, illustration, typography, motion graphics, web design, interactive media, and editorial design for magazines and books. You develop your own voice, and we emphasise creative flair and adventurous solutions, combined with developing an awareness of context, a dedicated work ethic and a professional approach to time, costs and deadlines.

What you study

In Year 1 you experience the fundamental principles of graphic design. You are introduced to essential graphic languages and processes including drawing, image-making, typography, advertising, interaction, narrative and printmaking. During Year 2 you develop a distinctive body of work through your selection of project briefs. You build your knowledge, strengths, professional and management skills, and apply your ideas and processes to more complex creative projects. In Year 3 the emphasis is placed firmly on development of your professional portfolio and future career aspirations. You are able to negotiate your own project themes and there is the opportunity to work on live projects and competition briefs.

How you learn

A full range of digital resources and workshop facilities, utilising up-to-date equipment and processes, supports the studio environment. Independent and student-centred learning are encouraged in addition to taught sessions with staff. Theoretical work is delivered through illustrated lectures and seminars where there is opportunity for collective discussion.

How you are assessed

The work produced is the work assessed; there are no examinations and the production of design projects is a key feature. Assessment is undertaken against carefully defined criteria and project-based assignments involve a critique. The critique is a reflective process allowing for both staff and peer group appraisal.

Professional development

A specifically designed programme runs in each of the three years to encourage the development of professional links and contacts. Study trips are also on offer and include conferences and visits to professional studios.

Career opportunities

Our graduates have excellent and varied career opportunities and go on to work in design consultancies, publishing houses, advertising and new media studios along with freelance opportunities and commissioned arts projects. There is also the opportunity for postgraduate study.

Entry requirements

A typical offer will be between 240-280 tariff points from at least two A levels or equivalent – one of which must be in an appropriate discipline. Considerable importance is also attached to your portfolio of work.

For additional information please see the standard University entry requirements.

More information

• Look at students’ work
  A gallery of graphic arts and design students’ work

• Mark Warner BA (Hons) Graphic Design Mark Warner now runs Kitch-en Gallery in Middlesbrough. (1min)
• Art & Design
  More information and courses in Art & Design