This module is concerned with conveying meaning and information in its many different forms and deals with the practical issues of visual problem solving within the broad field of visual communication. You will be encouraged to experiment with a range of media approaches in order to discover the ways in which different media carry different meanings and to express information in visually exciting and varied forms. The knowledge, understanding acquired throughout the module will develop your skills as creative thinkers for a better world. It will support your enquiry within the areas of inclusive design, design for ‘good’ and ethical design.

The module focus is developing understanding and knowledge of the complex issues surrounding sustainability, society and the impact your work as a designer may have in a positive way when confronting these issues. Within the context of your creative subject, you will be introduced to themes such as digital design ethics and creativity for a regenerative world.

This module is designed to build on knowledge and skills gained in previous modules by encouraging you to review, extend, develop and apply the use of (new) creative visual thinking, visual language manipulative skills and a variety of communication methods towards fresh and innovative solutions. You may be collaborating with Industry partners and responding to a brief which enables the exploration of connections between Sustainable Development Goals and the work you develop.

You will also concentrate on the practical exploration of composition, communicating through pictures, visual metaphors, and cultural aspects of image making.

Through a range of design interventions, exercises and projects, you will explore alternative research methods and design methodologies through lateral thinking. Diverse mark making methods and techniques are explored. You will be encouraged to adopt an experimental and investigative approach to the use of media platforms in confronting and solving societal issues which will challenge the designer navigating topics such as ethical design in technology, sustainability and storytelling. The module will reveal what the impact of design, and design decision making, can have in both a positive and negative way on society.

You will present for assessment a body of work as outlined in the module information pack.
This is likely to include:
Finished visuals, together with layout pads and sketchbooks showing research containing appropriate annotation into a diverse range of traditional and digital image making techniques as well as practicing artists and designers (Learning Outcome: 1), design development work, providing evidence of your ability to: identify, research and analyse a communication problem, generate a range of creative proposals and select and present solutions in appropriate visual forms. [Learning Outcomes 2, 4 & 7]
Finished projects and tasks that utilise a range of media applications including; digital applications and moving image techniques. [Learning Outcomes
2, 3, 4 & 6]
Produce and select solutions that demonstrate a developing aesthetic judgment based on sound research and observation, [Learning Outcomes 1 & 5]

KEY INFORMATION SETS
100% coursework

Project work will provide the framework through which learning will take place, it will integrate the practical with the theoretical and the technical aspects of your design specialism. There will be studio work, including introductory seminars/lectures, followed by group tutorials and crits to present findings/visuals. Life drawing will be available to all students to support the development of drawing and visualizing skills.

Group instruction in appropriate software will be available if required.
(Photography, animation & moving image software)

KEY INFORMATION SETS
24% Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities
76% Guided Independent Learning

1. MAKE APPROPRIATE CREATIVE DECISIONS WHILST WORKING THROUGH THE VARIOUS STAGES OF THE DESIGN PROCESS AND IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC VISUAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

Reflection.

2. CONVEY INFORMATION AND MEANING EFFECTIVELY IN ITS MANY DIFFERENT FORMS USING A RANGE OF CREATIVE TECHNIQUES AND APPROACHES.

Communication.

3. CREATIVELY APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED THROUGH RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION WITH A VARIETY OF MEDIA TO THE PRODUCTION OF AN APPROPRIATE SOLUTION SUPPORTED BY CLEAR DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARATION WORK.

Application.

4. EVALUATE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES THROUGH EXPLORATION AND EXPERIMENTATION, USING A RANGE OF ALTERNATIVE MEDIA AND TECHNIQUES TO ARRIVE AT A RELEVANT SOLUTION TO A VISUAL COMMUNICATION PROBLEM.

Problem Solving.

5. IDENTIFY THE SEPARATE VISUAL ELEMENTS THAT PLAY A PART IN THE PERCEPTION OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION IMAGES, EVALUATE AND INTERPRET IMAGE MAKING TECHNIQUES TO SOLVE CREATIVE PROBLEMS.

Visual Analysis.

6. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF IMAGE MAKING TECHNIQUES, THE VALUE OF TRADITIONAL MIXED MEDIA EXPERIMENTATION AND DIGITAL APPLICATIONS, SHOWING AN AWARENESS OF APPROACHES TAKEN BY OTHER PRACTITIONERS, DESCRIBING AND COMMENTING UPON THE VISUAL APPLICATION OF SEMIOTIC THEORY TO YOUR RESEARCH AND PROJECT WORK.

Knowledge & Understanding.

7. EFFECTIVELY RESEARCH AND GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT TRENDS IN ADVERTISING, INFORMATION DESIGN, ART DIRECTION AND BRANDING AND DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION THROUGH DESIGN AND IMAGE MAKING IN THE ABILITY TO SELECT AND DEVELOP IDEAS IN RESPONSE TO SET DESIGN EXERCISES AND PROJECTS.

Enquiry.

Studio workspace and seminar room with presentation and projection facilities.

Computer Workshops

Specific skills modulettes will be assigned to this module.

Library

Internet access

Design studio

Experimental workshop resources for mixed media experimentation

Controlled studio environment for life drawing classes.

Macs in studio/Henrion Building/Campus

Software: Adobe CC Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, i-movie

Black and White A3 printer

Colour Printer (computer workshops)

Animation Workshops

Eyal N. (2019) Hooked, how to build habit forming products. Penguin

Shoshana Z. (2020) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. Profile Books

Duhigg C. (2012) The Power of Habit. Random House

Cliffe K & Fabricant R. (2019) User Friendly. Penguin Randon House

Yablonski J. (2020) Laws of UX . Oreillymedia

Braungrt M. (2009) Cradle to Cradle. Vintage

ScherlingL & Derosa R. (2020) Ethics In Design and Communication. Bloomsbury

Stopher B, Fass J & Verhoeven E. (2021) Digital Design and Ethical Awarness. Bloomsbury

Monterio, M., 2017. (online) ‘A designers code of Ethics’

DDigital by Design: Crafting Technology for Products and Environments Thames and Hudson Ltd; Reprint edition (2 Aug. 2010) Conny Freyer

Ambrose G & Harris P. (2003) The Fundamentals of Creative Design AVA publishing

Barthes,R, Mythologies. London, Vintage. 1993

Blackwell L. Soon: Brands of Tomorrow. (2001)

Bestley R. & Noble I. Experimental Layout (2001) Roto Vision

Craig J, Designing with Type, Watson-Guptill, 2006

Errea, Javieir. Malofiej "12th World Infographics Awards", 2003.

Fiell C & P Graphic Design in the 21st Century. (2003) Taschen.

Freeman,M, The Photographers Eye: Composition and Design for better Digital Photos. Focal Press. June 2007

Howells,R, Visual Culture. London, Sage. 2003

Hyland, A. 2003. Hand to Eye: Contemporary Illustration. Laurence King

Johnson M. 2002. Problem Solved: A Primer in Design & Communications. Phaidon Press

Lipton, Ronnie " Information Graphics and Visual Clues: Communication Information through Graphic Design", Rockport Publishers, 2004.

Lupton E, Thinking with Type, Princeton Architectural Press, 2nd Edition, 2010

Marshall,H, Art Direction. Phaidon. 1990

Meyer, E.K. "Designing Infographics", Hayden Books, 1st edition, 1997.

McAlhone.B & Stuart D. 1999. A Smile in the Mind. Phaidon Press

McLuhan, M., Fiore, Q. & Agel, J. 1967. The Medium is the Massage. Penguin

Muller-Brockman J, Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Verlag Niggli,1999

Muybridge E. 1995. 'The Human Figure in motion'. Dover Press

Noble, I. 2003. Picture Perfect. Rotovision

Odling-Smee A. 2002. The New Handmade Graphics. Rotovision

Poyner R. Vaughn Oliver Visceral Pleasures (2000) Booth Clibborn Editions

Roberts L. & Thrift J. 2001. The Designer & the Grid. Rotovision

Rotor, E. (2016) Classic Penguin, Cover to Cover. Penguin Books

Rudy VanderLans R., et al. 1993. Emigre: Graphic Design into the Digital Realm. John Wiley & Sons

Salisbury, M. (2017) The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970. Thames and Hudson

Samara T, Making and Breaking the Grid, Rockport Publishers, 2017

Strizver, Type Rules, Wiley, 4th Edition, 2013

Wildbur, P./Burke, M. "Information Graphics: Innovative Solutions in Contemporary Design", 1999.

Zappaterra,Y,Art Direction & Editorial Design. Abrams Books, 2008

Zeegen, L. 2005. The Fundamentals of Illustration. AVA Publishing

2001-2012. D&AD Annuals. Taschen

Periodicals:
Grafik: Journal of the Best in International Graphic Design, (Monthly) www.grafikmagazine.co.uk

Eye: The International Review of Graphic Design, (Quarterly) www.eyemagazine.com

Why Not Associates. Why Not (1998) Booth Clibborn Editions

Wildbur, P./Burke, M. "Information Graphics: Innovative Solutions in Contemporary Design", 1999.

Zappaterra,Y,Art Direction & Editorial Design. Abrams Books, 2008

Web sites:

www.snd.org

www.bbc.co.uk

This module is concerned with conveying meaning and information in its many different forms and deals with the practical issues of visual problem solving within the broad field of visual communication. You will be encouraged to experiment with a range of media approaches in order to discover the ways in which different media carry different meanings and to express information in visually exciting and varied forms. The knowledge, understanding acquired throughout the module will develop your skills as creative thinkers for a better world. It will support your enquiry within the areas of inclusive design, design for ‘good’ and ethical design.

The module focus is developing understanding and knowledge of the complex issues surrounding sustainability, society and the impact your work as a designer may have in a positive way when confronting these issues. Within the context of your creative subject, you will be introduced to themes such as digital design ethics and creativity for a regenerative world.
This module is designed to build on knowledge and skills gained in previous modules by encouraging you to review, extend, develop and apply the use of (new) creative visual thinking, visual language manipulative skills and a variety of communication methods towards fresh and innovative solutions. You may be collaborating with Industry partners and responding to a brief which enables the exploration of connections between Sustainable Development Goals and the work you develop.

You will also concentrate on the practical exploration of composition, communicating through pictures, visual metaphors, and cultural aspects of image making.

Through a range of design interventions, exercises and projects, you will explore alternative research methods and design methodologies through lateral thinking. Diverse mark making methods and techniques are explored. You will be encouraged to adopt an experimental and investigative approach to the use of media platforms in confronting and solving societal issues which will challenge the designer navigating topics such as ethical design in technology, sustainability and storytelling. The module will reveal what the impact of design, and design decision making, can have in both a positive and negative way on society.