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 in a world that is becoming more planet-centred. You will be encouraged to experiment with a range of media approaches 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 and generate stewardship of positive environment impacts through good design. Planet-centred design is a design philosophy and methodology that expands on human-centred design to include the wellbeing of the planet as a core consideration ensuring products and services are designed for environmental sustainability rather than solely human needs. It will support your enquiry within the areas of inclusive, ethical and accessible design where you are tasked to examine and reflect on UNSDG’s and consider Design Council's Green Design mindset (https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/design-for-planet).

You will build on modules studied in Level 4 using design, technical skills and knowledge around 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.

Students will deepen their green mindset through research and processing their documentation and drawing on team skillset to produce relevant outputs that could be an app, social media, advertising campaign or packaging.

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 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 through print, digital and mixed media.

You will be introduced to consider creative practice and the tools and role of AI in an ever-changing digital landscape and be encouraged to consider emerging technologies your future role of a graphic designer.

You will 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 decision making, can have in both a positive and negative way on society.

Assessment 1: Extended Project Portfolio

Independent project portfolio made up of finished visuals, design development in the form of notebooks and digitally annotated sketchbooks that provide evidence of your ability to work through the design process including visual research, evaluation with reflection of your development. This portfolio will contain appropriate annotation into a diverse range of traditional and digital and moving image making techniques as well practicing artists and designers.

Your design development work will provide evidence of your ability to identify, research and analyse a communication problem, generate a range creative proposals and select and present solutions in appropriate visual forms (still and moving), Finished projects will utilise a range of media applications across the Adobe creative suite and won sound research will show critical reflection in chosen versions using aesthetic judgement based on sound research and observation.

It should include:
- Primary and secondary research, analysis and visual investigation
- Concept and design development (e.g. mood boards, sketches, mind maps – with annotations)
- Product or outcome development (e.g. campaign development, promotional materials)
- Ongoing annotations explaining and justifying creative and technical decisions
- Final resolved outcomes appropriate to the project focus

Assessment 2: Professional Development Statement

You will produce a written or multimedia professional development statement that articulates your project focus, emerging professional identity and future career intentions.

- Informed by ethical primary and secondary research, you will explain how research, theory and professional context have shaped your creative, technical and strategic decision-making.
- You will reflect on your strengths, limitations and skills development, and set realistic, professionally relevant goals for both your project and future academic or career progression.

Option 1: Written (1,800 words)
Option 2: Recorded or live presentation (6-8 minutes)

Formative Assessment:

Midway formative feedback will be embedded within practical sessions, providing structured opportunities for feedback on work-in-progress to support student development and progression.

Individual and group project work will integrate practical (technical and aesthetic) and theoretical aspects of visual communication understanding.

- Seminars
- Technical, experimental print and academic workshops including technical instruction sessions and library, design collection and design museum/exhibition-based activities
- Group peer-based learning tutorials
- Formative assessments - Independent study in support of your practical work

1. Produce an extended practical project that demonstrates growing independence, professional awareness and an understanding of design process and practice.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Apply critical reasoning to address complex challenges within Graphic Design and the issues explored through your research and design outputs, informed by academic, technical, or professional feedback.

Critical reasoning and collaboration

3. Communicate project intentions, process, and outcomes using appropriate technical skills and disciplinary formats.

Communication

4. Reflect on your professional identity and aspirations within creative industries in Graphic Design.

Personal development and entrepreneurship

Individual and group project work will integrate practical (technical and aesthetic) and theoretical aspects of visual communication understanding:

- Seminars
- Technical, experimental print and academic workshops including technical instruction sessions and library, design collection and design museum/exhibition-based activities
- Group peer-based learning tutorials
- Formative assessments
- Independent study in support of your practical work

Student Life https://www.youtube.com/@uniofstaffsstudentlife/videos
University Careers https://staffs.careercentre.me/Members
University Library https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/library
Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment will support this module where relevant

Specialist spaces
- Smart Zone
- Media Lab resources
- CAD Labs
- Photography resources; studio and technical specialists
- Print Bureau and experimental print photography resources and technical specialists including screen print, Riso, Dry etch
- Betty Smithers Design Collection
- Immersive Technology suite
- Adobe Creative suite technical instruction

Cornerstone Indicators (n.d.) Cornerstone Indicators. Available at: https://cornerstoneindicators.com/ (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Dark Matter Labs (n.d.) Dark Matter Labs. Available at: https://darkmatterlabs.org/ (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Design Council (2025) Skills for planet blueprint (executive summary). Available at: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/fileadmin/uploads/dc/Photos/Skills_for_Planet/Skills_for_Planet_Blueprint_Executive_Summary.pdf (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Eyal, N. (2019) Hooked: How to build habit-forming products. London: Penguin.

Global Carbon Atlas (n.d.) Global Carbon Atlas. Available at: https://globalcarbonatlas.org/ (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (n.d.) Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Lupton, E. (2010) Thinking with type. 2nd edn. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

Miller, S. and Aldridge, D. (2012) Why shrink-wrap a cucumber? The complete guide to environmental packaging. London: Laurence King Publishing.

Scherling, L. and DeRosa, R. (2020) Ethics in design and communication. London: Bloomsbury.

Stopher, B., Fass, J. and Verhoeven, E. (2021) Digital design and ethical awareness. London: Bloomsbury.

World Economic Forum (n.d.) Strategic intelligence. Available at: https://intelligence.weforum.org/collection/3bb1ddd7-d964-4761-9e7a-d914bdb116f (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Where older texts are included, they are retained as foundational texts within the discipline, remaining relevant where no more recent equivalent texts are available.

This module explores how meaning and information are communicated through visual language, with a particular focus on contemporary, planet‑centred approaches to design. You will investigate practical methods of visual problem‑solving across a broad range of media, developing an understanding of how different formats shape the messages they convey. Through hands‑on experimentation, you will learn to express information in dynamic, engaging and innovative visual forms.