BA (Hons) Visual Communications and Design

Code

SE204

Location

Wexford

Campus

Summerhill Road

Level Level 8
Duration 4 Years
CAO Points 346
Credits 240
International Applicants View details
Fees View details

What is the Course about?

Visual Communication and Design is a problem-solving practice that uses image, text, print and screen to communicate messages. This discipline originates from graphic design and now incorporates the traditional skills of drawing, printing, photography, typography and other graphic processes with the new digital realms of video, web and animation.

Course Structure

This course is designed to facilitate a transition from novice student to creative practitioner. Students are taught a variety of skills to achieve this. This highly practical course features a studio environment where students complete projects in a variety of 2D design disciplines, such as: branding; illustration; packaging; typography; advertising; layout; signage; websites; games; moving image, video and animation.

Is this course for you?

If you are interested in what images, typefaces, packaging sell products; in what interface makes tasks more efficient; in what visual problemsolving can achieve, then Visual Communications and Design could be the course for you.

Special Features:

Studio-basedcourse with skills training across all media. Students of thecourse will graduate with a portfolio of work in graphic design, digital media and video.
Annual industry showcase event for final year students to exhibit work to potential employers.
Students are encouraged to compete in a variety of national student competitions and have performed well in recent years. Students of thiscourse have won first place at the Samsung Digital Media Awards and and have been shortlisted for the Institute of Designer in Ireland (IDI) Graduate Awards.
Students have the opportunity to take international field trips in Years 1 and 2.
Exit awards: Higher Certificate in Visual Communications and Design (NFQ Level 6) after Year 2 and Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications and Design (NFQ Level 7) after Year 3.

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Art and Design: Themes and Contexts. (M)	Digital Media Design (M)
Visual Studies - Colour, Drawing, 3D (M)	Photography and Video (M)
Visual Studies - Notebook Research (M)	Visual and Material Culture (M)
Visual Studies - Skills Based Workshops (M)	Visual Studies Themed Project (M)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Art and Design: Themes and Contexts. (M)	Marketing Mix (M)
Creative Studio 1 (M)	Media and Communications (M)
Design Print Production (M)	Web Design Methods (M)
Introduction to Marketing (M)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 3

Semester 5	Semester 6
Creative Studio 2 (M)	Information Design (M)
Marketing Management (M)	Professional Design Practice (M)
User Interface and Experience Design (M)	Socially Engaged Practice (M)
Web Development (M)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 4

Semester 7	Semester 8
Creative Studio 3 (M)	Web Design (M)
Digital Marketing (M)
Entrepreneurship (M)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

What are the minimum entry requirements?

2H5 & 4O6/H7
English or Irish O6/H7

What follow-on study opportunities are available?

Graduates can apply for entry on to the MSc in Digital Media with Business Analytics, or the MA in Interaction Design at SETU Carlow and other postgraduate courses.

What exemptions will I receive?

Notes

What will I be able to do when I finish the course?

Career opportunities for graduates of Visual Communications and Design are varied and in constant demand, both in Ireland and internationally. Design careers exist across a wide range of industries including: graphic; web; motion pictures; computer games; interactive and multimedia industries and many more. Graduates also find careers in the broader marketing arena such as advertising, e-business and marketing.