Undergraduate

Graphic Design

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You’ll explore how to design solutions to reach specific audiences practising skills within our cutting-edge facilities.
You'll get access to the latest industry-standard software and hardware
You'll develop the ability to construct conceptual graphic design solutions that stimulate responses.
Develop design skills that give you a competitive edge, learning within our fully fitted Mac and PC labs.
You’ll be taught right here on campus, designing as professionals do within a studio environment.
design student using computer in our design suite
close-up of laptop screen showing adobe apps
student and lecturer creating 3d render
FACE media hub computer suite with students
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Duration

Mode

  • Standard course
  • With a foundation year

We’ll teach you how to create visual solutions for specific audiences and purposes. Giving you a competitive edge when it’s time to enter the job market.

Explore the very heart of graphic design — understanding audiences and how to create effective and suitable messages using text and imagery. Then develop the ability to construct conceptual graphic design solutions that stimulate desired responses.

You’ll create your designs working within industry-standard media labs. And work on a professional portfolio throughout your degree so you can showcase your skills to potential employers.

  • 85% of students

    in work or further study 15 months after graduating 1

  • Bring your designs to life

    in a studio environment

  • Learn from expert lecturers

    with industry know-how

  • Stand out from the crowd

    with a professional portfolio

  • Industry-standard

    media hub

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Course overview
Module options

About this course

Gain the technical, critical, business and personal skills to succeed in the creative industries. This degree blends hands-on skill with thought-provoking theory, preparing you for a broad range of careers.

Study advanced visual design, creative thinking, typography, the use of colour and composition as well as design history. Construct conceptual graphic design solutions that stimulate desired responses. Then learn how to create graphics using traditional techniques and the latest digital technologies, working with 2D and 3D design, web applications, animation and other evolving media.

As well as technical skills you'll develop knowledge in leadership and design practice, working as professionals do in a studio environment. And you’ll work towards a major project in your final year, developing a professional portfolio to showcase your capabilities and specialisms. 

Scheduled study hours and how you’re assessed

Throughout your degree, you’re expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That’s based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours, time spent on placement and independent study. How this time is divided across the year varies and depends on the module you are studying.

How you'll be assessed depends on the course you study, and the modules you choose. You may be assessed through a mix of examinations, coursework, presentations and group projects.

Choose your modules

Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. In the first two years, some modules are 20 credits and other, larger modules are 40 credits. In your final year, all three of your modules are 40 credits each. All Graphic Design modules are compulsory.

Preparing for Learning in Higher Education

This module is designed to give you the best possible start to your university studies, making sure you have all the essential skills you need to succeed. Through lectures and workshops we will teach you how to write in an academic style, how to find quality sources, how to reference work, culminating in writing up a mini-research project.

Compulsory•20 credits

Research in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education

This module will equip you with the necessary skills to conduct and analyse research in a specific interest, supported by academics within your subject. You'll navigate through the research process, from identifying an area of interest to presenting their findings to your peers.

Compulsory•20 credits

Foundation in Data Analysis

Develop a strong foundation in data collection and analysis. This module will introduce you to qualitative and quantitative data and how to analyse it; the collection of primary and secondary data; the production of high quality graphics; and report writing.

Compulsory•20 credits

Introduction to Study in the Humanities

This module equips you with a suite of analytical and theoretical tools to support you as you progress along your academic journey. You'll develop an interdisciplinary understanding of approaches to study in the humanities by working with a variety of resources, including novels, films and aspects of the visual arts.

Compulsory•20 credits

Group Challenge (Humanities)

Formulate and execute a group led enquiry into texts, cultural artifacts, film, music or dance. You'll explore their topics in groups at supervised workshops and develop questions on the cultural object relates to the living world of human experience, as well as developing your own methods to answer these questions.

Compulsory•20 credits

Academic Writing Skills

Developing confidence in expression, oral as well as written, is a key feature of this module, which also aims to familiarise you with submission and assessment procedures in the context of Higher Education. This is a clear building block onto your degree programme and places you at a distinct advantage when you move into the following year.

Compulsory•20 credits

Students who require Foundation Year study will register on the Media Studies with Foundation Year programme.

Upon successful completion with a score of 50% or above you will progress directly onto BA Graphic Design. The foundation year has been designed to prepare you for entry on the degree.
6 Modules

Practical Skills for Graphic Design: Adobe 2D

This 20-credit practical skills module will introduce you to basic graphic design software packages. Weekly lectures and workshops will teach you how to solve visual design exercises using both vector and bitmap art. Graphic Design students will apply these skills in the concurrently running 2D Visual Design module.

Compulsory•20 credits

Graphic Design Essentials: 2D Visual Design

As in all of your 40-credit modules, this intense design class aims to parallel industry practice. Assignments will include the basic exploration of conceptual design, typography, colour theory, visual composition and photo editing—all presented within the context of design history.

Compulsory•40 credits

Practical Skills for Graphic Design: Adobe Web

This module will provide you with the critical skills required to learn basic web software packages, and you will be encouraged to learn associated packages as well. You will develop a commitment to the process of ongoing skills development essential for long-term career goals.

Compulsory•20 credits

Graphic Design Essentials: UI & UX Design

This module introduces you to User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design theory, and provides a gateway to the constantly evolving world of graphic design for the web. Assignments will focus on design process, design theory, scenarios, testing, evaluation, contemporary trends and future innovations.

Compulsory•40 credits

You will learn industry entry level tools and techniques, while gaining confidence in the basics of visual design- typography, colour, composition and concept development. You will meet your new colleagues on the course, and begin to feel at ease within the supportive studio environment. In the second semester of your first year, you will move beyond the basic principles of visual design, and practice them through 2D and 3D applications. Through a process of continuous, constructive feedback, you will create the beginnings of what will eventually become a professional portfolio of work.
4 Modules

Practical Skills for Art Direction: Web Technologies

This exercised-based skills module will teach you to develop responsive web design layouts. You will develop initial design ideas into industry standard graphic design solutions, including a wide range of media content and interactive elements.

Compulsory•20 credits

Practical Skills for Art Direction: The Moving Image

This software instruction module focuses on 2D animation, basic 3D modelling and animation, and video editing skills. The module will introduce you to the world of moving images and provides a working knowledge of these specialist design areas.

Compulsory•20 credits

Art Direction: Advanced Web Design

This design module teaches you to convey ideas using the latest web technologies. Multiple assignments focus on advanced web and app design, and new ideas are introduced in each session. You will solve creative web design problems, including multi-channel, social media and interactive approaches.

Compulsory•40 credits

Art Direction: Advanced Visual Design

This advanced visual design module will prepare you to progress within the graphic design industry. Through the introduction and application of sophisticated visual design theories, you will learn how to conceptually design, organise and implement larger projects using images that move.

Compulsory•40 credits

In the second year of your programme, you will learn to conceive and implement larger projects using professional art direction skills. You will realise that your intuitive design decisions are actually supported by established design theory. In the first half of your second year, your work will begin to gain a greater depth through the ongoing study of design history throughout the first and second year. You will continue to learn additional software skills. In the second half of your second year, you will continue to refine the process of documenting and explaining your research and design decision-making. This knowledge will assist you when you experience the professional practice of leading others in comprehensive, wide-ranging design projects including multi-faceted web applications, animation or other evolving digital media.
4 Modules

Major Project (Graphic Design)

The Major Project module allows you to focus on a particular area of graphic design specialism and develop it throughout your entire final year. By choosing a topic that reflects your career goals, you can show potential employers what you want to do and how well you can do it.

Compulsory•40 credits

Emerging Technologies

The Emerging Technologies module will allow you to explore new design trends that have developed while you have been studying for your degree. You will work with students from other School of Arts degree programmes to develop original applications of these ideas and technologies.

Compulsory•40 credits

Professional Portfolio Design

In this module, you will have the opportunity to refine and develop the portfolio begun at the commencement of your degree into a resource optimised for your preferred role or roles in the creative industries.

Compulsory•40 credits

Your final year of study is the crowning achievement of your University career. After being exposed to a variety of graphic design disciplines in the first two years, you will now have decided upon an area of specialism. You will explore this specialism to great depth in your final year as you gain the creative direction skills necessary to propose, plan and implement a major project. As your major project comes to completion, so will the final refinement of your professional portfolio. You will now have attained a clear idea of the kind of job that you hope to get, and a portfolio that demonstrates what you can do, and how well you can do it.
3 Modules

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Entry requirements

What do I need?

We consider experience and qualifications from the UK and worldwide which may not exactly match the combinations above.

But it's not just about the grades - we'll look at your whole application. We want to know what makes you tick, and about your previous experience, so make sure that you complete your personal statement.

Have questions? Our admissions team will be happy to help.

What do I need?

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and computers on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and computers on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our academics

You’ll be taught by lecturers with diverse industry experience including digital media and graphic design, advertising, game design and web development. Their expertise will challenge and support you to build your own knowledge and design skills across a range of technical and practical areas.

See more academics for this subject
Robert Consoli
Featured academic

Robert Consoli

Robert has over 20 years’ graphic design experience, including creative director roles, for advertising and design agencies in Washington DC. He teaches visual design, theoretically explaining the creative processes he applied within industry.
Jason Hayhurst
Featured academic

Jason Hayhurst

Jason has significant experience within industry and academia in translating user requirements into effective design solutions. He is passionate about the appropriate use of technology and design to affect positive change in behaviour.

Take a look at our facilities

Media Hub

Our industry-standard media hub includes fully fitted PC and Mac design labs and a virtual reality lounge complete with a Virtuix Omni VR treadmill.

Industry-Standard Software

You’ll create a professional portfolio of work, designing with industry-standard software such as the Adobe software collection for creating 2D graphic designs and multimedia pieces.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our seven-storey library is a superb learning space. As well as more than a million books, there’s a variety of study areas, and over 400 open-access PCs. Plus, one amazing view.

Study Rooms

You'll find over 1,000 work spaces in our library. From boardroom-style meeting venues with big-screen PCs, to informal group-study areas and interactive whiteboards.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

Students in Digital Design Mac lab

Look around

Look around

Digital Design Computer Laboratory
Students in Digital Design Mac lab
Brynmor Jones Library Observation Deck
Brynmor Jones Library Group Study Room
computer suite digital media lab 1900

Future prospects

This degree is designed to give our graduates an advantage over those with only technical abilities. You’ll leave us with the ability to conceptualise as well as implement graphic design solutions. These valuable skills mean you’ll graduate ready to enter a variety of graphic design-related positions.

You could go on to work in a graphic design studio or grab a starting role within an advertising agency. Or you might prefer the related fields of information design or web content development.

Your potential future roles include graphic designer, 2D/3D digital designer, web content developer, art director and creative director.

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Your next steps

Not ready to apply?

Visit our next Open Day, and see all that Hull has to offer for yourself. Talk to our lecturers about your subject, find out what university is really like from our current students, and take a tour of our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.

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1. 90% employability (Screen) UK domicile full-time first degree leavers; Higher Education Graduate Outcomes statistics, for the academic year 2021/22, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency June 2024.

 

All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

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