General Philosophy and Information

BA HONS DESIGN AND VISUAL ARTS

The course has five dedicated specialisms (pathways): Surface Design, Graphic Design, Illustration and Moving Image. There is a strong 'interdisciplinary' focus allowing you flexibility and the opportunity to not 'box yourself in' too early in your creative development. This means that you can also work across or operate in the interesting margins of design specialisms. This is ideal if you don't easily fit into one of those 'boxes'!

On all the pathways we appreciate the need for systems and craft, to know the basics, to understand the bigger picture and to know what went before and why. So we'll teach you all that. That way you will understand context, where you have come from and more importantly where you are going! We'll also encourage you to push the boundaries, to challenge what is currently orthodox or fashionable and to keep asking questions.

We want you to be brave and innovative and not to be afraid of making mistakes whilst striving for something new. You will certainly not be penalised for this spirit, the opposite is true on this programme where 'individualism' is positively rewarded.

Fulfilling your potential can be exciting and even exhilarating. It can have its frustrating moments too. You will need skill and originality, a sense of openness and perseverance and you can rely on the teaching team to support you all the way. They come from diverse creative and academic backgrounds, are dedicated and well connected in the industry. You will also benefit from first class visiting specialists from across the board, to the envy of many other colleges and universities in fact.

Visiting specialists on the course:

Christopher Corr, Otto Dettmer, Ian Pollock, Lo Cole, Ian Whadcock, Matthew Richardson, Andrzej Klimowski, Kevin Hauff, Mario Minichiello, Nick Lowndes, Andy Votel, Spike Gerrell, Julian House (Intro), Peter Fowler, Rick Myers, David Crow, Dawn Dupree, Sally Greaves-Lord, Alison Willoughby, Diane Harrison, Emily Bates, Helen Rawlinson, Jane Poulton, Lynne Curran Helen Osorio, Victoria Danville, Bryony Stevens, Russell Mills, MTV Design Dept, Sky Broadcasting, Eg.g Mook, Centre Screen, Code, 422

Gary Spicer
Programme Manager
BA Hons Design and Visual Arts