Design for Publishing BA (Hons)

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related graphics courses, enabling you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on to specialist units in your chosen field in the second and third years. In your common first year, you will explore the fundamentals of design. With a focus on process, you will explore techniques, technologies, and research-inspired design as you work on individual and team projects. The course expands to cover a huge range of experimental processes, platforms and technologies, meaning that you will build a strong portfolio demonstrating your design skills and innovative practice. This unit also introduces theories and ideas of design and visual culture and teaches you how to use them in your practical work.

40 credits

In this unit, you will explore and experiment with techniques, materials, and media. You explore the fundamental principles of visual communication and develop skills in typography, printing, layout, photography, design research, idea generation, and storytelling. You’ll learn technical skills in various design-related software such as InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and After Effects. You’ll be introduced to essential skills in organising and presenting complex data and information using typography, illustration, infographics, and wider graphic language, as well as how people view, process, and act on the wealth of visual information they receive every day.

80 credits

The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.

An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community

Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.

This unit will enable you to expand your specialist knowledge and skills. You’ll be introduced to core graphic design, idea generation, and communication principles relating to design for publishing, focusing on typesetting, typography and lettering, image making, illustration, photography, and art direction. You’ll build an in-depth knowledge of the publishing and graphic design industry and become familiar with creative software, including InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator and undertake a series of software and experimental workshops with academic staff. This technical and analogue based knowledge will be applied to project briefs, emphasising storytelling and narrative based design for editorial design, magazine design, zines, book cover design, and design for digital platforms such as apps, social media and streaming services, and gallery and museum promotional materials. As part of your research methodologies, you’ll learn how to find content and identify or create valuable content relevant to your studio practice and intended communication. You’ll also gain knowledge about production and the key aspects of book construction including bookbinding, formats, paper, and print.

80 credits

This unit focuses on how you work with your peers and clients to take ideas from concept to presentation and build your in-depth knowledge of the graphic design and publishing industry. You’ll work on real world industry projects to develop your creative thinking and employability skills within a professional context. Due to the nature of design for publishing, students often work collaboratively with fine art and photography courses within their own project work and to support their peers’ projects. You’ll explore a range of skills, including teamwork dynamics, resilience and adaptability, emphasising the value of alternative perspectives and considering the opportunities and challenges of collaborative work. You’ll build your knowledge in time and project management and your creative decision-making. Learning is supported through team tutorials with tutors and art directors from the publishing industry, and project development review meetings, to produce physically printed/made 2D or 3D objects and digital assets such as animations, motion, and interactive work. This is an opportunity to build a portfolio of work that reflects your interests and identify your long-term plans.

40 credits

The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.

An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.

Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.

This is the first, and shorter, of the two units that make up your final year of undergraduate study. In this unit you are setting the agenda for your research and creative practice, which will help you begin to define your final portfolio and career goals. The focus in this unit is on research, experimentation, and development of your individual creative practice. You’ll undertake an expansive and open creative project, which allows you to explore and experiment with a broad range of communication ideas and approaches to content and materials, including analogue and digital outcomes. You’ll apply various research methods, informed by your approach to your creative practice and future career aspirations. You’ll learn through briefings, regular meetings, weekly tutorials and studio teaching, with masterclass workshops on design production and the presentation of your final work. Due to the open and creative nature of the studio project, you will be encouraged to explore new processes and production methods relevant to the communication of your ideas. The Graphics Talk programme will allow you to network with industry leaders and participate in national and international competitions.

40 credits

Your final unit allows you to research, conceptualise and create a self-determined final-year project(s), building on the skills, knowledge and understanding you have gathered throughout the programme. You’ll consider your creative route and receive expert guidance towards completing your chosen project(s). The unit focuses on reinforcing the process of applied theories, fundamentals, and principles particular to editorial design, book design, and content creation to support your transition from student to designer/publisher. There are opportunities to engage in national and internationally recognised student design competitions, as well as live project briefs (internal and external). Through the weekly Graphics Talk programme you’ll get to meet and network with established and respected practitioners and discuss your work and portfolio with visiting lecturers. You’ll consider your future goals and aspirations with a focus on building a visually compelling portfolio that reflects the skills you have to offer, setting you up for a successful career in the industry. You’ll have the opportunity to display your final year project as part of our degree show, Grad Fest, which allows you to showcase your work to our network of industry professionals and prospective employers.

80 credits

The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.

An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.

Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.