Welcome to Graphic Design at Norwich

This page will help you get ready for your first few weeks, with everything you need to know before you arrive.

First of all, congratulations on securing your place with Norwich University of the Arts. We are all really looking forward to meeting you in September. We wanted to send you a bit of information so that you all have enough time to prepare over the summer.

Over the next few years with us, you will develop the creative, technical and professional skills expected across the design industry. You will experiment, make mistakes, discover what inspires you. You will also develop your own approach to design alongside a fantastic community of diverse and interesting peers and tutors, that will all be here to support and help guide you.

We do, however, have high expectations. We will expect at a minimum hard work and commitment to your studies. There are a lot of projects in Year 1, and it can help to try and be as organised as possible. The more you put in, the more you get back.

For now, enjoy your summer. This guide contains everything you need to know before you arrive, from what to expect during your first few weeks to equipment recommendations and ways to start exploring the world of design. We can’t wait to welcome you.

First day nerves

Nearly every student arrives wondering whether they are good enough, whether everyone else knows more about the Adobe Creative Cloud or has more experience with research or drawing. The honest truth is that almost every student feels like this, some have studied one form of design for years, other students have never opened Photoshop or Illustrator. We don’t expect everyone to have the same skills, this is something that you will learn over the course of your first year at university and throughout the rest of your time with us. As long as you are willing to learn, have a good work ethic and are up for a challenge, you will fit in perfectly.

The most successful students aren’t always the ones with the strongest portfolios. They’re usually the ones who stay curious, ask questions, try new things and aren’t afraid to experiment.

What to expect in Year 1

The four Graphics courses (BA Graphic Design, BA Graphic Communication, BA Design for Publishing, and BSc User Experience Design) are taught together in the combined delivery of Year 1 Graphics before choosing your specialist pathway for Years 2 and 3. Over the year you’ll design visual identities, campaigns, editorial publications, digital experiences, packaging, typography, motion and much more. This is a fast paced year, designed to give you a robust set of skills that will prepare you for your specialism in Yr2/3.

The best designers, in the creative industry, understand more than one discipline. Graphic Designers benefit from understanding user research. UX designers benefit from strong visual communication and hierarchy. Publishing designers benefit from campaign thinking. Year 1 is designed to help you build this broader understanding, and set of skills, before specialising in the area that suits you best.

First few weeks

The first taught day of your course is Monday 28th September. This is the start of Wayfinding Week; a week of various introductions and orientation sessions, so that you get to know how things work and settle into your studies.

A typical week

• Monday – Studio
• Tuesday – Studio
• Wednesday – Ways of Being / Industry talk series
• Thursday – Open Studio / Contextual studies
• Friday – Preparation & Crits

Over this year, you will have timetabled sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday each week, with our Ways of Being Programme (first unit) and lectures from industry speakers (all year) on Wednesday mornings. On Thursdays we have optional ‘open studio’ time to provide additional support and help you progress projects. We look to keep your timetable simple and on a repeat pattern so that you can follow it easily and so that you can plan other aspects of your life, such as part-time work, if necessary.

The timetabled sessions will be made up of half-day studio teaching sessions and hour-long tutorials. The rest of your time during the week will usually be independent study time for you to research and develop your projects. Independent study is a vital aspect of university study, and one of the key steps towards your future employability.

Individual timetables will be given at the start of the course. In addition to sessions on campus, there will also be digital teaching sessions such as pre-recorded briefings and lectures, group seminars and individual tutorials too. You will be introduced to all these elements so don’t worry about any of this now!

Independent study

Independent study is an expected element of studying at university, this is time where you can choose what is important to work on depending on where you are with your projects. This could be sketching ideas, photographing project outcomes, reading, researching, experimenting with materials, visiting exhibitions, critiques (Often called Crits) with your peers. Think of taught sessions as the place where projects begin and you get feedback on moving them forward. Independent study is where ideas are developed, tested, refined and brought to life.

During independent study days, and days where online teaching is scheduled, you are able to access the campus to continue your work as needed, or you can elect to work remotely. We will help you understand the nuances of your timetable, and also to plan your time.

Getting inspired over summer

You will see that we’ve included some suggestions of things you might like to read, watch and do before you arrive. These will give you a head start in thinking like a designer, solving problems, and exploring visual creativity. An important part of your studies at university will involve looking at various things your tutors recommend. Following up on such resources is a key aspect of your independent study and is central to your learning and development. It is good practice, therefore, to get in this habit now. We hope that the things you see will both excite and inspire you.

You might like to explore the following design related websites/blogs. These get continually updated, so re-visit them regularly!

Things to read

• This is Colossal
• Abduzeedo
• Creative Review
• It’s Nice That
• The Brand Identity
• Mag Culture
• Stack Magazines
• UX Design
• Growth Design

Things to listen to

• UI Breakfast
• My Life in Design

You might like to listen to all of these.

A few to get you started:

• Cliaire Parker
• Jonathan Sands
• Spencer Buck
• Joanne Chan

Things to watch

Michael Bierut on how to think like a designer

Abstract: The Art of Design (season 1) Paula Scher

Annie Atkins: the secret world of graphic design for filmmaking

Equipment List

This is a list of equipment that you will need over your time on the Graphics course. You may already have some of the things on this list, but all of it you will use at some point, so read through the list to check what you need to purchase in preparation for commencing your course.

Laptops

While we have computers in the studios and labs for you to use (Apple iMacs), you may find it more convenient to bring your own laptop. Apple Mac computers tend to be prevalent in the design industry, so if you are planning to buy a new or second-hand laptop, we recommend you consider this. However, if you already own a PC laptop you do not need to replace it.

Make sure the computer you buy can run the Adobe Creative Cloud apps, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, plus Figma. We will provide this software for you for your computer, so there is no need to buy your own software. Refer to the guide for details of laptop specifications.

Tablet

In addition to a laptop, you may like to buy a tablet for drawing e.g. an Apple iPad, but this is not essential, and should not be bought instead of a laptop, because iPads are not able to run the full Creative Cloud suite of applications which you will need to use for your projects

Equipment

• A3 Layout pad (we will provide you with your first one!)
• A4 Notebook / journal
• Pencils
• Fine Liner pens
• Marker pens in a range of colours.
• Soft eraser
• Swann-Morton Scalpel – Size 3 Handle and 10A blades
• Scissors, small and large, suitable for paper cutting
• 30cm steel ruler
• A3 cutting mat
• Masking tape
• Glue stick
• USB/C Memory stick or hard drive — Mac compatible

Don’t panic if you don’t own everything on this list. Many students build their kit gradually, and most items are available from our campus shop.

FAQs

Do I need to know Adobe/Figma?

No, some people turn up with no knowledge of either. But if you have access to Adobe Creative Cloud, then it’s a good idea to swat up over the summer. You may also want to make a Figma acount to familirise yourself with this software. But we’ll teach everything you need during your time with us.

Do I need to be able to draw?

No. This is a common misconception about designers, there are actually a lot of very successful designers that are terrible at drawing.

Should I buy a Mac?

This is not essential as we have dedicated Apple Mac Workstations at the university, which you can log into at any time. But if you’re buying a new computer anyway… The design industry is full of Macs.

Do I need an expensive laptop/tablet?

No. It does help to have your own laptop, and a faster one with a good amount of RAM (16GB+) and storage (512GB+) will work best, but you can use high-quality Apple iMac desktop computers at the university for free. A tablet like an iPad or Wacom is a nice addition, but is not essential.

Can I design on my tablet?

Tablets are brilliant for sketching, drawing and generating ideas. However, most professional design work at university is completed on a Mac or PC using Adobe Creative Cloud. Or alternative design tools like Figma.

I’ve never studied Graphic Design before. Will I be behind?

Not at all. Students join us from a wide range of backgrounds, and Year 1 is designed to help everyone develop the core skills they’ll need, regardless of their previous education / experience.

What if I’m not sure which specialist course I want to choose?

That’s completely normal. Year 1 is designed to introduce you to a broad range of design disciplines before you choose your specialist pathway for Years 2 and 3.

Will I make friends?

Almost certainly. Everyone is starting somewhere new, and most people feel nervous on their first day. The activities during Welcome Week and your studio projects are designed to help you get to know the people you’ll be studying alongside.

Do I need to buy all of the equipment before I arrive?

No, it’s perfectly fine (even recommended) to wait until Welcome Week. Everything that you need to start your course is available in the on campus unviersity shop, which is heavily discounted compared to online and highstreet options.

Five things you could do this summer

Visit a gallery or museum

Go out and get some inspiration, this is a good time to move away from pinterest boards and find inspiration in the visual world.

Photograph interesting typography

All Typography and Design is communication. This is a foundational skill across the entire creative industry. Start to build a library of great looking type.

Start carrying a pocket sketchbook

I know that we said ‘you don’t have to draw to be a designer’ but it does help to be able to visualise your thoughts.

Watch one design documentary

You’ve likely watched design documentaries in the past, but now watch with a different mindset. Once you’ve graduated this could be you.

Have a brilliant summer.

Relax, recharge, keep your eyes open for interesting design, and we’ll see you in September.

Teaching staff and course leaders

This is a small cross section of some of your key points of contact whilst in first year at university. There are a number of other teaching staff that you will be taught by over the the coming year, including core members of staff and external industry specialists.

For your first week at university, these are likely going to be the important people for you to familiarise yourself with.