Graphic and Digital Design – BA (Hons)

Campus: Athlone
years: 4

Level 8
Course Type Undergraduate – CAO
Study Mode Full Time
Department Midlands Media & Design

Course Overview

As one of the top graphic design courses in Ireland, the BA (Honours) in Graphic and Digital Design will provide you with a unique and exciting educational experience while learning to become a designer. Built on a legacy of over 40 years of art and design, your creative talents will be nurtured by a team of lecturers who are passionate about their field. You will receive one-to-one tuition from staff who want your experience to be the best and who understand that design learning must be tailored to the student’s distinctive, creative flair and interests. You will be encouraged to follow your passion and to develop your design process through research and experimentation. At the same time, you will be exposed to a host of new, exciting disciplines and skills that will enhance your critical and theoretical thinking to help you advance as a conceptual and strategic graphic designer. Over your design education journey, supported by committed staff, you will grow into a designer with broad knowledge and an informed world view, who can deconstruct communication problems, conceptualise and execute resolutions, and who can articulate and confidently present your creative work. You will have access to staff members with a wide-ranging body of knowledge and experience in both visual communications and fine art practice, both at national and international levels. You are guaranteed one-to-one learner/ lecturer interactivity in a purpose-built environment with your own personal studio space and excellent production facilities.

Additional Information

Applicants can choose to be assessed via one of the following options:

1. For assessment, we require that each applicant selects three of their best pieces of work. Each individual piece has a weighting of 200, the work submitted should represent the best traits of the candidate, the work can be in individual or related pieces. If the candidate’s strengths are in problem solving, they may submit research as one of the three. Again, work submitted reflects the strengths and personality of the candidate be that in illustration, typography, photography and/or research. When you have selected your three pieces mount them on A3 or A2 sheets of paper. You can present your 3 pieces in person on your assessment date or applicants can submit their 3 pieces digitally You can present your 3 pieces in person on your assessment date or applicants can submit their 3 pieces digitally if they wish by 5pm Friday 15th of March, 2024. If submitting digitally, photograph your work and save it as a pdf. Preferably, combine the three pdfs into one pdf file for submission. Assessment date is Friday 15th March, 2024. For Change of Mind assessment, applicants will be invited to submit their work digitally by Friday June 2nd 2024 at 5pm.

Or alternatively

2. Applicants may choose to participate in an applied project, this will be carried out remotely/ electronically. Applicants who choose the applied project option will be issued with the project brief on Thursday 14th of March, 2024. Staff will guide you in the process through workshops and live advice online. The resultant project will subsequently be assessed. Completed work must be submitted by Tuesday 19th of March, 2024 at 5pm. For Change of Mind applicants, only option 1, above, applies.

Contact Details

Tara Cullen

Email: Tara.Cullen@tus.ie

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate

Grade H5 in two subjects, plus Grade O6/H7 in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish). *For all applicants, portfolio presentation is required.

QQI

Level 5 award including a distinction grade in at least three modules.

Mature Applicants

Mature applicants are not required to meet minimum entry requirements. For all mature applicants, portfolio presentation and interview is required.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

Course Modules

Modules at a Glance

The programme comprises of a series of core pillars: Design, Image, Studio Practice, and Visual Culture that advance over the four years.

1. Design – provides the student with the technical skills, design knowledge and creative
expertise to utilise the design process to fulfil design briefs. The pillar facilitates the student to become competent in creating communication systems across multiple platforms and media, including traditional design for print, design for screen, motion, user-interface, and user-experience.

2. Image – is the exploration of visual language where the student learns to communicate and build narratives using illustration, photography, animation, and film.

3. Studio Practice – builds on the personal and professional development of the student within the studio environment, allowing the student to build their profile, grow in confidence and promote themselves as a designer. This is done through live client briefs, collaboration, and work placement.

4. Visual Culture – develops the student’s understanding of the cultural, social, and historical contexts in which the practice of art and design has evolved and, importantly, how it is essential to the development of the student’s studio practice.

Year 1
DESIGN: Foundation (10 Credits), IMAGE: Illustration and Photography 1.1 (10 Credits), STUDIO PRACTICE: Confidence (5 Credits), VISUAL CULTURE 1.1: Image-Text an Intro (5 Credits), DESIGN: Exploration (10 Credits), IMAGE: Illustration and Photography 1.2 (10 Credits), STUDIO PRACTICE: Voice (5 Credits), VISUAL CULTURE 1.2 : 19th Century Design & Technology (5 Credits).

Year 2
DESIGN: Visual Thinking (10 Credits), IMAGE: Creation & Animation(10 Credits), STUDIO PRACTICE: Profile (5 Credits), VISUAL CULTURE 2.1 : Modernism (5 Credits), DESIGN: Typography & Meaning (10 Credits), IMAGE: The Moving Image (10 Credits), STUDIO PRACTICE: Presentation (5 Credits), VISUAL CULTURE 2.2 : Post Modernism (5 Credits).

Year 3
DESIGN: Creative Direction (10 Credits), IMAGE: Visual Narrative (5 Credits), STUDIO PRACTICE: Placement (10 Credits), VISUAL CULTURE 3.1 : Themes & Theory (5 Credits), DESIGN: Final Project (10 Credits), IMAGE: Type in Motion (5 Credits), STUDIO PRACTICE: Promotion (10 Credits), VISUAL CULTURE 3.2 : Critical Perspectives (5 Credits).

Year 4
DESIGN for Time Based Media (10 Credits), STUDIO PRACTICE: Live Client Project (10 Credits), VISUAL CULTURE 4.1: Theory to Practice (10 Credits), DESIGN: Interaction & Experience (10 Credits), DESIGN: Final Project (10 Credits), Visual Culture 4.2 : Theory to Showcase (10 Credits).
Design

Provides the student with the technical skills, design knowledge and creative.
expertise to utilise the design process to fulfil design briefs. The pillar facilitates the student to become competent in creating communication systems across multiple platforms and media, including traditional design for print, design for screen, motion, user-interface, and user-experience.
Image

Is the exploration of visual language where the student learns to communicate and build narratives using illustration, photography, animation, and film.
Studio practice

Builds on the personal and professional development of the student within the studio environment, allowing the student to build their profile, grow in confidence and promote themselves as a designer. This is done through live client briefs, collaboration, and work placement.
Visual Culture

Develops the student’s understanding of the cultural, social, and historical contexts in which the practice of art and design has evolved and, importantly, how it is essential to the development of the student’s studio practice.