the United Kingdom
University of Wales Trinity Saint David| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | Full-time | 3 years | find out | GBP 9000 per year | GBP 14900 per year |
Course Overview
BA (Hons) Advertising and Brand Design is all about studying to become a professional creative. Our projects encompass all kinds of media, from magazine to social media, radio to TV and from billboards to public events.
It's also about communication for business and enterprise. We liaise with businesses and look at real problems to solve from the very outset. Our 'hands on' projects include design for branding, creative art direction (working with photographers and video students among others), 'pitching' your concepts and ideas, marketing strategies and leading innovative new campaigns. This is what we are about.
We can't promise you an easy ride, but all our ex-students say it's been an enjoyable one - and they've 'learned loads'. So, if you have been wondering what's the best way for you to put your creative juices to work, this is the course for you.
The course is spread over three years and is designed to enable you to get the skills you need step by step. Each year has two semesters and we offer you new building blocks in each one. It's a journey of discovery and you can't just sit back for the ride, you have to get involved. We believe that to understand things you have to experience them.
Key Features
We are small and friendly with just over a thousand students in the Faculty. This means that the staff are more approachable and available to help, support and challenge you as well as there being ample studio space, and access to the most up-to-date equipment and facilities for you to thrive in.
If you are creative, enterprising, business savvy person with a professional attitude and always ready to hit the ground running, then advertising and brand design may be just the thing for you.
Advertising is all around us, whether it's selling the latest packet of crisps, promoting a charity event or simply raising awareness - it's part of our everyday life. So who does it? Who comes up with great new ideas? Who creates the memorable brands? That person could be you.
Modules
Typical modules include:
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Year 1
In year one, you will gain an understanding of the foundations blocks of creative design. Modules in History & Contextual Studies will help you to understand art and design theory. Typography, Copywriting, Graphic Communication and the Advertising Environment are all classes that will help you to take those first creative leaps. We include marketing lectures. Visual and Technical Studies classes include workshops in Adobe CS6 computer-based design programmes.
Year 2
In year two, you will continue to develop your understanding of design theory in the module History & Contextual Studies. The Brand Experience Module allows you to explore branding in terms of design and communication strategy. This will help you to realise your concepts in tangible form. It doesn't stop there in year two, Digital Advertising is introduced, in SEE you will be able to experience setting up a business venture of your choice in a team with other disciplines. This is just one opportunity that will prepare you for the world of business.
Visual and Technical Studies supports and underpins all of this, and helps to develop your creativity through audio and visual exploration. Curiosity is the key to year two, there is so much to learn and it never stays still, so we bring in more clients and professionals to set the challenges and to keep us up to date with current industry trends.
Year 3
In year three you will embark on a self-driven learning process culminating in your final degree show. It is time to turn the tables on the staff, and to explore and develop your skills and areas of interest. Negotiation is the key here, not only with the staff but also with your very own clients.
Personal and External (client driven) projects are the name of the game and you still get to hone your skills in conceptual thinking in the Advanced Creative Enquiry module. You will also be asked to develop a dissertation of your choice.
International
Erasmus
During your time with us you will have the opportunity to study abroad with the Erasmus exchange programmes currently running with Universities in Norway, Barcelona and Sweden.
Study Abroad
Students can also take up the opportunity to study a semester in the USA and Canada.
For more information please click here.
Course Tutor(s)
Assessment
All work is assessed formatively, on an ongoing basis in different scenarios as describe below. Summative assessment is made for each module at the end of each academic semester or year.
Different modules will often require different strategies and balances of experiences to deliver the specific subject. Contact periods can consist of General studio work, lectures, workshops, small group tutorials, one-to-one tutorials,and presentations.
Within Advertising and Brand Design the year group is on average 20 students, workshops are delivered to the entire group.
General Studio Work
The largest contact time is in weekly module/project workshops where a brief has been delivered and the students are working on that brief. Depending on the nature of the brief, students will be producing individual or team responses to that brief, so lecturers need to spend time with students discussing; research, concept development working toward a response to the brief and formulating a way forward with them. This can be in the form of a group pin up crit. This kind of intensive contact also provides invaluable feedback on student progress.
Lectures
Usually the start of a scheduled contact period will generally consist of a formal lecture giving information relevant to that accompanied by visualised examples through digital projection or actual examples. A typical example would be for Sustainability, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship at Level 5, where the lecturer might deliver a 45 minute lecture on print processes backed up by video/slides on screen and actual examples of printing plates and separations. This could be one-off or, in this case part of a series.
The rest of the contact period would be as described above in General Studio Work.
Workshops
Delivered to teach specific skills to students, group size will depend on subject and room size, can include project work, these are not usually formally marked, but will be subject to group criticism, and informal feedback will be given. Can be delivered by technician demonstrators.
Small Group Tutorials
The small group allows for participation and peer criticism and also solves the problem of shorter individual tutorials if a student is late or does not show, the lecturer's time is still well spent even if only one student turns up. This works well in cross course project such as the ones with Photography and Video students.
One-to-One Tutorials
These are scheduled on a weekly basis for year 3 students and once a term for year 1 & 2. At the start of year 1, students are seen on a weekly basis for 4 weeks. The one-to-one tutorials allow students individual time with the lecturers which can often raise pastoral care issues as well as planning professional development strategies for the student.
Presentations/Pitches
Presentations and pitches are usually made by students to peers, staff or clients, through all stages of a project, from research and development through to finished work. These are usually introduced slowly in year 1 in order to build confidence in the process. Presentations can be simple to start and become more involved using media and pitch style as the student develops their skills and presentation of pitch concepts to peers, staff and clients become more extensive. Year 3 students make three VIVA presentations to staff in the third year.
Viva
For year 3 students vivas take place in a formal setting with all of the Graduate Portfolio lecturers present. Students present the progression of their Graduate Portfolio work and talk through their research and concept development in terms of achieving the learning outcomes of the module. Students are given formative feedback after the viva.
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities are diverse; from working within an Advertising Agency as part of a Creative Team or as an Art Director or Copywriter, as an Account Executive working with Agency clients to develop a brief, or Account Planning, working on media communication strategy.
Brand management roles can include developing a brand image and environment. Some graduates pursue a career as freelance creatives, while others go on to continue their educational development or start their own business.
Further Information
The course started in 2005, and since then has grown rapidly in reputation. Our students are encouraged to take part in Global competitions and have been successful in achieving awards. The atmosphere on the course is one of passion and excitement for the subject. External practitioners who have worked with students on 'live briefs' have praised the professionalism of our students.
Our student's benefit from small numbers in our studio-based modules. Studio work is carried out in a friendly atmosphere and informal discussion forum. Modules are delivered via workshops, group sessions and individual tutorials. Lectures are usually based around discussion forums and experimental exercise.
We encourage team-work, but also mentor students in their personal development. We have an 'open door' policy; this allows students to contact their lecturers when they need to.
We have strong links with the University's Business School; this allows students to develop their ability to work with industry with particular understanding of the marketing mix.
We are members of the D&AD University Network, which brings knowledge to the course and development of current issues, industry trends and awards to our students.
Related Courses
Additional Costs
Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities. However, it is likely that art and design students will incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining in optional study trips, and printing.
Entry Criteria
We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your portfolio of work.
Our standard offer for a degree course is 120 UCAS tariff points. We expect applicants to have a grade C or above in English Language (or Welsh) at GCSE level, together with passes in another four subjects. Plus we accept a range of Level 3 qualifications including:
Qualifications are important, however our offers are not solely based on academic results. If you don't have the required UCAS points then please contact the courses admissions tutor or email [email protected] as we can consider offers to applicants based on individual merit, exceptional work, and/or practical experience.
See our Interview Guide for more information.
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