Graphic Design Illustration & Advertising Brand (Undergraduate)

GRAPHIC DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION ADVERTISING AND BRAND MANAGEMENT

GET TOGETHER WITH OUR

CREATIVE

MINDS Perhaps you see your future in the exciting and diverse graphics or advertising industry, using powerful design and image making skills to communicate through a variety of visual media.

Then again, you may prefer to take a more strategic route in advertising and brand management, and want to make your name in the cut and thrust of communications, creative practice, research, media or account planning.

If you’re looking to forge a career in any of these areas, Staffordshire University is the perfect place to start.

Both BA (Hons) Graphic Design and BA (Hons) Illustration share a common open structure in the acquisition of a broad range of practical and thinking skills, whilst also providing opportunities to determine individual pathways and specialisms concurrent with contemporary creative practice.

Alternatively, take BA (Hons) Advertising and Brand Management and you’ll develop a planned and methodical approach to communications. Combining a mix of creative Sarah Rushton/Award Leader Graphic Design and Illustration Paul Flemming/Award Leader Advertising and Brand Management

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practice and marketing theories, this course will help you to form a clear understanding of the creative industries as well as marketing functions.

No matter which course you choose, you’ll learn from industry-experienced lecturers – seasoned professionals who understand the creative industry inside out.

Thanks to our first-class links with the creative industries design studios, advertising agencies, freelance professionals, alumni and more, you’ll also benefit from live industry briefs – plus opportunities to go on work placements, collaborate with other disciplines and build professional networks.

Add to this mix our exciting array of workshop facilities, allowing you to study visual communications through a variety of media and you can see that we’re totally committed to helping you succeed.

If, after reading this guide, you’d like to know even more about us and our courses, please visit: www.staffs.ac.uk/art

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? You’ll find our graduates employed in senior roles at companies such as Coley Porter Bell, Purpose, Landor (London), BBH, The Collective, Karmarama, AiS London, Pearl Fisher. The Chase, Elmwood, True North, Love, The Good Agency, Proximity, The One Off , Edmac Europe and Viv-id. Other graduates successfully run their own businesses, and work on commissions for names as diverse as Digital Arts Magazine, Why Not? Clothing, and The New Scientist.

BA (Hons) ADVERTISING AND BRAND MANAGEMENT UCAS code: WNF5

BA (Hons) GRAPHIC DESIGN UCAS code: W211

BA (Hons) ILLUSTRATION UCAS code: W220 Advertising Brand Managment on their annual New York Agency programme visit.

CONTENTS: 2 4 6 12 14 16 18 19

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

Introduction Key Facts Why Staffs?

Our Brilliant People A Better Campus Choose More Open Days Application Process

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HERE ARE JUST A FEW REASONS WHY WE BELIEVE YOU SHOULD STUDY WITH US. TO REALLY FIND OUT IF WE’RE RIGHT FOR YOU, PLEASE COME ALONG TO ONE OF OUR OPEN DAYS. WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU.

KEY FACTS SUSTAINABILITY

We recognise the importance of sustainability to brands and ethics in advertising, We have responded with innovative teaching methods and have an international research profile in this key area.

FROM BERLIN TO THE BIG APPLE

Our study trips are truly exciting.

Our agency programmes and international study visits provide a wealth creative and cultural experiences. Recent trips have been to Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, London, New York and Tokyo.

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INDUSTRY-STANDARD FACILITIES

From letterpress to Flash, our excellent workshops are equipped with the tools of the trade – all to encourage your creative exploration and application of a wide range of both traditional and new media.

OPEN PLAN FOR OPEN MINDS

Students work in flexible and dynamic open plan studios. Study with us and you’ll get your own creative workspace – just a few steps from amazing workshop facilities in wood, metal, plastics, experimental print, screen printing, animation, computer/digital workshops, photography, laser-cutter, life drawing, ceramics …

SPECIALIST GUEST SPEAKERS

We want you to learn from some of the industry’s best. That’s why you’ll get to meet with and learn from some impressive guest speakers.

Recent names include: Trevor Johnson (Havas Lynx), Fig Taylor (Association of Illustrators), Luke Brooks (freelance illustrator), Jonathan Barnbrook (typographer & graphic designer), Si Scott (type illustrator), Sarah Coleman (Inky Mole, illustrator), plus speakers from The Chase, TBWA, Love, Purpose, Glorious Creative, Landor, Coley Porter Bell, Yes Agency, Fallon and 23 Red.

ROCK SOLID REPUTATION

Our team is made up of experienced professionals. They offer considerable industry expertise, extensive knowledge and valuable contacts.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Like to know just how good our students are? Then look at their achievements! They’ve won many commendations, awards and placements in high profile national and international competitions, including: D&AD, Roses, YCN, Penguin Books, The Shelf, ISTD, Shine Awards, Creative Conscience, Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and the Creative CV Awards.

REAL-WORLD INSIGHT

Through industry visits and work placement opportunities, we’ll give you a real-world insight into the expectations of employers and life in the workplace. Recent placements include: Bandujo (New York), McCann, Mother, The Chase, Pentagram, Coley Porter Bell, Elmwood, Landor, Tigerprint, Inky Mole, Jelly, The Guardian and Bauer Publishing.

SKILLS TO SUCCEED

Advertising, Art Direction, Brand Communications, Account and Media Planning, Education, Publishing & Editorial Design, New Media, Animation, Packaging & Promotion, Information Design, TV, Typography, Web… our students graduate with the skills to enter a broad range of disciplines. Many have gone on to study at Masters level, become Creative Directors and even D&AD judges.

SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS

Each year’s final year students get to exhibit their work in London at D&AD New Blood or New Designers.

That’s in addition to showcasing their work to potential employers at our degree show.

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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WHY STAFFS? BA (HONS) GRAPHIC DESIGN

GETTING YOU OFF TO A GREAT START…

WORLD OF WORK FACILITIES

With a clear focus on creative, visual thinking, BA (Hons) Graphic Design reflects the rich, diverse nature of contemporary visual communication.

Study with us and our aim will be to equip you to become a distinctive, highly versatile practitioner – a creative professional able to turn fresh and inspiring ideas into powerful solutions across the range of both traditional and new media.

Choose Graphic Design and we’ll begin by challenging your preconceptions and developing your awareness and understanding of problem solving and visual communication. As the course progresses, you may choose to focus your individual practice towards a chosen specialism, closely supported by professional studies structured to provide valuable experience of the creative industries, as well as career opportunities. In your final year, you’ll concentrate on creating a professional portfolio of work and personal promotion skills according to individual creative ambitions.

As a BA (Hons) Graphic Design or BA (Hons) Illustration student, you’ll spend much of your time in our spacious and open plan design studios. An exciting creative hub, equipped with iMacs and industry-standard software, creative learning zones and state-of-the-art digital printing, they’re specifically designed to emulate industry studios and encourage collaboration and experimentation across all relevant disciplines: typography, image making, illustration for information and promotion, visual storytelling, editorial illustration, information design, photography, art direction, branding and packaging; 3D crafts, web design, moving image and animation.

BA (HONS) ILLUSTRATION BA (Hons) Illustration will enable you to hone your skills in contemporary image making, through placing emphasis on creative visual thinking and craft. This degree will help you develop your skills as an innovative, professional illustrator with the voice and vision to produce insightful, individual, engaging and memorable work. You’ll explore the boundaries of modern image making practice through opportunities to experience a diverse range of approaches in both digital and craft-based media.

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Join us on the Illustration course and we’ll start by building your knowledge of contemporary image making. As the course progresses and your personal strengths develop, creative practice and professional studies will help you to gain first-hand experience of the creative industries and career opportunities.

You’ll also be able to use our craft workshops that are brimming with top notch equipment, including laser cutting facilities, screen-printing, letterpress and experimental print, photography and digital processing.

LEARN FROM EXPERIENCED LECTURERS We believe you should learn Graphic Design and Illustration from people that really understand the industry.

That’s why our lecturers all have a solid design background.

In fact, many are successful practitioners in their field.

They also keep up-to-date through industry networking and developing their own particular specialisms, such as typography, book design, art direction, image making, printmaking, sustainable design and ideas generation.

INSPIRED TEACHING Because they’re so crucial to your success in the graphics industry, visual and verbal communication skills form a large part of our teaching. You’ll learn through projects, lectures, seminars and workshops, complemented by group tutorials, personal tutorials and critiques. Along the way, you’ll have access to a considerable cross-section of media – from digital to traditional craft-based mediums, such as wood, metal, plastic ceramics, textiles, print-making, animation, life-drawing and screen printing.

LINKS WITH INDUSTRY AND FIRST-CLASS WORK PLACEMENTS To make sure our teaching is always relevant, we’ve forged strong links with industry. Our solid relationships with regional, national and international design studios, as well as illustrators, publishers, packaging, branding, information and paper and book specialists, give our students the chance to work on real jobs for industry professionals and their clients.

Believing that real world-of-work experience is essential for equipping you with the skills that industry demands, we’ll encourage you to enter prestigious competitions and find suitable work placements. We’re also members and active contributors to professional organisations including D&AD and the Association of Illustrators.

CAREER CHOICES Because of the quality of the training we provide, our Graphic Design and Illustration graduates are well thought of across the creative industries. Previous students have secured careers as graphic designers, artists and illustrators, with top industry names such as: Landor, Elmwood, Coley Porter Bell, The Chase, Purpose, Love, 300 Million, The Guardian and many more … Others have gone into teaching, self-employment or progressed to postgraduate study.

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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BA (HONS) ADVERTISING AND BRAND MANAGEMENT Providing a comprehensive view of brand communications, creative practice and marketing theories, our Advertising and Brand Management degree focuses on exploring creativity and practice through research, theory and studio projects.

The emphasis of the course is to develop graduates with key advertising and brand communication skills, underpinned by strategic thinking. For that reason, we’ll use a mix of creative learning, theory and marketing, to help you gain a clear understanding of creative activities and marketing functions.

You’ll begin to understand advertising and brand management in a real-world context thanks to our strong links with advertising and design agencies. Added to that, there’ll be opportunities to visit cultural centres in the UK, Europe and the US, as well as to benefit from our relationships with industry organisations such as the D&AD, European Foundation for Commercial Communications Education (EFCCE), and the Manchester Publicity Organisation (MPA).

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INDUSTRY-EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS

LEARNING THROUGH REAL-LIFE CHALLENGES

We want to make sure you graduate with the skills necessary for a successful future. That’s why you’ll be taught by professionals with a wealth of experience in brand communications and teaching. Among our staff, you’ll find active researchers and freelance practitioners – all of whom are committed to establishing strong relationships between industry and the course.

Creative practice – perfecting your skills through real-life challenges and projects – will form much of your learning.

Most of these activities will take place in our studios and workshops, where you will work individually and as part of a ‘student team’. There’ll be lectures, briefings and brainstorms; as well as time spent presenting your concepts and research. Industry placements and agency visits will add to your development. You’ll learn how to create advertising campaigns by studying key areas of creative thinking, strategy and planning as well as idea generation, integrated communications, art direction and copywriting. You will also have the opportunity to study in Europe with our partner courses and work on competition briefs set by YCN, D&AD, The Shelf Awards and Roses.

MIRRORING THE AGENCY ENVIRONMENT A major feature of the course is its strong links with agencies and client companies. The result is an environment that recreates an agency as closely as possible to give you a highly realistic learning experience.

Our studios comprise of different learning zones and are equipped with iMacs running the latest industry-standard software. They’re also the place where you’ll meet visiting industry professionals and take part in agency and client briefings and live projects. Just some of the agencies we regularly visit and work on live briefs with include: Fallon, Profero, 23Red, Yes Agency, Bandujo New York, The Collective, BBH, Pearlfisher and Havas Worldwide.

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

CAREER CHOICES Advertising and Brand Management graduates are equipped to enter the world of brand communications on various levels. You’ll find our graduates both client and agency side, working as art directors, designers, copywriters, account managers, account executives, brand managers, marketing managers, planners and PR executives. We have graduates working at The Collective and BBH as well as at many other regional, national and international companies.

t: 01782 294400

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THE FACILITIES ARE BRILLIANT AND THE LIBRARY IS A BRILLIANT PLACE TO STUDY WITH A VAST VARIETY OF RESOURCES. Joe Hall – BA (Hons) Graphic Design

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Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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OUR BRILLIANT PEOPLE “Something that’s essential in graphic design. I worked to real challenges and live briefs, developed great communication skills and won the London-based brand agency, Coley Porter Bell Shine Award. This meant a £3,000 cash prize and a three-month work placement.

I now work for Coley Porter Bell full-time as a graphic designer. It’s proper work, with real commercial value, for global brand owners like Unilever and Nestlé.”

Jia Ying Gnoh, BA (Hons) Graphic Design

I GRADUATED FROM STAFFS WITH GREAT EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND AN EXCELLENT PORTFOLIO.

“We work as a creative team at Bartle Bogle Hegarty working on brands such as Audi, British Airways, RAC and more. Kieran does words, and Leanne does pictures. We’re responsible for coming up with the big creative idea and making it happen in a variety of media channels, from press and outdoor to online and digital.

ABM allowed us to work on live briefs with a number of agencies and real clients. Thinking of everything from the strategy right through to the creative, and then presenting back. It has given us real-world skills that have prepared us well for the hectic, but exciting world of advertising.”

Leanne Holloway and Kieran Ainsworth, Creative Team, BBH

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THE FACULTY HAS EXCELLENT FACILITIES AND THERE IS CONSTANT ENCOURAGEMENT.

“Studying for a BA Illustration course at Staffordshire University provides the stimulus and inquisitiveness to pursue further study. Through the tutors’ lateral and open-minded approach to the discipline a student’s work is explored to their best potential without being overly instructive. The faculty has excellent facilities and there is constant encouragement to experiment with imaginative methods of image-making. Beyond graduation, there is also academic support and an active alumni community.”

Katie Forrester, Illustrator, BA (Hons) Illustration “I’m writing this sat at my own desk in a London ad agency. There’s a brief for Russian Standard Vodka to the left of me, and one for Honda to my right (though that one’s hiding behind one for HTC, which I’m yet to start). It seems a long time ago since I was choosing which course to take at Staffordshire. Seven years in fact. But after being in the industry for four, I know that if it weren’t for ABM, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

The course doesn’t just equip you with all the skills you need for industry, it gives you plenty of opportunities to network with agencies – not just in London, but internationally too. Because of this, I’ve been able to transfer seamlessly into the advertising world as a Creative. Working at agencies such as Rabbit, Crayon and Karmarama on accounts like Sony, blinkbox, Grant’s Whisky, AXA and Playstation. I now reside at Collective London in Farringdon, writing and coming up with ideas for big name brands. And who knows, maybe you’ll be at the desk opposite me in a few years time.”

Advertising and Brand Management Graduate Adam Lowe – Collective London

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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A BETTER CAMPUS

AT STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY, WE’RE COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE – LITERALLY. OVER A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS, WE’RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF POUNDS ON OUR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, SO WHEN YOU JOIN US, YOU’LL BE COMING TO A PLACE WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START OPENING DOORS AND BREAKING BOUNDARIES.

In recent years, our Stoke-on-Trent campus has undergone a massive transformation, with the students at the heart of our plans. From the amazing Science Centre to environmental improvements, we’re focused on building the best campus for our students.

But whilst it’s all well and good a university saying they care what students think, we’re putting our money where our mouth is.

This all stems from a decision to make Stoke-on-Trent the main campus of Staffordshire University. In 2016 the majority of students from our Stafford Computing and Technology courses will be

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moving to the Stoke-on-Trent campus. So we’re making sure that when you arrive, you enter a university that is fit for purpose. One with a great mix of study and social spaces. One that feels safe and thrives on the friendly reputation we’ve built.

What we found was that a modern edge-of-city campus is ideal. Close enough to the city for the social life, but far enough away to focus on studying. Great transport links around the city, but also great spaces around the campus.

The best of both worlds.

So, starting in Summer 2015, we’ll be working on the College Road and Leek Road sites of our Stoke Campus.

We’ll be creating great social spaces and easy access between the Students’ Union, venues and teaching rooms.

Bringing the best teaching facilities together with fantastic student areas – making it feel safe and easy to jump between your lectures and your life outside University.

As well as that, we’re also investing £12m in a new Computing and Games facility. This project, called Digital Kiln, will merge beautiful learning space with state-of-theart technology to support all sorts of courses from Cyber Security to Games Design.

This investment is continuing the work we’ve already started to create great social spaces and easy access between the Students’ Union, halls of residence, and other facilities. We’ve committed to doubling the investment that’s already started to create enhanced facilities. Come 2016, it’s going to have the buzz and the feel of the edge-of-city campus that students want.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Gunn Healthcare Centres of Excellence This redevelopment work isn’t just happening in Stoke-on-Trent though. Healthcare and Midwifery students won’t miss out with significant further investment in our Centres of Excellence in Stafford and Shrewsbury – adding new student spaces and learning resources to make these campuses totally self-contained and right up to date.

So, with all this to come, maybe it’s time you joined us at Staffordshire University?

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

KEY FACTS WORK STARTS: SUMMER 2015 ADDITIONAL £40M INVESTMENT IN STOKE-ON-TRENT CAMPUS MULTI-MILLION POUND INVESTMENT IN STAFFORD CENTRE OF HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE AND SHREWSBURY CENTRE OF HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE COMPLETION DATE: AUTUMN 2016.

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CHOOSE

MORE AT STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN EDGE OVER THE COMPETITION. WE WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY SOMETHING EXTRA. SO WE MAKE SURE YOU’LL GET SOMETHING EXTRA WHEN YOU’RE HERE. A LOT EXTRA ACTUALLY. To help you open doors as well as your mind, we’re spending millions of pounds on our edge-of-city campus. When you’re here, you’ll be able to work with brilliant academics and access a whole load of cutting edge facilities; from animation studios to photography darkrooms to surface decoration workshops. Past students have gone on to exhibit at prestigious galleries, museums and festivals across the world.

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You can also get more back with grants, loans and bursaries to help fund your study whilst enjoying a cost of living ranked the third lowest in the UK.

MAKE MORE OF YOUR TIME HERE • Improve your skills with online training platform Lynda.com and access over 3,000 online tutorial videos • Want to get fit while you study? Take advantage of our special student rate gym memberships • Don’t just learn while you’re with us, earn. Take a job at the Students’ Union, become a paid Student Ambassador with Unitemps or turn working while you study upside down with a seasonal role at Alton Towers Resort • Then spend. We’re a hop, skip and a short walk from shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars and clubs • Catch the latest musicals, opera, drama at the Regent Theatre and Stafford Gatehouse

MORE WAYS TO STUDY YOUR WAY • Grants, loans and bursaries to help fund your study • More hands-on, real world learning, fewer lectures • Hit the books whenever you want - access to our 24- hour library • Get all the software you need including access to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and download Microsoft Office 365 on up to five devices for free • Professional guest lecturers - previous presentations included Microsoft, Marvel Comics and Epic Games

At Staffordshire University, you’re in the best place to do more, with City Centre shops, boutiques, restaurants, theatres, bars and clubs all just a short stroll away.

Plus, with student rate gym memberships and over 100 sports, clubs and societies to join – including skydiving, snow sports and our very own Beard Society – you can experience more too.

So, if you’re looking for a place that gives you exactly what you need to succeed (and more), then open the door and your mind to Staffordshire University.

A CAMPUS WITH MORE TO OFFER • We’ve spent and continue to spend millions of pounds on our edge-of-city campus • We’re a place literally in the middle of things with easy access to Manchester, Birmingham, London • Get your film fix at our on-campus Film Theatre • Take advantage of our brilliant and friendly Student Support team • Stay fit and well with our NHS Healthcare centre with two doctors • Enjoy a cost of living ranked third lowest in the UK

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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There’s only one real way to experience Staffordshire University, and that’s to come and see it for yourself.

University is where you’re due to spend the next few years of your life, so before you decide on somewhere, it makes sense to have a good look around.

That’s where an Open Day comes in. This is your opportunity to get to know the place. Test it out.

Immerse yourself in every aspect of Staffordshire University and see if it’s right for you.

We’ll give you the chance to see everything, from the Students’ Union and the library to the IT suites and our impressive sports facilities. We’ll also show you the halls of residence, so you can start planning exactly where to put your TV and laptop.

You’ll then meet our expert lecturers, see live demonstrations of lab and studio sessions, and delve deeper into your chosen subject with an informative talk.

Advice is available on managing your student finances and ways to fund your study, as well as tips on writing a strong personal statement to include in your application.

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Best of all, you’ll have time to speak with current students about their experiences of Staffordshire University – which means you can hear exactly what it’s like to be at the heart of things in the centre of the country. It’s the best way to get a real feel for life here.

Our Open Days give you an idea of everything Staffordshire University has to offer, so you’ll be ready to make one of the most important – and most exciting – decisions of your life.

LEARN MORE OR BOOK YOUR PLACE AT

www.staffs.ac.uk/opendays GO ONLINE TO WATCH OUR VIRTUAL TOURS

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CLEARING

The UCAS clearing process gives students another opportunity to find a place.

MISSED THE UCAS DEADLINE?

Don’t worry, apply via UCAS until the end of June and if we have vacancies left on your course we’ll consider your application. We accept CLEARING applications from mid July.

Visit: www.staffs.ac.uk/clearing

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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For more detailed information on courses or studying at Staffordshire University, visit: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

www.staffs.ac.uk/socialmedia The information in this guide is correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change.

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