Graphic Design

Graphic design is the discipline of visual communication, concerned with how information, ideas and identities are expressed through typography, image, colour, layout and form. It operates across print and screen, from the identity systems of major brands to the publication design of books and magazines, the interfaces of digital products and the motion graphics of film and broadcast media. Graphic designers bring together creative thinking, visual problem-solving and technical execution in the service of communication, making messages clearer, more compelling and more memorable.

At Teesside University, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, a sandwich year and a work placement. The foundation year introduces you to the fundamental principles of design and composition, including image creation techniques using graphics software, three-dimensional thinking and the use of photographic source material as raw material for design. Through the main programme, you will develop your digital skills and design practice across a range of contexts, building the portfolio and professional understanding that the industry expects from graduates.

The sandwich year and placement give you direct experience inside design agencies or in-house design teams, developing professional competence alongside your academic work.

Graduates of graphic design programmes find employment as graphic designers, brand designers, art directors, UX and UI designers, motion graphics designers, web designers, packaging designers, editorial designers and creative directors, across agencies, in-house design departments, digital product companies, publishing, advertising and independent practice. The foundation year makes this programme accessible to students who are developing their portfolio alongside their design abilities. Further study in graphic design, visual communication, interactive design, illustration or design management is available for those who want to pursue specialist or research paths.