What will you study on the Graphic Design degree at Middlesex University?

Year one

During first year, you will be introduced to what the discipline actually entails: you’ll begin to understand the diversity of the study area, and the breadth of approaches to exploring and solving graphic design problems. You will discover how to employ visual and theoretical research, lateral thinking and visual and verbal communication skills as sound working methods, using logical and creative approaches to solve graphic design problems. You will discover the creative and communicative potential of typography, and the breadth and diversity of historical and contemporary practice in graphic design. Exploring a variety of different graphic media, you will be encouraged to develop an inventive and experimental response to the use of processes and materials in workshop areas including photography, printmaking, typography, design thinking and digital and analogue illustration.

Year two

The focus shifts in your second year to creative problem solving in the context of discipline specifics, utilising your understanding of the creative process to make design work worth spending time with. The projects will enable you to investigate the potential of concept, format and structure, analysing complex information to come up with highly imaginative and creative visual communication solutions. An understanding of specialist subject areas of contemporary creative practice is developed through studio and workshop based activities, enabling students to develop individual approaches to solving visual communication problems with the acquisition of intermediate specialist skills in creative workshop areas such as advertising, magazine design, moving image, interactive/web design, packaging and external client projects. Students are expected to undertake a two week design internship at the end of semester two, and regularly engage with external clients in order to gain further experience of the design industry, client briefing and liaison and creating work for specific target audiences.

Year three

For your final year of study, you will concentrate on solving visual communications problems to a professional standard, drawing on two years of highly developed creative intelligence and design skills to make a portfolio of work that best represents the individual designer. There will be opportunities for students to participate in student award competitions and assessment schemes; extend their range of specialist skills in graphic design and visual communications projects; pursue creative problem solving projects that are self-directed and geared towards making you a visually distinctive visual communicator. You will be expected to develop an individual, highly informed graphic design methodology that demonstrates your creative, critical and technical abilities to their fullest extent. Throughout the year your knowledge and skills will be deepened and extended through a range of project briefs that include branding, publishing, advertising, interactive media, creative industry competitions and a mandatory major self-initiated project. Students will participate in an end of year exhibition that showcases their work to an audience of University stakeholders,  industry professionals and the general public.

Module and programme information is indicative and may be subject to change.

Taught sessions are held at our Dubai Knowledge Park campus (Block 16, 17, 04 and 19) during the week (Sunday to Thursday) between 8:30am and 6:30pm. Additional sessions may be scheduled over weekends or holiday periods and you can expect to receive plenty of notice for these. Attending scheduled weekly classes is a mandatory requirement for completion of this programme.

You will be actively involved in a range of learning, teaching and assessment approaches as part of your programme. Such participative approaches aim to put you at the centre of your learning so you are involved and engaged in all aspects of your assessment and learning. Your programme will require your deep involvement in learning activities and collaboration with your fellow students, working and learning with others as part of small groups. Learning activities may also occur both within and outside the classroom.

With a range of specialist workspaces, traditional and digital media equipment, industry standard software and library facilities on-site you'll benefit from unique levels of access to both the latest forms of technology and traditional tools with expert support to help you develop your work.

Your learning will also be supported by technology. Increasingly your tutors will be using existing and emerging learning technologies to engage you in e-learning activities. Your programme may be facilitated using a variety of media and online tools (My Learning on UniHub, podcasts, wikis, etc.) By engaging with e-learning you will also be developing skills which are essential for your learning and are also highly valued by employers. These include but are not limited to: working flexibly, communication, understanding of IT, team working and creating shared understandings based on quality resources and access to global expertise.

The Middle East and North Africa is the fastest growing region in the world for design, worth over US$100 billion across the region. With regard to opportunities for graphic designers in the UAE, positive industry related developments have occurred over recent years and look likely to continue into the future, boding well for those students embarking on a career in graphic design.

Graphic Designers may find employment primarily in design agencies, advertising agencies, digital media companies, as freelance designers in a range of specialist areas or in a growing number of companies that have the foresight to buy in good design as part of their business strategy. These are all growing sectors in Dubai where significant employment opportunities have been created in recent years. The programme supports graduates’ future career development through the attainment of professional practice skills, attendance at professional lectures and presentations, the opportunity to work on ‘live’ briefs and enter international design competitions, work experience, the production of a pdf portfolio and participation in the graduate degree show. Having achieved an admirable pace of economic growth through sectors such as trade & logistics, retailing, tourism & hospitality, aviation and banking & financial services, the Emirate of Dubai has set its aim on becoming a regional and international creative hub for design businesses.