DipHE Graphic Design & Illustration (Interactive Design Institute) DipHE

About the course

More about the course

This Graphic Design and Illustration degree provides a strong work-related experience aligned to graphic design and illustration, with students increasingly specialising in one of these two over the three years of study.

The first year is idea focused, emphasising design thinking, generation of ideas and problem solving with workshops providing hands-on media and software experiences. The second year focuses on projects related to the creative and cultural industries, emphasising professional constraints and expectations. It includes live projects, pitching and work-related experiences and you will develop design production knowledge. You will benefit from our collaboration with external partners including a design school in Moscow.

The final year is focused around the professional portfolio with national competitions, an emphasis on professional standards of working and support from staff whose experience best matches student interests. It is intended to provide an experience from which you can emerge as a creative, able to work to professional standards. The staff team is drawn from nationally and internationally recognised designers and illustrators who bring their research and professional interests directly into the student environment.

Over the last two years alone, students on the graphic design and illustration course at the University of Hertfordshire have won commendations, prizes and work placements in a number of extremely high-profile national and international design competitions. These include: two ISTD awards, two YCN commendations, one Howard Smith Paper Design Awards commendation, one finalist in the Yahoo! Sharpener Awards, one runner-up in the Lloyds TSB Student Illustration Awards, one finalist in the V&A Student Illustration Awards, one "Best in Show" at D&AD's New Blood exhibition, one commendation and three "in book" in the D&AD Global Student Awards.

Why choose this course?

About the course

• This course is taught by the Interactive Design Institute.
• The Graphic Design and Illustration degree not only teaches you to have great (and appropriate) ideas, as well as providing you with the skills to execute them, but also one that re-kindles and encourages your natural curiosity about information and knowledge, through exposure to a wide range of subject matter.
• Students from the Graphic Design and Illustration degree have won over 40 commendations in the last few years.
• Nearly all of our teaching staff work as professional designers or illustrators and our industry contacts are second to none.

Locations

• Interactive Design Institute

Careers

Encouragement is given to the development of versatility, leading to a wide range of career opportunities in design and illustration in the fields of corporate identity, marketing and publicity, advertising and publishing as well as freelance illustration. Recent graduates are working at some of the most highly regarded design businesses in the UK, as well as some high profile agencies abroad.

Work Placement

Work placements are actively encouraged and we have a unique 'professional practice' module that prepares students to effectively apply for placements as well as full-time employment. Course tutors have numerous high-profile links with industry and we often place students within these prominent businesses, as well as drawing on others within London and our local region.

Over the last few years students have successfully completed work placements at a number of very high profile consultancies. These include Blast, The Chase, Elmwood, The Partners, Vivid Brand, Interbrand, Umbrella, Dave, Williams Murray Hamm, 300 Million and The Design Conspiracy.

Fees & funding

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

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Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

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How to apply