Graphic Design

Graphic design is the practice of visual communication, combining image, type, colour, and form to convey messages, shape experiences, and solve communication problems across print, screen, and physical environments. It is both a craft and an intellectual discipline, requiring technical fluency alongside conceptual thinking and a clear understanding of the audiences and contexts being addressed. In an era when visual content saturates every part of daily life, skilled graphic designers who can create work that is purposeful, distinctive, and legible across multiple platforms are consistently in demand.

At Edge Hill University this part-time programme takes you from the foundations of graphic design through to emergent techniques, with a particular focus on sustainability, reflecting the growing importance of responsible and environmentally aware practice within the creative industries. You will develop skills in typography, image-making, visual identity, and layout, as well as the ability to create visuals that communicate effectively across a wide range of platforms and contexts. A sandwich year and a year abroad are included in the programme, giving you the chance to gain professional experience and to encounter design cultures in other countries.

A work placement is built into the degree, ensuring you graduate with real employer experience alongside your creative portfolio.

Graphic design graduates work in a wide range of settings. Many build careers in design studios, advertising agencies, and in-house creative teams, working on brand identity, editorial design, digital content, packaging, and environmental signage. Others develop freelance practices, particularly as the demand for independent creative professionals across digital media and content creation continues to grow.

UX and UI design, motion graphics, and art direction are further directions that graphic design training opens up. Some graduates continue to postgraduate study in design, visual culture, or related fields, deepening their specialism or moving into research and teaching.