Graphic Design

Graphic design is the practice of visual communication, concerned with creating images, layouts, typefaces, and systems that communicate ideas, information, and experiences to audiences with precision and impact. It is a discipline that combines artistic sensibility with analytical rigour, requiring an understanding of how visual elements work together to produce meaning, as well as the technical skills to realise designs across print, digital, environmental, and motion contexts. Good graphic designers are problem-solvers who think carefully about the relationship between content, form, and audience.

At Northumbria University, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you a combination of studio-based creative development and substantial professional and international experience. Northumbria has a strong tradition in art and design education, and the graphic design programme benefits from well-equipped studios, engaged industry connections, and a teaching culture that takes professional practice seriously. You will develop skills in typography, branding, digital design, illustration, packaging, and systems design, alongside a critical understanding of design history and theory.

The placement year allows you to work in a design studio, agency, or in-house design team, while the year abroad gives you experience of design culture in another country. A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects the programme's broad accessibility.

Graphic design graduates work in design studios, advertising agencies, publishing houses, technology companies, cultural institutions, and as freelance practitioners. Roles include brand designer, digital designer, art director, packaging designer, and UX designer. The combination of portfolio strength, placement experience, and international exposure gives Northumbria graduates a competitive edge in a demanding profession.

Further study at master's level in graphic design, visual communication, or a specific specialism is an option for those who want to develop their practice further.