Graphic Design

Graphic design is a discipline in constant evolution, shaped by the changing technologies, platforms, and cultural contexts through which visual communication happens. Where once the job was primarily about print and broadcasting, it now spans digital interfaces, motion graphics, social media, branding systems, and interactive environments, and the tools and methods of the profession have transformed accordingly. Yet the underlying questions remain the same: how do you communicate an idea with clarity, originality, and impact through the combination of type, image, colour, and layout?

At the University of Salford, this three-year, full-time programme engages with graphic design as it is actually practised today, embracing the new tools and technologies that are reshaping how design is created, communicated, and consumed. You will develop skills in typography, branding, digital design, motion, and print, alongside the critical and conceptual thinking that strong design requires. A sandwich year is built into the programme, giving you a full year of professional experience in a studio or design organisation.

A year abroad option and work placement opportunities are also available, broadening your perspective on design practice in different cultural and professional contexts.

Salford's location in Greater Manchester, one of the UK's most active design cities, and its connections to a range of creative industries, give the programme a strong professional context. Graduates go on to careers as graphic designers, art directors, brand designers, typographers, motion graphics designers, UX designers, and creative directors in studios, agencies, publishers, and in-house teams across a wide range of sectors. Many also work as freelancers or establish their own studios.

Postgraduate study in graphic design, communication design, or an adjacent specialism is another route for those who wish to develop a more specialised practice or pursue research.