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Graphic and Digital Design (Add-on) – BA (Hons)

  • CAO Points: N/A

  • Campus: Athlone

  • years: 1


Course Overview

The course is focused around contemporary design practices and aims to enhance students’ theoretical and design thinking that underpins their awareness of professional design practice. The environment is also conducive to aiding the realisation of a personal creative vision. The diversity of the peer group will both challenge and engage each designer to articulate their concepts coherently, both in individual pursuits and those of a team-based setting, in written and digital forms. Each student will be encouraged to explore and take risks with static and moving imagery, sound and text while understanding and developing critical awareness of professional design practice. Students will take part in a live industry-led project to develop their knowledge and skills to respond to client and audience complexities and to develop entrepreneurship and foster professional links.

This one-year level 8 add-on is a natural progression for graduates of our level 7 BA in Graphic Design, or comparable level 7 graduates, offering the opportunity to engage in an innovative honours degree course. The course integrates theory and practice to prepare students for a career as graphic and digital designers in an industry which is in a constant state of innovation. It is designed to ensure that students are communicating creatively and strategically, acquiring the latest industry standard technical skills, and become capable of working across media platforms.

Contact Details

Tara Cullen

Course Leader

Email: Tara.Cullen@tus.ie

Telephone: (090)6468298

Entry Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design (level 7) or equivalent qualification in design will be required for entry to this course.

How to Apply:

Applications are made online between 1 February and 1 June. Contact the Admissions Department in Athlone for details. *External students can transfer to add-on courses provided that their previous qualifications meet the entry requirements.

Course Modules

  • Design for Time Based Media

    Aims to build creative ability and technical know-how in the practice of motion graphics, audio and video, animation and scriptwriting.

  • Interaction & Experience

    Students will develop a holistic approach to their design practice which is creatively and strategically human centred. They will work across multi-channel approaches synthesising ideation, graphic design, data visualisation, user interface (UI), user experience (UX) , and experience design (XD).

  • Theory to Practice

    Combines design theory with design practice from within the studio. Each student will produce a portfolio that will contain critical context reports detailing their studio project work. The designed document will demonstrate, both in content and form, the learner’s advanced understanding of theory within a graphic and digital design context. The portfolio will embody the integration of work from their studio modules, which reflect upon and articulate their studio practice.

  • Live Client Project

    Designed to provide students with the opportunity to participate and fully engage in ‘real-world’ live design projects. Final project – Designed to provide students with the opportunity to initiate, develop, resolve and bring to fruition a major body of creative and self-directed design work.

  • Theory to Showcase

    Each student will produce a portfolio that will contain critical context reports detailing their studio project work. The designed document will demonstrate both in content and form the learners advanced understanding of theory within a graphic and digital design context. The Portfolio will embody the integration of work from their studio modules which reflect upon and articulate their studio practice.

What can you do after this programme?

It is an exciting time for design in Ireland with increasing recognition of the value of design from across the spectrum of government, corporates and start-ups which are all investing more into this growing sector. Its influence is growing both economically and culturally. Career opportunities currently being advertised include graphic designers, user interface designers, motion graphics designers, editorial designers, creative advertising, production coordinators, and other career opportunities in the arts, film and television. Our graduates are regarded as creative, informed and highly skilled designers, ready to work and quickly progress their careers in design or confidently pursue further study in this or related fields. Graduates will be capable of working as a team member displaying up-to-date knowledge and skills across print and digital platforms.

Successful graduates of this programme are eligible for Level 9 and 10 postgraduate programmes within TUS or elsewhere.