Design for Digital Media BA(Hons)

Why study with us? 

• You'll be part of a community at the forefront of contemporary professional practice, engaging with new areas of graphic design and technological innovation, including game development, app design, AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), motion graphics, and interactive media.
• Our course tutors are active industry professionals, including graphic designers, film-makers, video artists, animators, installation artists, writers and game developers, who will guide you and enable you to create innovative and experimental work in new media fields.
• You'll work with other students on projects and assignments, developing your skills as a graphic designer, but also experimenting with many visual communications tools.

• Our students will graduate with the confidence of being able to negotiate many specialisms across the full media spectrum and will leave with a wide range of technical, intellectual and graphical design skills.

Briony Keay on why she chose Design for Digital Media at Brighton and her experiences of her time here.

Areas of study 

• Digital and screen-based typography and its applications in advertising, web and environmental graphics.

• Graphical programming and augmented reality applications of graphic design in e-commerce, signage, mapping, documenting, digital publishing and corporate installations.

• Experimental image making, visual effects and video editing.

• Digitisation and integration into social media and social, or blended learning.

• Brand development and articulation in a non-static, cross platform environment.

• Applied animation for complex information systems, including information graphics and the visual display of qualitative and quantitative information.
• Design for interactivity, tablets, apps, installations and expanded cinema.
• Video promos, multi-camera productions and VJ skills for multi-screen events.

• Music video production, sound art and design.

• High definition moving image for cinema using broadcast standard cameras for gallery, music promo, the web and games.

• Lo-fi technology for self-produced documentaries and films, including 'Letus' cameras and the integration of analogue into the digital realm.

• Storytelling through both documentary and fiction based projects using both linear and non-linear narratives.

Year 1 

In year 1, you will explore the practical and analytical uses for screen-based graphic design, through a series of projects. Your work will be nurtured and developed through both group and personal tutorials, and inspired by a series of lectures from visiting industry professionals.

Under the guidance of expert teaching staff, you will immerse yourself in an exciting programme of lectures and workshops, shaping your projects and building your portfolio as you progress through the year.

Subjects you will explore include:

• moving image, design history and new developments in digital graphic design
• how to storyboard ideas and sequence complex graphic information
• how to use a range of digital and analogue cameras, professional-standard digital editing facilities (including those for sound production), green-screen studios and animation techniques
• how to create and code online applications.

Modules

• Design Principles and Image Making

  This module will introduce you to the basic concepts and components of image making and design for digital media, with a focus towards the principles of screen-based illustration and graphic design. You will investigate practically and analytically, the relationship between composition and form through a series of projects that will establish a fundamental understanding of digital visual communication. The module will introduce you to basic working methods and studio practices whilst exploring emerging digital delivery formats.

• Sequence and Narrative

  This module will introduce you to the basic concepts and components of sequence and narrative within illustration, graphic design and digital media. This will be delivered through a series of projects related to narrative and storytelling through animation, film and motion graphics. The module will introduce you to basic working methods and studio practices whilst exploring emerging digital delivery formats.

• 2D Motion Graphics

  This module will introduce the foundations of 2D computer motion graphics and basic animation. Covering the fundamentals of 2D motion design, editing and animation, you will on completion be able to create simple animated graphic sequences for multiformat delivery.

• Historical and Critical Studies

  This module will introduce you to the broad history of visual communication and design history, with a strong focus on the emergence of new technologies and digital media and its effect on culture nationally and internationally. You will discuss specific examples of historical visual culture and the impact the digital revolution has on graphic design, illustration, art, film and social media.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Work by student Josh Hunt

Year 2 

In year 2, you will focus on developing your creative potential, building on knowledge gained during your first year.

The projects you will be set have strong links with industry, so that the skills you learn and practise reflect those that employers are looking for.

You will be encouraged to work collaboratively with your fellow students to develop ambitious, large-scale projects within the local and wider professional community. Your research and analytical skills will be developed through group discussion and documentation of project outcomes.

You will also be able to experiment with image production and alternative content; exploring a broader approach to source material such as 16mm film, found footage, staged environments and animated sequences.  

Modules

• Visual Language and Personal Voice
• Interaction and Audience with Professional Practice
• 2D into 3D Motion Graphics
• Historical and Critical Studies 2 

Work by student Rowan Bailey

Final year 

In your final year, the knowledge and skills that you have developed so far come together as you work on a final personal project. You will also write a dissertation in conjunction with Historical and Critical Studies.

Final year lectures and tutorials are taught by teaching staff and by visiting industry professionals. They include practical information about professional development, preparing you for your professional or academic life after university, and one-to one personal tutorials offering in-depth, personalised support for your continued development.

Modules

• Context and Consolidation
• Final Major Project
• Personal and Professional Development
• Extended Research Project 

Meet the team 

Paul Burgess, course leader

Paul Burgess is a freelance illustrator, designer, photographer, and writer with interests in collage, music graphics, amateur and folk art, self-publishing, found ephemera and collaboration.

He has exhibited his work in numerous solo and group exhibitions and his clients include The Guardian, Penguin Books, Island Records, Pepe Jeans, Greenpeace, Harper Collins, the Sex Pistols, Pulp, Rough Trade Records and Top Shop. He is the author of 'Satellite: Sex Pistols Graphic Design and Memorabilia' and is an adviser to Sotheby's on the subject of 'Punk Graphics and Clothing'.

Jon McClellan, senior lecturer

Jon is a freelance VFX artist and motion designer with over 25 years experience in broadcast TV, and over 15 years as a compositor and special effects supervisor. His clients have included Smoke and Mirrors, Absolute Post, the BBC, Channel 4, and ITN.

As special effects supervisor at British Sky Broadcasting he achieved RTS and Promax Award nominations. His independent film Here’s Johnny won two Grierson Awards (Best Arts Documentary and Best Newcomer) and was an official selection at the SWSW Festival.

Jon runs short courses in advanced motion graphics and special effects for the BBC Academy, training BBC staff. Recent projects include Wonderland X for YouTube, five VR180 films based on Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland.

Other members of staff include: Vanessa Marr.

International requirements

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Portfolio and interview advice 

Applying for a place in 2019?

Portfolio advice
In preparation for the portfolio interview, we would like to see:

• examples of work that demonstrates how you develop ideas. The work can be in any medium or combination of media, for example drawing, interactive, typography, collage, photography, performance, video
• evidence of personal work, drawing, use of type, collage, photography, and other mediums. What are your interests in the world?
• your ability to develop an idea from concept, to a finished project
• a range of sketchbooks showing how you experiment and explore different techniques and media
• any completed moving image, animation, interactive work or gifs (show on Vimeo)
• several examples of finished outcomes in either 2-D or animation or moving image
• your potential to experiment and explore ideas, using different techniques and media
• a passion for graphic design illustration.

We recommend using Flickr, Tumblr or making a pdf to create a simple portfolio / blog and Vimeo or YouTube for embedding video. Please note that it is not a strict requirement to have previous film and video work at interview stage. We welcome a creative portfolio and an interest in exploring moving image in future works.

Interview advice

• Aim to arrive with time to spare.
• The interview will normally be between yourself, a member of staff and one current student, and lasts 20-30 minutes.
• Show awareness and interest in contemporary art, design, and culture i.e. books, film, music, exhibitions, etc.
• The interview is a two-way process, a conversation that is designed to be friendly and open, so please think of some questions to ask us.

Course fees

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

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