BA (Hons) Visual Communication

Duration

3 years / 4 years with placement year

Institution code

L28

UCAS Code

3 years W211 / 4 years W212

A collage of rustic, nature-inspired silver and bronze jewelry including rings, earrings, and bracelets displayed against natural backdrops like rocks and sea.
A collage of rustic, nature-inspired silver and bronze jewelry including rings, earrings, and bracelets displayed against natural backdrops like rocks and sea.

Annabelle Reavley

Two photos featuring a beach scene with 'Daisy Popple' branding. Vibrant patterned windbreak and deckchairs on sandy dunes under a clear blue sky.
Two photos featuring a beach scene with 'Daisy Popple' branding. Vibrant patterned windbreak and deckchairs on sandy dunes under a clear blue sky.

Daisy Popple

A series of three photos including a menu with noodles and chopsticks, a booklet titled: 'Out in Leeds' and a sketchbook with colourful food illustrations.
A series of three photos including a menu with noodles and chopsticks, a booklet titled: 'Out in Leeds' and a sketchbook with colourful food illustrations.

Daria Kowalczyk

A collage featuring photographs of a tea-themed display reading: 'Cuppa & a Natter' and two photographs of people chatting and engaging in a relaxed setting.
A collage featuring photographs of a tea-themed display reading: 'Cuppa & a Natter' and two photographs of people chatting and engaging in a relaxed setting.

Hattie Barnes

Collage of three scenes from 'A Call to the Void': a man on a bed, another in a store aisle and one behind a counter.
Collage of three scenes from 'A Call to the Void': a man on a bed, another in a store aisle and one behind a counter.

Honor Northridge

Collage of vibrant promotional materials for a music festival featuring flyers, banners, tote bag, billboards and branded merchandise.
Collage of vibrant promotional materials for a music festival featuring flyers, banners, tote bag, billboards and branded merchandise.

Kieron Smith

A collage with people in dynamic poses and a stylised receipt listing various body types and self-discovery themes.
A collage with people in dynamic poses and a stylised receipt listing various body types and self-discovery themes.

Louis Bowles

Two side by side photos of a person sitting with crossed legs in red heels beside a Polaroid photo of a woman lounging on a red couch.
Two side by side photos of a person sitting with crossed legs in red heels beside a Polaroid photo of a woman lounging on a red couch.

Macy Jackson

An animation of a blue rabbit statue with black wings holding a sci-fi gun wearing a gold chain. A glowing green heart floats above its head.
An animation of a blue rabbit statue with black wings holding a sci-fi gun wearing a gold chain. A glowing green heart floats above its head.

Max Money Kyrle

Two side by side images with a Capri-Sun with a bloody bandage around it  and crayons with cigarettes in the other  highlighting issues in America and India.
Two side by side images with a Capri-Sun with a bloody bandage around it  and crayons with cigarettes in the other  highlighting issues in America and India.

Rachel Roberts

A collage of three photos, the first one is  a wall with vibrant posters featuring graphic patterns and text. Two images show people examining colourful prints in a creative setting.
A collage of three photos, the first one is  a wall with vibrant posters featuring graphic patterns and text. Two images show people examining colourful prints in a creative setting.

Rebecca Norrman

An illustration  of six people holding hands in a circle surrounded by colorful abstract shapes and patterns.
An illustration  of six people holding hands in a circle surrounded by colorful abstract shapes and patterns.

Rozie Brindle

Two black-and-white photos of a guitarist on stage energetically playing and bending over an amplifier with drums in the background.
Two black-and-white photos of a guitarist on stage energetically playing and bending over an amplifier with drums in the background.

Sam Forrest-Ritchie

A portrait of a person with red braided hair and large earrings set against a yellow background with accompanying poetic text on the right.
A portrait of a person with red braided hair and large earrings set against a yellow background with accompanying poetic text on the right.

Sophia Awaritefe

The Course

This practical multidisciplinary course is ideal for students who want to explore a breadth of creative sectors, pursue their own interests, and work directly with industry for real-world results.

Through a carefully structured process, we will teach you to become a highly-skilled and creative visual communicator with an authentic and individual voice, ready for employment in the creative industries.

Learning through doing is central to our approach. You will be given opportunities to develop analogue and digital skills in a wide range of media throughout the course, including illustration, photography, video, graphic design, 3D making and event design. You will then apply these skills to a range of practical briefs using a carefully structured problem-solving approach, drawing upon our team’s extensive academic and industry experience.

Employability through work-related learning is another core aspect of the course. We provide regular opportunities to work on live projects, and students routinely engage with the local community, business clients, and external partners to produce solutions for real commercial enterprises.

Our successful alumni work in various industries, including illustration, television, photography, graphic design, film, animation, visual merchandising, and teaching. Graduate employers include leaders in all areas of the creative sector. In addition, many former students are now established freelance practitioners working for clients across the UK and overseas.

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Industry Project Partners

Some of the businesses we have partnered or collaborated with recently.

Leeds Art Gallery logo
Angus Mcdonald logo
Creative Concious logo

The Structure

Core principles of design and communication are introduced within graphic design, photography and film, printmaking, and illustration. Through practical briefs, you will unpick communication processes including persuasion, narrative, documentary, and reportage, where your own interests will inform the content of your work. You may have the opportunity to collaborate with other students across disciplines at the University. You may also work with businesses and local communities and exhibit your work.

Course Facilities

BA (Hons) Visual Communication students are based in a purpose-built studio. Students will have access to a wide range of resources with a drop-in facility so work can be undertaken, provided resource inductions have been completed.

For Visual Communication students this will include 3D resources housed in dedicated workshops providing students with a hands-on experience over five main areas; wood, metal, laser-cutting and plastics, casting, ceramic and glass; print resources which provides excellent facilities for bookmaking and paper-based printmaking using a range of processes; and professional-standard, large-format digital printing and print finishing and a vinyl cutter enabling designs to be cut from many types of vinyl.

Visual Communication students will also be able to borrow a range of photography equipment including digital SLR cameras for still and moving image, lighting, and a range of support equipment, which can be used in our lighting studios or off-site. Computer suites house networks of Apple Mac computers featuring regularly updated, industry-standard software for a wide range of creative applications that support all our courses and a purpose-built specialist library which includes including special collections of artists’ books, photobooks and illustrated books as well as the University archive. Self service facilities are available throughout, supported by a dedicated and experienced team of library staff.

A photograph of a spacious art classroom with high ceilings, tables arranged in rows, colourful wall decor and art supplies scattered on the surfaces.

BA (Hons) Visual Communication

Virtual Tour

Video showcase

Study Abroad

Studying abroad can help Leeds Arts University students gain valuable experience, broaden their horizons, develop international networks and experience their practice from a different perspective. Leeds Arts University has a global network of international partner universities in 15 different countries. Students can apply for a semester abroad in their second year of study.

Accolades

Students have a strong track record in winning design awards. Recent successes include:

  • 12 Creative Conscience Awards 2014-2020

  • YCN Awards 2018

  • Wool Gather Art Prize

  • 2.8 Days Later Film Award

Career Opportunities

Graduate employers include Aardman Animations, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Topshop, VICE Magazine (New York), Wallpaper Magazine, Saatchi & Saatchi, Tate Modern, Design Museum, The White Company, We Are Fallon, Marks and Spencer, Ilkley Literature Festival, David Oldham Photography, Bloomsbury Publishing, Sonar Festival, LBi London, Glastonbury Festival, I-am Associates, ASDA Marketing, Dubit Ltd, Red Star 3D, East Africa Playgrounds, Omobono, Kontra Oslo, Rapha Racing Ltd, Opera North, Left Bank Leeds, TNR Communications, OMD UK, 10 Associates, Haaretz, and New Era Cap. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study, including onto our MA Creative Practice.

Academic Staff

David Collins

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David Collins

BA (Hons) Visual Communication and MA Creative Practice - Course Leader
A photograph of Lucy Bergman looking through a small magnifying glass which enlarges their eye.

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Lucy Bergman

BA (Hons) Visual Communication - Senior Lecturer
A photograph of Amy Hodson against a white background.

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Amy Hodson

BA (Hons) Visual Communication - Lecturer

*Please note that our courses are subject to an annual review process in order to maintain their quality and enhance the student experience. As a result, Course Specifications may be amended for the coming year.

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