Undergraduate Course: Graphic Design 4b: Design Agency Director (DESI10086)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | Senior students will establish their creative management role, directing peers and yet working creatively with them across all year groups and specialisms, to work collectively towards a common objective regardless of experience. Within small teams of fellow 'Creative Directors' students will create in-house design agencies, initially building a philosophy, branding and promotion. Each agency, mentored by industry professionals, responds to briefs and self-initiated commercial projects. The student agencies experience work-like scenarios within the safety of the academic environment, developing rounded, profession-rooted skill sets, such as design thinking, risk-taking, selling, presenting, delegating, managing and networking. |
| Course description |
This course allows students to practice within their defined role and take on the relevant responsibilities within their own graphic design agency. Through practical projects and collaboration with peers in both junior and senior years, students form a personal vision for their own place and identity within the creative sector. In producing a reflective diary/journal each student communicates, acts upon and tests decisions towards formation of their own professional practice and career trajectories.
Students showcase their skills in decision-making, directing and motivating. This leads to discovery of the innovation that can occur through collaborations, connections and relationships with others. There are opportunities to explore and challenge the responsibilities and methods of the professional graphic design leader, providing a meta-viewpoint of ways of working that is relevant to whatever field they subsequently choose. The student will be made aware of their own employability, capabilities and attributes.
Throughout the course there will be weekly analysis of key events and discoveries recorded through a visual diary and an opportunity to present these findings at formative and summative review. Peer group reviews take place throughout the duration of the course. This ensures there is a continuous and evolving process of internalized reflection that can be regularly tested by the student within their peer group.
This Course will comprise multiple tasks and projects, leading to a final, summatively assessed submission of one resolved visual output and preliminary work. The indicative structure of the course is outlined on Learn.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Approx £150. Minimal costs related to visits plus materials students may wish to purchase to facilitate their practice such as printing, paper, props etc. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 25 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 4,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 34,
External Visit Hours 8,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4,
Formative Assessment Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
340 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Summative Assessment
At the end of the Course you will hand in the following:
Hardcopy Publication (50% of overall course mark)
The publication can take any relevant form which reflects your content and preferred way of working. It's expected the content for the output will be gleaned, in part, from the Reflective Diary.
Reflective Diary/Journal (50% of overall course mark)
The reflective diary should be image based and annotated, minimum of 25 pages. The diary should record your day to day experience, key observations and understanding of design agency.
Formative Assessment in Exam Week 1, Semester 1
PDF Publication Plan
A pdf prototype which explores the proposed content, running order, theme, headings, style, size and aesthetic of the final summative publication. Maximum of 50 words per page on this prototype. It's expected the content for the output will be gleaned, in part, from the reflective diary.
Reflective Diary/Journal
Hand in work in progress through the reflective diary (this should be image-based and annotated, minimum of 20 pages). The diary should record your day to day experience, key observations and understanding of design agency.
Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes:
Hardcopy Publication (50%) Learning Outcomes 1, 2, and 3
Reflective Diary/Journal (50%) Learning Outcomes 1, 2, and 3
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| Feedback |
Formative Feedback
Mid-way through the Course in Exam Week 1 of Exam Week 1 you will be given written and verbal feedback plus indicative grades.
Summative Feedback
At the end of the Course you will be given summative grades.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Manage and motivate others within a group setting.
- Reflect upon their role and contribution as a creative director.
- Communicate a short-term and long-term career strategy to an audience.
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Reading List
Roberts, L and Wright, R. Graphic Designers Surveyed
Brooke, T and Shaughnessy, A. Studio Culture: The Secret Life of the Graphic Design Studio
Goslett, D. The Professional Practice of Design
Best, K. Design Management
Davis, M. More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Working with Others: Exercise significant managerial responsibility for the work of others and for a range of resources.
Practice: To practice in a range of professional level contexts that include a degree of unpredictability and/or specialism.
Generic Cognitive Skills - Demonstrate some originality and creativity in dealing with professional issues.
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| Keywords | Graphic Design,Teamwork,Agency,Commercial,Projects,Peer Learning,Professional Skills,Senior,Director |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Zoe Patterson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5720
Email: z.patterson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Jane Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5713
Email: jane.thomson@ed.ac.uk |
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