About BA (Honours) in Design in Visual Communications

The programme aims to produce designers who can digest complex data, produce and design information that is accessible and meets and inform the demands of contemporary graphic design practice. 

Aims and Objectives

Teaching is based around practical projects that are assessed and critiqued by studio staff and student peers through open sessions during and at the conclusion of each studio project. You will be encouraged to develop your own working methodologies and initiate and manage your own work, with projects demanding both independent and team based responses.

Visual Communications (Graphic Design) includes the design of diverse and complex information for both print and screen based media. It includes design of communications and literature for public and private organizations, corporate identity, editorial design, exhibition design, interactive design, websites and motion graphics.  

What will I be able to do when I graduate?

You can look forward to entering a range of fields in branding, web design, motion graphics for film/TV, education and in the Semi-State sector. Many have established their own companies in corporate design, publishing, exhibition design, web design, advertising and information design, interactive design such as TV, games design.

Recent graduates have started careers in companies such as Design Factory (Dublin), Design Works (Dublin), Zero-G (Dublin), Why Not Associates (London) and SO Design (Amsterdam).

What subjects will I study?

The programme will be structured around three pathways which include:

• Typographics (Print): the application of design concepts to traditional media, incorporating but not exclusive to editorial design, visual identity and information graphics.
• E-Graphics (Screen): the application of design concepts to screen-based media including interactivity, web design, motion graphics and audio, incorporating the principals and experience acquired in traditional media and developing them appropriately for screen.
• 3D Spatial (Environmental Graphics): the application of design concepts to three and four dimensional environments and spaces, incorporating the coding of interior, exterior and virtual environments and spaces.

These core subjects are complemented by support studies in Drawing and Image Making, Photography (Analogue and Digital) and Screen Printing. The Visual Communications programme is 80% practical and 20% theoretical, as you progress you are encouraged to apply your understanding of theory developed in Academic studies to your studio practice.

What are the Entry Requirements?

• Leaving Certificate Examination (or an equivalent educational qualification) with a minimum of Grade C3 in two Higher (or Common) Level papers, together with Grade D3 in four other subjects of the Leaving Certificate Examination to include English
• Alternative Mathematics is acceptable
• A portfolio of relevant work
• You may be called for interview if further clarification on your portfolio is required
• Applicants with the following FETAC (NCVA level II) awards require distinctions in 3 (of 8) modules. Please refer to the Admissions pages to see the FETAC Links for this programme.

What should my Portfolio include?

You should compile a selective portfolio excluding early work unless there are some exceptional pieces. In all cases the portfolio should be easy to look through and should be well presented. An edited range of work should be presented to include:

• Drawings
• Observational and life (to include different media); colour work
• Painting, collage etc
• Project work dealing with concept and ideas
• Any photographic work (optional) or support work of personal interest
• Photographs only of 3D work
• Notebook/creative sketchbook or diary indicating interest in this discipline

Are there any costs for materials and/or field trips?

A recent student survey indicated that the average cost of materials for the 4 year programme is in the region of €6,000 excluding exceptional purchases and field trips. This expenditure does not include preparation and submission of work for exhibition or national and international competitions.

The Collective brand identity for the 14 Institutes of Technology Design Competition “changing how we look at the institutes of technology” winners; Bronwyn Murphy–White and Ruth Donnelly, both 3rd Year Visual Communications students at IADT