SCHOOL OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION
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BA PHOTOGRAPHY MA VISUAL COMMUNICATION
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CONTENTS
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FOREWORD BA DESIGN for PERFORMANCE
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S C H O O L O F VI S UA L C O M M U N I C A T I O N
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BA DIGITAL MARKETING
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FOUNDATION
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BA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
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BA ILLUSTRATION MA & MSc FUTURE MEDIA INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS OUR CAMPUS CAREER PROSPECTS
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FOREWORD
Our origins date back to 1843. We are a school with a huge amount of knowledge, history and stories behind us - and a fantastic future ahead. The School of Visual Communication has a long and established place in the University and forms a cornerstone of the Birmingham Institute of Creative Arts, based both at Parkside within the City Centre campus, and in the Colmore District, at our Grade I listed Victorian Art School on Margaret Street. Our central location allows us access to the communities and businesses that operate in the vibrant city centre; this allows for collaboration with industry and community groups. Many students engage with civic projects, as well as national art and design competitions and briefs - this has led to award-winning projects. The school comprises of dedicated staff, technicians and administrative support as well as student support ambassadors, studio mentors and graduate artists / designers in residence, all there to ensure you get the best support and education we can offer in readiness for your chosen career path.
When you look through this publication you will see a variety of work and get a taste of what it is like to be part of our School - we like to call this our VISCOMMUNITY. Students often stay on to study at postgraduate level, but many go into successful careers within the creative industries, becoming illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, event designers and advertisers, to name just a few career destinations. Whatever career you progress onto, we always look forward to welcoming you back to tell us about your journey, to help us inform our future graduates and to offer you continued alumni support.
George Hart, Deputy Head of the Birmingham Institute of Creative Arts, The School of Visual Communication.
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FOUNDATION
Studying a degree can significantly change your life. It can change the way you see the world and change how you interact with it. With the continuing growth of our creative industries in the UK our Foundation year offers an exciting starting point for your learning and creative future. The course will give you the freedom to experiment, question and grow your confidence to prepare you for the constant changes in our fast progressing creative world. The Foundation year forms the first year of your four-year BA programme, and has been designed to broaden and strengthen your creativity before you progress onto your chosen degree course. Potential study routes could be through one of the following pathways and on successful completion of the Foundation year you will have automatic progression onto your chosen undergraduate course, or a related undergraduate course within the Birmingham Institute of Creative Arts: - - - - - - - -
BA Illustration BA Graphic Communication BA Design for Performance BA Photography BA Art and Design BA Art and Design with Creative Technologies BA Fine Art BA Video Games Digital Art
You will work in a lively and inspiring environment and will be encouraged to develop practical skills, explore through experimentation and produce innovative concepts that are built on a foundation of critical thinking and an understanding of creative theories. Our key philosophy is socialisation, experimentation, curiosity and humour.
‘When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t’. Thomas Edison Thomas Edison, the inventor of the incandescent light bulb, is one of the world’s greatest inventors. His works and achievements came about through both perseverance and freedom to make work that was valued for success and failure. Driven by curiosity and experimentation, it is our intention to work with you to discover things that will excite you, and give you the confidence to continue with your creative future with an open mind.
Jean O’Halloran
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Oliver Thompson
Megan Pratchett
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BA (Hons) DESIGN FOR PERFORMANCE
BA (Hons) Design for Performance: Theatre, Film & Live Events (DfP) is a unique, future-focused programme of study. Ambitious students are able to make informed and creative contributions to the advancement of contemporary entertainment design. This includes design and production for: theatre, events, dance, puppetry, museums, concerts, exhibitions, festivals, themed environments, installations, nightclubs, music videos, film, TV and live arts. The contemporary performance industry is a vibrant world of ever evolving and often interrelated practices underpinned by a wide variety of craft, digital and transferable skills. We’re interested in asking what is performance? Where does performance occur? And how do we creatively design for it? Rather than seek to tightly define the parameters of the discipline, the programme has been designed to offer a framework within which students negotiate their own focus and direction.
From its inception, DfP has devised, developed and responded to a wide variety of highprofile projects and opportunities. These include but are not limited to collaborative paper installations, music videos, interactive environments, placements at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and live project briefs for Madame Tussauds, BMAG, V&A, Casson Mann, Boomtown Fair, Flatpack Film Festival, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Prague Quadrennial, 2000 Trees and Download Festival.
Alex Galea
Jordan Smith
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The course allowed me to follow my passion for themed entertainment and pursue it in my final year, along with giving me a huge foot in the door via the Madame Tussauds project, which set me up to be able to work in the field from day one after graduating. Edd Musgrove, BA DfP graduate
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Simin Ma
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including //
Bex Hazell
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Theatre Designer Art Director Production Designer Performance Practitioner Scenographer Festival Producer Events Designer Live Arts Facilitator Scenic Construction Educator Digital Production Exhibition Designer Scenic Artist Props Buyer Set Dresser
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BA (HONS) Digital Marketing
Our BA Digital Marketing degree is a unique two-year fast-track programme that immerses you in real-world, professional advertising and marketing communications. Responding to employability and skills demands from industry, teaching is practicebased, and knowledge applied, where tutors and professionals work with you to develop and grow your personal and professional development. As the course name says this is all about digital solutions in a marketing universe. Digital is the shared digital media experience between brands, users, technologies, and trends. Marketing is how brands add value and relevance to user experiences by fulfilling desires. It’s a powerful mix where you’ll be working with professionals to learn key skills
in the fast-paced digital communications industry. You’ll find yourself making simulated advertising campaigns with award winning agencies like Mediacom, delivering marketing solutions to content brands like the BBC or using the latest technologies to produce exciting events and interactive experiences. The course works closely with ad agencies and marketing bureaux, and encourages you to network at industry events and our own annual conference, as well as making the most of our state-of-the-art production resources.
I’d say that I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of it. If I had to pick a specific thing that I enjoyed the most, it would be the group tasks and briefs as they’re a good challenge – they push you outside of your comfort zone and get you meeting new people. It also helps you learn from your peers, and it can even provide you with a different perspective and new ways to approach a strategy or creative brief. Fergus Puddy, BA Digital Marketing student
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Graduates work in a broad range of careers including // Account Executive Account Manager Client Service Manager Copywriter Digital Marketing Executive Data Executive Media Planner Online Trading Executive PR Officer Production Manager Promotions Manager Research Manager Social Media Manager Videographer
Rumel Rahman
Melissa Kirkham
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BA (HONS) GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
A diverse and exciting course. A must for anyone passionate about graphic design and looking to pursue a career in the creative industries. A programme structured to provide you with industry-standard skills in the fields of graphic design, visual communication, advertising, branding, typography, editorial and creative problem solving, in still and moving images, both in print and online through traditional and digital resources. Enjoy our impressive links to major design groups, advertising agencies and publishing houses. Receive commercially relevant guidance based on contemporary approaches and historical contexts from your highly experienced, enthusiastic and knowledgeable tutors. Study on a course that will enhance your design skills and challenge your creative thinking, helping you identify the latest directions in design, branding and advertising on a world stage. Learn to stand out through your imaginative thinking and commitment to new ideas and international perspectives.
Graduates have gone on to become leaders in their fields and specialisms and often return to the university to share their knowledge. Develop your skills by engaging with live project briefs with a variety of companies, both local and international. Previous students have worked on live projects with McCann, The Times, Turner Duckworth, ITV, Studio BLUP, Birmingham Hippodrome, Hello Creatives, Superunion, The Charles NYC and Saatchi & Saatchi. Guest Speakers have included; Neville Brody, David Carson, Malcolm Garrett, David Jackson, Adrian Shaughnessy, Becky Smith, and Morag Myerscough.
Grace Tomlinson
My experience on the Graphic Communication course has been pivotal in finding my creative path and building my confidence. Working with students of all skillsets is very inspiring and eyeopening. During my time at BCU what I valued most, were the opportunities to connect and work with industry. Grace Tomlinson, BA Graphic Communication graduate
25 Erik Bezak
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including // Account Handler Advertising Creative Art Director Brand Designer Brand Strategist Copywriter Corporate Designer Editorial Designer Graphic Designer Marketing Creative Motion Designer Multi-Media Designer Packaging Designer Print Maker/Printer Typographer Studio Manager Website/App Designer Emily Springall
Oliver Wells and Neeraj Kainth
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BA (HONS) ILLUSTRATION BA Illustration at BCU, is a commercial, collaborative, energetic and engaging course. Illustration is rapidly changing within the creative industries. Our goal is to set an active pace of learning, as we prepare students for a future that is new, exciting and at the forefront of a wide range of career avenues. We are fascinated by new ideas, technologies, and issues that affect today’s developing illustrators, and are committed to exploring unfamiliar territories throughout our three year degree and beyond. We actively seek out new methodologies and interdisciplinary connections, to equip our illustrators and creatives with a toolbox for their future. It is the very essence of taking risks, and experimenting with new ideas and forms of production that gives an Illustration student the best chance to make their mark once they leave. Underpinning all of this is a really positive studio environment, where students are encouraged to work hard, but also to enjoy the course as fully as possible throughout their three years with us. We offer stimulating live projects, rooted in industry, which stretch our students’ capabilities and potential. We aim to build confidence, provide key networking opportunities, offer fun trips, and meet student expectations. This course equips students with the skills they need in order to be a successful creative thinker and practitioner.
Birmingham is a vibrant, multicultural city, but even more relevant to our students is the illustration and design scene which is bubbling under the surface. Through events and venues such as GLUG, Birmingham Design Festival, Flatpack Film Festival, Digbeth First Friday, the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and regular art markets and zine fairs, students have a huge range of opportunities to collaborate and get involved. We foster strong relationships with all of the above, providing invaluable experience and exposure for our students throughout their time on the course. This degree provides you with opportunities, connections, and invaluable insight. It will open doors, and expose you to a wealth of knowledge from experienced members of academic staff. Access to excellent facilities, workshops, visiting speakers and skilled technicians, will prepare you to go confidently into working in industry. This is followed up with career support for an extra three years after finishing the course. Not to mention the lifelong friends you will make along the way!
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including // Freelance Illustrator Children’s Book Illustrator Editorial Illustrator Illustrator for Publishing Illustrator for Packaging Studio Artist/Designer Concept Artist Children’s Clothing Designer Surface Pattern Designer Animator Graphic Designer Web Designer Artist in Residence Book Publisher Creative Director Visual Merchandiser Event Designer Curator Gallery Assistant Illustration Agent Public Artist Teacher/Lecturer
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Harry Jones
The illustration course at BCU has helped me discover a whole range of opportunities for the future where I can take my work that I had not considered. We are presented with many live briefs to take part in that have helped me build connections as well as a new understanding of how the industry works. The course has pushed me to experiment with the type of work I create, and has overall made me more confident for my future as a practitioner. Chloe Gentry, BA Illustration graduate
Abbie Reilly
Nakul Patel
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BA (HONS) PHOTOGRAPHY BA Photography is an exciting, future-facing, and intellectuallystimulating course. Through exploration, experimentation, and collaboration, our students’ talents are nurtured, as we support them to develop themselves into employable and creative practitioners. Since its advent in the 1800s, photography has radically changed our vision of the world, shaping our understanding of art, of history, of ourselves, and of those around us. As humans, we have a deep-rooted relationship with photography, which, to this day, continues to evolve and shift. In today’s digital age, we are surrounded by images like never before – photographs that we make, share, and consume through networked devices. The emerging global society is undoubtedly a visual one. It is with this changing photographic world in mind that we encourage our students to push the boundaries of their discipline, and to question what their practice can do. On the course, you will learn through practice, developing your confidence and skills as a contemporary photographer. You will deepen your understanding of current photographic practice, while expanding your knowledge of the theoretical perspectives which underpin it. You will work on a range of exciting and stimulating briefs, encompassing a wide spectrum of practice including - but not limited to - commercial and fashion work, publishing, editorial, photojournalism, and fine art photography.
Students are encouraged to advance their professional skills through our industry links and partnerships with organisations such as GRAIN Photography Hub and The Royal Photographic Society and guest speakers including Vanley Burke and Lara Jade. We have high levels of external engagement, with visiting lectures, workshops, portfolio reviews, mentorships, and placements given by nationally and internationally-recognised photographers. You will be supported by a team of passionate and experienced academics and technical staff who will help you to get the most out of your ideas and out of our exceptional facilities. These include industry-standard photographic studios, darkrooms, editing suites, a giant green screen studio, and an extensive Hires and Loans department. We will encourage you to work with others, both within the University with students on other courses, and externally, with live briefs for real clients and competitions. If you have a passion for photography, an inquiring mind, and a desire to enter a changing and dynamic creative industry, come and join us on the BA Photography course at BCU.
You will also have the support of a knowledgeable and experienced technical team, who will help you to turn your
Sammie Masters-Hopkins
Nyima Jarju Jarju
Marta Garcia De Oliviera
I feel privileged to have done the degree and I’m inspiring people to do things in places that they would normally never even think about. Saadia Kiyani, BA Photography graduate
Jonny Wilson
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including // Art Director CGI Assistant Curator Digital Assistant Digital Retoucher Freelance Assistant Image Producer Photographer Photographer’s Agent Picture Editor Picture Librarian Picture Researcher Studio Assistant Teacher/Lecturer Technician
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MA & MSc Future Media
Future Media is a postgraduate MA and MSc programme that does what it says: Future is finding your future and exploiting future developments in the digital marketing and advertising industry. Media is acquiring your digital media skill set amongst evolving trends and emerging technologies. The MA and MSc Future Media programme combines agency practice with industry insights and academic methods. It’s been a proven pathway to success for our graduates since 2012 and is now a winning formula for the 2020s. Our courses ensure you gain real-world experience and knowledge so you can hit the ground running when you graduate. In your year on the programme, you’ll be planning digital marketing and advertising campaigns with digital agencies, developing brand and product promotions with clients, making mobile, social and virtual content with leading industry professionals and building new user
journeys with emerging technologies and stateof-the-art resources. You’ll tackle challenging briefs in diverse teams with industry partners to build your proficiency: MA students tend to choose broad, strategic and creative roles while MSc students often prefer tactical, planning and analytics roles. Either way, we’ll give you the tools you need to realise your ambitions.
Cherine Stewart-Lawrence
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Pattarakamon Anutchatchawan
Natasha Henry
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MA VISUAL COMMUNICATION The MA course is an immersive learning experience for advanced practitioners within the broad field of Visual Communication. The course has an interdisciplinary and specialist approach, reflecting dynamic and contemporary practices. We create innovators and leaders in the field of visual communication, challenging and stimulating you to produce original, cutting-edge work and research. The structure of our course is designed with imaginative approaches to visual practice in the creative industries.
The variety of subjects covered within this degree allows you to receive guidance in forming a more specific interest for Masters level study. Whether you have a definitive subject in mind, or you have a broader interest in the study of visual communication, the programme is both interdisciplinary and specialist in approach, echoing the dynamic changes within its related industries.
As a creative practitioner you are inspired to create and engage with industry alongside taught elements. Throughout the course you will have the chance to develop deep specialist knowledge in graphic communication, photography, illustration, film and animation, and research. The course provides an immersive and advanced learning experience for both advanced practitioners and recent graduates within the broad field of visual communication.
As a school we have strong industry connections which include live partnerships and collaborative projects. We have ongoing dynamic dialogues with international players in the creative sector. These leading professionals have provided us with direct feedback, identifying our programmes as world-class models of creative education and fully supporting contemporary practice in an international context.
Our visual communication Masters course is designed to provide you with the best possible chance to further your skills and widen your knowledge of the communication arts and industries. The programme is rooted in practice, teaching you interdisciplinary design and research processes.
We have a continuously developing and progressive vision of employability. We feel that as a creative practitioner you will need to adapt and respond to the demands of industry. The course has been designed to be an international one, and we draw our students from countries across the world, including, China, India, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Afghanistan and the European Union.
Mengxia Liu
Joseph Frascina
Joseph Frascina
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Linlan Xiao
Zian Qian
The year in the UK is the most memorable for me. I tried to do animation for the first time and liked it more and more. In this year I tried so many styles and finally found my direction. Thank you very much for the help of the tutors for making me more confident.
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Taian Lu, MA Visual Communication graduate
Jon Kuiter
Tan Shiqi
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INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
In the global world of the creative industries, an international outlook is a real advantage. Visual Communication has been working with international partners for over twenty years. More than 1,000 students have graduated from our degrees in Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and China.
combining the expertise of both institutions to provide a number of creative arts courses at the fantastic campus in Wuhan, China.
Our lecturers who teach on these courses develop valuable perspectives which have a positive impact on their teaching in the UK. There are opportunities for students to collaborate across continents and we’ve been running an annual exchange trip with Chulalongkorn University in Thailand for over 15 years.
Our key international partners are:
The Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Art (BIFCA) is a jointly run higher education institute based in China, and is one of only a handful of such partnerships to be given approval by the Chinese government. BIFCA is a collaborative effort between Birmingham City University and Wuhan Textile University,
BIFCA - The Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Art – Silpakorn University, International College, Thailand – Chulalongkorn University, Thailand –
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OUR CAMPUS
The Parkside Building The Parkside Building has been designed to maximise light and encourage collaboration between creative students from many disciplines. It’s the perfect setting for workshops, teaching spaces and our design courses. The School has outstanding traditional and digital facilities, and is the first in Europe with MILO motion control technology, offering nine axes of portable, precise, rigid and completely repeatable camera motion. Print room The print room is an incredible creative space. Here students have access to a number of traditional presses covering etching, letterpress, relief and screen printing. The workshop can feel like a step back in time, where students will learn processes from 600 years ago. Although the studio practice is traditionally-based, students can use digital as a means of producing imagery to then transfer to a traditional method in keeping with contemporary practices.
Photography studio We provide specialised and sophisticated equipment through our hires and loans facility and our photography studios include a half and a full infinity cove. Curzon Library With access to over 62 million resources including books, e-books, and print and electronic journals, our libraries have a wealth of resources to help you succeed. Birmingham School of Art At our Margaret Street campus you’ll find light and airy studios, gallery and installation spaces, a fine art library and workshops for wood, metal, plaster, fibreglass, ceramics, digital media, print and photography. Industry-standard resources and equipment include soldering hearths, polishing machines, other bench-mounted powered equipment, lathes and milling machines. The building has won numerous awards for the restoration of its spectacular architecture.
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ENHANCING CAREER PROSPECTS
We offer career support and advice throughout your time with us and after you graduate. Our Graduate+ scheme embeds careerrelated skills into every one of our degree courses, from becoming a course representative to studying abroad. 97% employed / in further study Our commitment to ensuring students develop the skills and experience employers need means that 97.4% of our graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduation. Earn while you learn Our student employment scheme allows you to apply for paid roles at the University, gaining experience in crucial aspects of job applications and valuable feedback on your work. Gain a competitive advantage Our Graduate+ programme allows you to build up experience through a range of extracurricular, employment-related activities. You will work with our Graduate+ team to undertake a skills audit and devise a personal programme of activities and collate evidence for what you’ve done, using an online e-portfolio.
Get the career support you need We offer a wide range of online and face-to-face services to help you develop your employability skills, plan your career and access the latest job opportunities. This includes one-to-one support with job applications and interview preparation, and mentors from a range of sectors. Our students can access careers support throughout their time as a student and after you graduate. Keep Track Alumni Employability and Networking Group The group has been created for BCU Visual Communication alumni and aims to share best practice, provide mutual support, explore further training, and connect with industry. Through LinkedIn, we share job opportunties, facilitate portfolio reviews, give advice on CVs, support recruitment, and foster on-going networking opportunities in the creative sector.
Say Hello If you have any questions about the University, courses or international applications, we’re on hand to help – be it by phone, email, or social media. Social media www.twitter.com/MyBCU www.instagram.com/mybcu www.facebook.com/birminghamcityuniversity UK/EU course enquiries T: +44 (0) 121 331 5595 W: www.bcu.ac.uk/courseenquiry International course enquiries T: +44 (0) 121 331 5389 W: www.bcu.ac.uk/international E: bcuinternational@enquiries.uk.com F: +44 (0) 121 331 6314 If you are an international applicant, you can find out about forthcoming visits to your country by our representative: www.bcu.ac.uk/international/your-country How to apply Full time: Apply through UCAS. Non-EU (international students: There are three ways for you to apply: direct to the University, through a country representative or through UCAS. Please read our guidance on how to apply section of our website: www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/how-to-apply Disclaimers The University prospectuses and web pages are intended as a guide to the University’s courses and facilities and form no part of any contract between you and the University. For full terms and conditions and legal disclaimers go to: www.bcu.ac.uk/policies-and-procedures
Design: www.currentstate.co.uk Creative Direction: Jane Anderson With thanks to Kyle Palmer, Charlotte Norris, Ally Standing, Aaron Paddock & Erik Bezak.
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We ARE.. PRoBLEM SOLVeRS COLLABORaTORS CRITiCAL THINKeRS CURIoUS DreAMERS QUESTIoN ASKERS GLoBAL PIONEERS THOUGHT PRoVOKERS EXPERiMENTERS PASSIONATE CrEAToRS IDEA GENERAToRS DETERMINED INNoVATORS WE ARE VISCOM
SCHOOL OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION