Red and Yellow School BA Visual Communication

PROGRAMME INFORMATION

Feb
07

Starts: 07 February 2022

BOOK YOUR CAMPUS TOUR

Duration: 3 years

Qualifications:

NQF 7 Degree

Class Fee: ZAR 93 500

Acceptance Fee: ZAR 9500

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2021

Speaking a visual language is about more than graphic design. In our BA Degree in Visual Communication, you’ll learn to apply your talents in both strategic and creative subjects from the get-go. Highly practical projects in graphic design, art direction, illustration, photography, and digital design give you a solid foundation in knowledge and skill, while marketing communications and visual studies build your strategic and critical-thinking ability.

OUTLINE

The notion of choice is what sets us apart from the rest. In your first year, you delve into all the disciplines (Art Direction, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography and Digital Design), which informs your choice of major and minor for your second year. In your final year, you focus on your major subject choice only, allowing you to enter industry with an individualised, industry-applicable portfolio. The theoretical subjects are there to arm you with strategic and critical thinking skills relevant to staying ahead in the ever-changing business landscape.

1. First year (120 credits): ENGAGE IN ALL THE DISCIPLINES

Creative Skills: (Graphic Design, Art Direction, Digital Design, Illustration)
Support Subjects: Photography
Critical Skills: Marketing Communications, Visual Studies

2. Second year (120 credits): PICK YOUR MAJOR & MINOR

Creative Skills: 1 x Major (Graphic Design / Art Direction / Digital Design / Illustration) & 1 x Minor (Graphic Design / Art Direction / Digital Design / Illustration)
Support Subjects: Photography
Critical Skills: Marketing Communications, Visual Studies

3. Third year (120 credits): FOCUS JUST ON YOUR MAJOR

Creative Skills: 1 x Major (Graphic Design / Art Direction / Digital Design / Illustration)
Critical Skills: Marketing Communications, Visual Studies
Practical: Work Integrated Learning (Internship)

WHO YOU’LL MEET

Meet our amazing team of lecturers who are equipped with industry knowledge and skills to prepare students for the dynamic changes in this 21^st Century world

Stephanie Simpson
“I have been lecturing for 8 years and am a practising illustrator and storyteller – I let this feed into my lectures and reviews with my students. My mantra for my students is Play until something happens as I encourage them to make mistakes, take chances and experiment. When I’m not lecturing, I like to be drawing on the couch with my cat and my husband, watching crime documentaries.”

Heloise Bottomley
I believe in teaching for change – I believe that passion, curiosity & creative thinking are what helps us thrive in an ever-changing environment. For me, teaching is a two-way street. I learn as much from my students as I teach. As a creative person I have always liked wearing many hats; painter, illustrator, designer, art director, stylist, potter and lecturer.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2022

ABOUT THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

In an increasingly visual world, visual thinkers and communicators thrive. Our BA degree in Visual Communication is a 3-year full time, face to face programme where you’ll walk away with an internationally recognised qualification and a highly competitive portfolio that will grant you access to higher levels of learning or open the doors to the industry.

Unlike a typical graphic design degree, the course is highly practical and you’ll be exposed to all disciplines of Art Direction, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography and Digital Design, from first-year which gives you a strong background in each and enables you to confidently choose a major and one minor subject in the second year followed by just focusing on a your major in third year, creating a highly specialised portfolio. The theoretical subjects are there to arm you with strategic and critical thinking skills relevant to staying ahead in the ever-changing business landscape.

Practical component: You will work hard, have fun and make lasting friends. You’ll gain a wealth of real-world, practical experience, and the theory and practical skills to back your creative genius. Industry-relevant practical projects coupled with theory and skills-based learning is what you’ll work on with one-on-one interaction with experienced lecturers. Guest speakers from the industry and a work-integrated learning component (internship) in the final year will give you the practical experience you need to develop a highly sought-after skill set. You’ll be industry-ready and firmly ahead of the pack.

Theoretical component: 3 years of Marketing Communications and Visual Studies provides the logic (strategic and critical-thinking) component of the programme. We’ll test your abilities via recognised academic assessments of research, referencing, essay writing, presentations and formal examinations. This ensures that you’re a strategic and critical thinking force to be reckoned with, and gives you a solid academic backing that will grant you access to Honours-level programmes upon completion of the course.

Here are a few key benefits/learning outcomes

Get equipped with the design thinking and skills to be a Graphic Designer, Art Director, Illustrator or Digital Designer
Learn the necessary software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and more of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite), illustration, presentation and time-management skills
Apply these skills in the execution of a series of digital and print design media
As you work through your projects, you will compile an interactive PDF portfolio, which will help you get the creative career you’re looking for

Application Requirements
A valid National Senior Certificate with degree endorsement / a Bachelor’s pass, Visual Art and/or Design as a subject are advantageous but not required.

LOVE IT? NEXT STEPS…

DO THE SKILLS ASSESSMENT

DOWNLOAD

This is your first chance to show us you’ve got what it takes! It gives us a glimpse of who you are and what you’re capable of. It’s your gateway to the programme. Download the assessment, complete it, and submit it with your final application.

APPLICATION

Now download your application form by clicking the Application button. Fill it in, sign and upload; together with your skills assessment, and other necessary documents. Now it’s our turn to evaluate your submission and provide feedback.