Design for Art Direction (Hons) University of the Arts London (UAL)

Overview

The Design for Art Direction (Hons) programme at the University of the Arts London (UAL) is about practice, but it also prioritises critical and reflective approaches to visual culture and broader social, economic, political and environmental contexts.

You will learn a range of skills associated with being an art director and working in the creative industries. Projects and activities are designed to help you develop a creative vision, a visual language and strong contextual awareness that engages your intended audience. 

The course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to art direction, giving you the opportunity to develop your understanding and application of graphic design, moving image, photography, exhibition and set design.

What you can expect?

Throughout the course you will gain expertise in the practical aspects of visual communication, narrative construction and collaboration. Many projects will offer you the freedom to explore self-directed themes and we will support you to propose, visualise and realise sophisticated visual projects. 

Additionally, the course will open up possibilities to collaborate with students within and outside of the course, pulling together teams of designers, photographers, filmmakers, illustrators or other media specialists to fully realise your ambitions and develop your practice in art direction and creative direction.

London College of Communication is home to excellent and extensive facilities from analogue to digital, that will help you to gain a wide range of skills relevant to your subject and profession.

Work experience and opportunities

There are opportunities to work on live briefs and competition briefs at different times during your studies. Students are encouraged to take a critical approach to commercial briefs in order to think through the relationship between context and innovation.

We are not always focused on winning, instead we are always aiming to deliver the most unexpected, compelling and relevant work. Guest speakers are regularly invited to come in and give industry insight to students. 

Most project briefs ask that students research and understand the real word context for their work and present a strategy to support their work beyond the course. 

Careers include:

• Designer

• Producer

• Creative

• Art Director

• Motion Graphic Designer

• Arts and Culture Adviser

• Visual Merchandising Manager

• Communications Writer

• Social Media Planner

• Head of Design

• Editorial Designer

• Production Co-ordinator