Contemporary Practice and Critical Issues

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify and debate the current and emerging sustainable and ethical factors that have the potential for driving positive and constructive change

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The underlying concepts and principles of contextual issues in including sustainable and ethical practices

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Plan and manage your workloads to set deadlines

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Select and apply processes, materials and methods in response to issue based problems

Indicative content for this module includes:

Lectures and discussions which will examine the key ideas and themes that are contributing to the conceptual and aesthetic development of contemporary graphic communication such as sustainability, pervasive technologies. equality and diversity and civic engagement.

You will be encouraged to contextualise these ideas through discussions of key social, political and cultural developments before extending your research using the learning resources provided by the University. Seminars will provide guidance in the preparation and planning for writing in response to introduced themes.

Peer feedback and discussion groups will also support the creation of academic writing according to the University academic writing guidelines. Creative workshops will help you convert academic research, writing and critical issues into informed visual responses.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

• Project Briefings
• Group tutorials
• One-to-one tutorials
• Critical Reviews
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Creative workshops
• Visual presentations

Learning activities include:

• Research and concept development workshops
• Creative workshops
• School resource based learning
• Seminars
• Peer group learning
• Group critiques
• Self-assessment

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Berger, John (2008). Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin.

Armstrong, Helen (2009). Graphic Design Theory: Readings From The Field. Princeton Architectural Press.

Shaughnessy, Adrian (2013). Essays: Scratching the Surface. London: Unit Editions.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.