Degree Programme in Graphic Design

Objectives

Graphic design is visual communication

After graduation, you are able to utilize versatile professional graphic tools, software and methods that are applied in the design processes of the graphic design field. You know how to combine practice with artistic and creative thinking and with technical and theoretical knowledge.

You are able to manage the broad spectrum of visual communication and can critically assess the meaning and possibilities of graphic design in different media and develop them.

You know how to work as a professional graphic designer in multidisciplinary development teams and in cooperation with other experts, such as copy writers, photographers, audiovisual media, product and service designers as well as with advertising and marketing.

Degree programme description

Significant part of our world is visual and this visual world needs graphic design.

In graphic design studies, students get acquainted with the broad field of visual communication such as print and digital media and web design.

Core competence studies include composition, illustration techniques, layouts, typography, animation, photography and information graphics. These skills are needed in corporate identity and branding, advertising agency and marketing design and publication graphics.

A significant part of the complementary competence studies is carried out in concrete live projects.

The degree is composed of 240 ECTS credits and includes the following modules:

Core competence 135 ECTS credits
• Common studies 30 ECTS credits
• Designer 15 ECTS credits
• Application of art 15 ECTS credits
• Visualisation 15 ECTS credits
• Creative economy 15 ECTS credits
• Practical training 30 ECTS credits
• Bachelor’s thesis 15 ECTS credits

Complementary competence 105 ECTS credits
• Visual communication design 15 ECTS
• Visual identity and branding 15 ECTS
• Marketing communications 15 ECTS
• User interface and motion graphics 15 ECTS
• RDI - Research, development and innovation 15 ECTS
• Optional studies 30 ECTS

Implementation of studies

According to the study programme, the first and second years are contact teaching at the Kouvola campus and the third to fourth years are distance teaching online.

Studies in accordance with the first two years of the study program require studying on campus on weekdays. When studying on campus, the student has free use of the facilities, software and equipment on campus.

Online teaching for the third and fourth years is organised at times marked in the schedule or as independent online studies according to the implementation method defined for the course. The study equipment, facilities and software provided to students on campus are available to students throughout their studies. When studying off-campus, the student must obtain the necessary student licenses of software manufacturers.

The Kouvola campus has design facilities suitable for various design assignments as well as up-to-date computer classes equipped with industry-relevant visualization, 3D modeling and documentation software.

Flexible study opportunities

At the beginning of the studies, you prepare your personal study plan (PSP) which helps you make choices related to the studies, practical training, bachelor’s thesis and international activities. We make every effort to ensure that you can plan your studies in the best way possible, according to your own life situation.

The studies are implemented using various methods:

• lectures
• independent assignments
• teamwork
• online studies
• projects with companies and other organisations
• projects carried out at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
• examinations
• practical training.

We offer three learning tracks that you can also combine.

The scheduled track means that you primarily study according to the timetable established for your own group, utilising optional studies and other online studies available for all Xamk students.

Another option is the independent track which gives you the opportunity to accelerate your studies by taking courses from the schedules of other groups, such as other full-time study groups, online courses, and blended study programmes.

The third option is the blended track. If you choose this track, you can complete courses, parts of courses or entire modules at your workplace, either as part of running your own business or other suitable work tasks. This type of learning at work means that skills and competences are acquired at the workplace during the studies. It must always be associated with a course or module, and you have to plan the learning task with the course lecturer and the employer in advance.

Career opportunities

A graphic designer works in print and digital media as well as in web design, for example in advertisement and marketing agencies, book publishing houses, printing houses and newspapers and magazines. You may also work as a graphic designer, art director, visual communication designer, illustrator, web designer or as an entrepreneur.

You can act as a graphic designer together with the experts of the field in multidisciplinary teams and in project and development activities of the private and public sector or as the entrepreneur in your own design company. The studies let you follow the career paths which are in accordance with your own interests.

Career opportunities:

• graphic designer
• graphic artist
• designer
• Art Director
• illustrator
• web designer
• book graphic artist
• visual communication designer
• web master
• entrepreneur

RDI and cooperation with world of work

In graphic design, there is cooperation between different education fields in Xamk, but also with partner institutions and companies in Finland and abroad. There are also regional partner agreements with companies and specialists making use of design.

The studies are carried out in cooperation with companies. During the studies, you participate in a variety of projects, which include assignments related to the theme of the study module, in cooperation with your student colleagues and actors of the field.

You can complete your practical training and/or bachelor’s thesis in different R&D projects or as part of cooperation with companies/organizations.

Your task may be conducting preliminary studies and carrying out assignments as part of an expert group. In the final stages of studies, you could participate in a module, which forms a part of RDI activities, focusing on relevant subject matters and themes.

Learning environments

Kouvola campus features design studios suitable for different design assignments and computer classrooms equipped with up-to-date software for visualization, 3D modelling and documentation.

We use 3D planning software generally used in the design field.