Module manager: Catalina Zlotea
Email: c.zlotea@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
DESN2947 and DESN2948
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module explores the role of graphic and communication design in society. It aims to help you build on the fundamental principles of graphic design, advancing your skills with a more in-depth, human-centred approach across both physical and digital platforms. You will develop socially conscious design solutions in response to briefs, while acquiring a range of advanced design and technical skills You will learn how to effectively plan, and prototype screen-based interactions underpinned by principles of user experience design and apply similar user-centred principles to physical designs such as environmental graphics and print materials. Through practice, you will explore and evaluate both conventional and unconventional approaches to graphic and communication design, while also developing advanced presentation skills and key evaluation techniques relevant to various professional contexts and audiences.
The module aims to equip students with knowledge and skills in human-centred graphic and communication design. Its objectives are to
1) provide students with key theories and principles in user and human-centred graphic and communication design;
2) provide advanced graphic and communication design principles and technical skills;
3) Support students to generate research-informed graphic design solutions in response to a variety of societal challenges;
4) Enhance students’ ability to present and evaluate their graphic design outcomes.
Learning activities consist of lectures and workshops. Objective 1 will be achieved by a lecture series that will outline key principles and theories. Workshops will provide technical instruction and applied design teaching (Obj 2) as well as provide interactive teaching in relation to research and idea generation (Obj 3) and prototyping, presentation and evaluation (Obj 4).
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
LO1 – Produce and evaluate design prototypes utilising theoretically-informed principles.
LO2 – Create graphic and communication design outcomes that reflect and challenge conventions in response to a brief.
LO3 - Demonstrate advanced skills in graphic and communication design for digital and physical interaction.
LO4 -Assess solutions in relation to principles of human-centred design.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
LO5 - Demonstrate advanced research skills to inform design decisions and generate creative solutions.
LO6 - Apply appropriate visual and written skills to effectively communicate to, and engage with, a range of audiences
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Practical | 31 | 2 | 62 |
| Independent online learning hours | 32 | ||
| Private study hours | 298 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 70 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
At the end of semester 1 there will be a formative feedback session as part of progression.
Multiple group-led and individual formative feedback sessions will occur in both semesters.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Portfolio | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team