Graphic Design

Being a graphic designer is fun, stimulating and inspiring. As a graphic designer you will be encouraged to be a creative problem-solver and dynamic communicator. You will be challenged to think differently, from student through to professional, with the mindset of a contemporary designer who is constantly developing their skills.

Graphic design is a powerful medium that is seen, felt and experienced everywhere. Once focused on commercial objects, graphic design is now increasingly concerned with contexts, places, environments as well as diverse audiences. Graphic designers inform, confront, persuade, entertain, provoke, challenge, question, direct and engage with the political, social and environmental issues of the world we live in.

The aim of this stimulating programme is to create passionate, creative, resourceful, entrepreneurial and adaptive problem-finders, who are prepared both technically and intellectually to embrace and exploit the opportunities that graphic design offers in the 21st Century.

Graphic design responds constantly to new trends, new technologies, new ideas. Wherever there are new challenges in audience and output, the creative designer never stops learning. Graphic Design is more than just a job – it's a way of life. 

Take a look at updates from this course on Instagram: @derbyuni_illustration_graphics

The highlights

• This course has a strong studio culture at its heart, with an emphasis on making, conceptualisation and the design process. Students will be based at Markeaton Street, in specialist studio spaces where innovation and experimentation are encouraged
• You will learn from a teaching team of experienced practitioners offering a wealth of expertise across design
• You will prepare throughout the course for a career in the creative industries and be supported through professional guidance, portfolio consultation and careers opportunities along the way
• Visiting speakers from across the industry will offer you real-world knowledge and insights to inspire you to select the role that you would like to choose within the creative industries
• You will benefit from external connections linked to the course, and these will enable you to engage with design studios, pitching your work within live projects, and working with cultural partners through exciting collaborative projects
• You will put design theory into practice as you explore the world outside the studio, through field trips to, galleries, exhibitions, conferences and seminars
• In your final year of study, you will create an exemplary professional portfolio that presents a body of creative work reflecting and celebrating your achievements to launch your career as a professional creative.

Kaitlyn Mepstead, a third-year BA (Hons) Graphic Design student, was approached by Adobe after they discovered her portfolio on Behance, an online platform for creators. Impressed by her work, Adobe commissioned her for a paid project to be featured at Adobe Max London, centred around the theme “Dream Bigger.” Kaitlyn was invited to the event’s launch where her custom-designed badge and patch set were showcased and distributed to attendees. Following this success, Kaitlyn was selected to join the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program.

Kaitlyn describes the program as "major imposter syndrome and an opportunity I'll forever be grateful for."

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Learn through risk taking and creative experimentation 

This course is studio based, practical, hands-on and creative. It offers many ways to make graphic design memorable, as you explore the different contexts and formats in which graphic design is now experienced. This experience will help you to decide what kind of designer you want to be. You will be tested and challenged to expand your understanding and knowledge of what graphic design is, what it can do, and what it is for.

Impressive facilities 

The Graphic Design studio provides you with an excellent environment to be curious, experimental and independently motivated. It is a location for both individual and group tuition, a creative space for the practice of sharing ideas and peer-learning, exercising creative skills, imagination, vision, innovation and ambition. This environment will be used to explore and undertake group work, peer evaluation, critiques and seminars as a means of complementing more individualistic and autonomous work. You will learn the importance of this creative space and utilise it to build networks, being open to new influences, and becoming part of a creative community, which encourages you to work both independently and cooperatively.

You will be supported to experiment in digital, print and making workshops to gain a comprehensive understanding of digital and analogue technologies.

You will work on Apple Macs in our Graphic Design studio, and in the Digital Design Hub you will be able to access high quality printing on many different types of materials, including laser-cutting, book-binding, screen printing and Letterpress print as well as a much larger digital output via our own Printing Studios.

You will be introduced to typography and layout, drawing as observation and problem solving, identity and branding, packaging and point of purchase, exhibition design, publication and printing, and digital moving image. The course has a great resource base for you to use as part of your own design exploration.

Students can also hire a range of technical equipment from the Media Loan Hub, including Wacom Cintiq tablets, and HD cameras.

Our Technical Service team will enable you to become confident in using a range of equipment and facilities that you’ll use in industry when you graduate.

Real-world learning 

We understand how important it is to have the professional skills that you need to make the transition from university to employment. So, we have a professional practice module in the second year where researching the industry, meeting designers and studios, building design networks, help you to identify your strengths whilst promoting you as a graphic designer. This experience has helped many of our students prepare for graduate life, on their journey to become celebrated and valued alumni.

You will also work on collaborative modules with students from other related programmes in Art and Design such as Illustration, Fashion and Photography - introducing you to, and building a creative community across the design subjects. Through these modules, you will explore different perspectives, practices, and the broader context of Design, while developing your personal specialisation and a sense of purpose in both your individual and collective practice.

Students have also gained success with international competitions such as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Awards, the nationally acclaimed Penguin Cover Design ward, the National Trust, Derwentwise, Derby Book Festival, The Shiny Brewery, and many more. All of these live projects demonstrate that our graduates have a wide range of skills and an innovative approach to their subject. Students have regularly been shortlisted and highly commended in national awards, leading to further publishing opportunities; national recognition, as well as receiving internships and experience at high profile studios in the UK.

Teaching methods

Teaching is delivered mainly through studio-based and experiential learning using project briefs. This process is supported with tutorials, lectures, seminars, visiting speakers and visits to galleries and exhibitions.

Assessment is based on coursework, relevant to each module. This may include portfolios of artwork, exhibitions, sketchbooks, research and background material, essays, reports and presentations.

Your studies will prepare you for a career as a graphic designer and increase your overall employability through a range of design-led, process-driven and adaptable social skills.

As a graduate, many creative roles can become realistic ambitions and you could work in one of the following roles; Creative Director, Design Director, Junior Designer, Lead Designer, Senior Designer, Freelance Motion designer, Web Designer, or Studio manager, to name just a few. This course also provides a sound basis for progression onto further academic study including PGCE and our MA/MDes Design.

You could work in a design studio, freelance, art direction, editorial design, typography, branding, advertising, corporate identity, interactive media, signage, design consultancy or online design. Previous graduates have gone on to successful careers in: BBC Creative, Continuous Liverpool, Superunion and Partners, Design for Good, Derby Football Club, Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, Three Guru, Studio East, Koobr and many more. Graduates are also welcome to set up their own startup studios at Banks Mill Studios, Derby, joining a community of artists that work throughout the creative industries.

During the course, you will be supported and encouraged to start building your own professional network. These future contacts may become advisors, or collaborative partners during your final year of study, or a colleague, client or employer after graduation.

You will be introduced to the Careers Development Team to enable you to develop appropriate interpersonal skills and an understanding of the transferable skills that Graphic Design offers. Knowledge of job hunting, networking and self-promotion are all areas for which you will find continuous and professional support.

2026 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2026 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Offers will be made initially based on your application, including predicted grades and/or grades you have already achieved. You may be given the opportunity, within your offer letter, to submit a portfolio. If you submit a strong portfolio we will make you an unconditional offer, to reflect the quality of your work and your potential.

Additional entry requirements

• Portfolio: Recommended - view portfolio details

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.