Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CST4312

 
TITLE Design and Creative Processes 2

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Media and Communications

 
DESCRIPTION The Design and Creative Techniques 2 study-unit is aimed to further provide students with comprehensive theoretical and practical information in graphic design for print and new media applications. It includes the following modules:

- Working with timelines and layers
- Modular applications
- The application of grid structures in newspaper, magazine and web layouts
- Interface hierarchy
- Working with patterns and step and repeat processes
- Diagrams and Structures
- Time and Motion
- Applying random structural processes
- Brand design and recognition strategies
- Transporting Brand values in design

The study-unit puts into practice the above through demonstrations and the practical assignments given.

Study-unit Aims

This credit expands on the work done in CST4301 - Design and Creative Processes 1, and explores ways for the individual designer to develop a personal flair in the work that he or she produces, while at the same time informs the student how to create work which communicates on its own visual and semiotic merits to a broad audience.

Students are led to think in a creative but structured manner, using sophisticated art and design strategies and through analysis of key works by top artists and designers. The credit extends also to using unconventional design strategies and looks at contemporary methods of visual communications in both print and moving media, using real-world applications as assignments.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Apply structured and communicative processes to design outcomes in print and new media.
2. Identify and use sophisticated design tools and visual communication strategies
3. Transport established design concepts and canons to contemporary design

2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Tackle design problems from an aesthetically informed standpoint
2. Interpret a textual message or client's brief into a visual artwork which communicates to a specific target audience
3. Use standard design software to solve visual communications problems

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

- Visual Thinking - Rudolf Arnheim, University of California Press; ISBN: 0-520-01871-0
- A Designer's Art - Paul Rand, Yale University Press, ISBN: 0300034837
- How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul - Adrian Shaughnessy, Princeton Architectural Press; ISBN: 1568985596

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-Requisite Study-units

CST4301 - Design and Creative Processes 1

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Project Yes 40%
Classwork No 60%

 
LECTURER/S Vince Briffa

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit