Graphic Design

During the Graphic Design programme, you will learn how to address a question or issue. In this, it is essential to analyse the question and adopt your own stance towards it. Graphic Design teaches you how to take a critical approach to content and take responsibility for your chosen points of departure. At the same time, it will enhance and develop your ability to think in terms of concepts and teach you to give form to your ideas. Developing your own visual language is crucial. It enables you to make conscious and effective use of images and text. You will have extensive opportunities to research the various possibilities of expression available to you as a designer. This will include the specific possibilities and applications of a range of media. It is also possible to focus more closely on any individual preferences you might have for specific areas. By means of critical reflection, you will develop a personal approach towards the practice of design. The department encourages discussion and debate and provides a context for this by offering information on the history of design and the latest developments in the field. You will also be encouraged to learn about relevant theories from art, media, philosophy and semiotics.

The course aims to educate designers who can contribute to the development of the discipline, are prepared to use their work to engage in debate and adopt an investigative and reflective approach to media and can express themselves in their own specific design language.

Courses offered

Courses offered: four courses are offered across all year groups, supplemented by workshops and lessons in technique. The four courses are: design, image, typography and theory. Lecturers devise short or long-term projects within each course and compile study materials based on these projects. The courses are further subdivided as follows: Design: graphic design, editorial design, interactive design. Image: photography, video and film drawing Typography: typographical design, letter design Theory: design history, media theory technique: digital techniques, silkscreen printing, book printing, offset Of course, the content of the courses will be different in each separate year of your programme. In addition, the detailed course content will depend on the member of academic teaching staff who will apply their own vision, practical experience and interests in their teaching.

Study structure

First specialisation year

The first year is primarily an introduction to the subject area and focuses on learning about a range of different media.

Second specialisation year

In the second specialisation year, you will investigate the subjects and media in more detail and in the third specialisation year, students can decide the direction of their studies for themselves. This culminates in a thesis and students’ own projects.

Third specialisation year

The third specialisation year is dominated by the final examination. You will conduct your own research project leading towards a thesis and a final examination presentation. The final examination exhibition is held in June of each year and is open to the public.

Projects

The Graphic Design department is actively involved in a number of academy-wide projects, including Open Day, Rietveld UnCut and the annual exhibition in the old church.

Theory

Theory has an important role to play in the Graphic Design department. In addition to design history and media theory, you will also follow the Studium Generale lectures. The Studium Generale provides a general historical context concerning current themes in the contemporary international art world. The Studium Generale brings in prominent speakers from the Netherlands and abroad to give lectures. For more information, see Studium Generale.