Digital Media Design

In this module students will develop an independent creative practice through a series of structured design projects. There will be an emphasis on interpreting design briefs, preparing proposals and creating presentations of design ideas and development work. Students will be encouraged to use appropriate software, materials, processes and concepts underpinned by design thinking and iteration, and to foster critical thinking and reflection in their design work.

This module introduces students to the essential technical and creative skills required for digital media production. It provides a foundation in multi-media design principles, media capture, editing, and integration using industry-standard tools. Emphasis is placed on building confidence with software, file management, and digital working practices while developing an understanding of how tools are used to create and refine visual outcomes. Students will explore the role of digital media in contemporary communication and develop a portfolio of practical work using industry-standard software including the Adobe Creative Cloud.  The module also introduces and develops various skills required for the production of digital video, such as how to handle a camera, how to assess and capture sound and light, and how to edit footage.

This module aims to introduce students to foundational and contemporary design theories and their practical applications. To develop critical understanding of historical, cultural, social, and ethical contexts influencing design. Also to equip students with research and analytical skills to inform creative decision-making and foster reflective practice through integration of theory and design processes. 

This module introduces students to the importance of storytelling in shaping media, culture and society. Combining theoretical exploration and creative practice, students will explore how narratives construct meaning, identity, and reality across different media forms and contexts.

Students will examine and apply narrative theories and concepts, from classical structures to contemporary approaches, and consider how stories circulate and evolve within the media.

Alongside critical discussion, students will develop their own original narratives in a chosen medium—such as video, audio, digital, or interactive design—aimed at attracting and engaging specific audiences.

The module encourages reflection on the ethical, social and material implications, including environmental and sustainability concerns, of storytelling in a connected world and supports the development of narrative skills, a key attribute across media, creative and communication industries. 

In this module, students will engage in collaborative client projects. designed to introduce them to the user-focused and practical principles within their chosen specialist field of study. These projects will encompass diverse target audiences and contrasting objectives, enabling students to develop a discerning understanding of end-user needs and the technical requirements of the final product. The emphasis is on client-centred work, promoting collaborative teamwork across different disciplines. 

This module explores the intersection of graphic design, cognitive science, and psychology. Students will learn how human perception, cognition, and emotion, influence visual communication, branding, and user experience. Students will gain an understanding of the science behind design decisions and how to create highly effective, user-centred visuals. This module prepares graduates for roles in UX and branding, students will be equipped to design not just for aesthetics, but for emotional engagement and storytelling.

This module introduces students to the study and practice of social media. It develops students’ ability to use social media strategically, while encouraging them to understand its applications across a range of contexts. Through theoretical perspectives and practical exercises, students will engage with key debates about the influence of social media on contemporary social and political issues, analyse campaigns and brand initiatives, and apply techniques in branding, storytelling, PR, and audience engagement. The module also addresses the ethical, legal, and professional challenges associated with social media use.

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Popular Media and Culture 

In this module students will explore approaches and debates in the field of contemporary Popular Cultural Studies and are encouraged to develop and engage with these in relation to their own cultural interests. students will explore the cultural value of popular media and its varying genres and forms, as well as socio-political contexts that have influenced and been influenced by popular culture. This may include subjects such as popular music and journalism, video games, as well as the study of film and television. At the end of the module students will produce their own video project, for example a video essay or a documentary on an aspect of popular media and culture.

Collaboration Wins: global projects with impact

This module develops students’ ability to work collaboratively within global and socially engaged design contexts. Students work in teams using UX and design thinking methodologies to research and define the delivery of a design response to a real-world project brief. Students work on projects, proposed by leading organisations such as: RSA sparks, James Dyson awards, ISTD, A’ Design awards, D&AD pencil. Through this process they develop skills in shared ownership of decision-making. Emphasis is placed on strong communication, intercultural awareness and ethical responsibility. Students reflect on group dynamics and contribution throughout the process. As the project develops, students take increasing responsibility for defining impact, managing complexity and responding to change, using reflection and evidence to evaluate both outcomes and collaboration. The project culminates in a group design outcome supported by individual reflective analysis, preparing students for professional team-based practice at Level 6.

This module supports students in connecting academic study with professional creative practice through industry engagement and career-focused development. Students undertake a work placement or client-led project that enables them to apply their skills within real or simulated professional contexts, building confidence, independence, and professional judgement. Alongside this, students develop a coherent professional portfolio and career strategy aligned to their chosen pathway within the creative industries. The course emphasises reflective practice, ethical awareness, research-informed decision-making, and professional communication. Through their portfolio development and critical reflection for career planning, students consolidate their creative and professional identity and prepare for transition into graduate employment, freelance practice, or postgraduate study.

The Extended Independent Study will give students opportunities to employ the academic, critical and practical skills that they have acquired through your programme of study in order to pursue their own interests in developing either: (a) a traditional academic research project (10,000-word dissertation); or (b) a practical media project (e.g. a portfolio of journalism, videos, advertising campaign, public awareness campaign, producing a video game) alongside a shorter critical reflection (c. 4000 words). Teaching and support will be delivered throughout the year through regular tutorials with a designated supervisor as well as regular group study sessions.

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Sustainable and Ethical Design

Sustainable and Ethical Design module equips students with the knowledge and skills to create environmentally and socially responsible design solutions. By integrating principles of sustainability, circular design, and ethical branding, students will develop innovative strategies to minimise environmental impact while promoting social good. This module is ideal for those who want to shape a more sustainable future through design, innovation, ethical practice, and collaboration. Students will be equipped to make a lasting impact in the creative industries and beyond. 

Contemporary Media in Crisis: Art, Conflict and Dissent

In an era of ecological breakdown, political unrest, and digital disruption, media plays a pivotal role in shaping how societies understand and respond to crisis. Taking the climate crisis as a starting point and narratives around sustainability, this module critically examines the media’s role in the manufacture of contemporary crises and conflict, as well as how media producers and activists use media to represent, resist, and reimagine global challenges. Students will examine key case studies in contemporary culture and digital activism, analysing how aesthetics and technologies mediate power, emotion, and truth. Building on this critical awareness, students will explore the interactive nature of the media and interrogate their own subjectivity and positioning by media artefacts and institutions, exploring spaces for dissent and resistance through media practice. This module supports students to become critically-aware and socially-conscious media professionals.

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Ghost in the Machine: Empathy, Design and Artificial Intelligence

In the 21^st Century, we have seen the shift from broadcast to participatory media. Now, empathic media is coming to the fore. This is media that monitors, responds to, and potentially manipulates users’ emotions and motivations. This might take the form of social media algorithms that seek emotional triggers to stoke our anger and maintain our attention; facial recognition technology that categorises and simplifies our rich emotional life to make predictions of our future behaviour; or AI-chatbots, masquerading as companions and friends, mimicking social relationships to drive platform use. This raises a range of new challenges for media consumers and producers.

Building on theory and approaches to categorising and understanding emotion and distinctions between human and emulated empathy, this module equips students to critically engage with and understand contemporary and future forms of media, interrogating trends to understand the social and industry-related impacts of this form of technology.

Design in Motion

This module focuses on the advanced application of design principles within the field of motion graphics. Building on prior learning, students will explore motion as a primary mode of visual communication, developing concepts and outcomes in response to a range of professionally informed project briefs. Through practical workshops, experimentation, and critical reflection, students will refine their technical skills and design thinking to produce work aligned with contemporary industry standards. The module encourages the development of an individual visual approach while situating practice within current motion graphics contexts and professional expectations.

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Creative Identity: Defining your Future

This Module supports students in critically defining their creative identity and positioning themselves for future professional practice. It encourages reflective engagement with personal values, creative ambitions, and industry expectations, fostering autonomy and adaptability in complex creative contexts. This will enable students to articulate and critically evaluate their creative identity. To develop strategies for professional positioning and career planning. To integrate entrepreneurial and innovative thinking into future practice. 

Creativity and AI

Creativity and AI in design explores the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence, machine learning, and creative automation in the design industry. Students will develop an understanding of AI-driven tools, generative design, and ethical considerations while mastering both traditional and emerging design techniques. This module prepares students to work with innovative digital technologies and understand the evolving nature of design work.