BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity
Course summary
BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity is designed to produce strategic thinkers and creative communicators. The course equips you with the tools to become a professional practitioner within this expansive industry.
About this course
The course explores diverse and creative approaches to branding and identity, from concept to outcome. You will gain valuable insights into all aspects of the subject, from its historical, social, cultural and commercial contexts, through design practice relating to brand and identity expression.
Practical projects and technical workshops are designed to enable you to develop and deliver the right message, to the right audience, at the right time, using the right media.
Reasons to Apply
- One of the only undergraduate course in the country to deliver branding in the context of graphic design studio practice.
- Focuses on brand strategy and narrative as well as design and implementation.
- Explores branding across a wide range of 2/3/4D/communication/graphic design contexts - print, packaging, motion, interaction and experience design.
- Excellent links with industry - projects recently set by Landor, Rufus Leonard, Radley Yeldar, Studio PSK and Anyways.
- Access to an exciting range of events geared to providing final year students with opportunities to connect with industry, including a portfolio preview evening, D&AD New Blood and the LCC Design School degree show.
Student work
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Work by Daisy Thatcher -
Work by Josh Bailey, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity. -
Work by Josh Bailey for D&AD: Global Association for Creative Advertising & Design Awards, 2018. -
Work by Daisy Thatcher -
Aadam Cruz-Bham, Year One, fashion branding project -
Aadam Cruz-Bham, Year One, fashion branding project -
Thalia Lam, Year One, packaging project -
Giada Pieropan, Year One, fashion branding project -
Kate Hutchens, Year One, fashion branding project -
Kate Hutchens, Year One, fashion branding project -
Work by Andy Cadman, Ba (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity. -
Kate Hutchens, Year One, fashion branding project -
Kate Hutchens, Year One, fashion branding project -
Thalia Lam, Year One, fashion branding project -
Thalia Lam, Year One, fashion branding project -
Thalia Lam, Year One, packaging project -
Work by Joshua Smith BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity. -
Work by Andy Cadman, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity -
Work by Sophie Draper, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity -
Work by Lauren Berger and Liam Harris Williams, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity. -
Work by Joshua Smith, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity -
Work by Lauren Berger, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity -
Work by Lauren Berger, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity -
Work by Joshua Smith, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity
Course blog
News feed
Facilities
Printing and Finishing
Discover our printing techniques, from Lithographic Printing to Print Finishing and Bookbinding.
Printmaking
This workshop offers a wide-range of expertise in everything from etching to lithography.
The Digital Space
The Digital Space is an open-plan, creative hub with computers set up with specialist software.
Course details
You will gain valuable insights into all aspects of the subject from its historical, social, cultural and commercial contexts, through design practice relating to brand and identity expression. In addition, you'll have access to the College’s extensive range of resources; from printmaking and letterpress to moving image and digital media.
The course is designed to produce strategic thinkers and creative communicators who will become significant professional practitioners within this expansive industry.
Distinctive features
The following features give the course a distinctive identity and help to ensure that we are offering a unique, exclusive and exciting experience for you, including:
- Practical projects and technical workshops, designed to enable you to choose and develop the right message, to the right audience, at the right time and using the right media.
- The course will allow you to place graphic branding in the context of graphic design, branded spaces and interiors, packaging, moving image, advertising and narrative storytelling. It is designed to encourage innovation and initiative.
- Your practice will be supported and informed by theory associated with the subject, which places it within an historical, cultural and social context.
- Collaboration - This combination of practical and theoretical exploration and understanding is further supported by live projects and collaborative involvement with industry.
- Strategy and brand planning - The course will introduce you to strategic and brand planning, combined with design principles associated with a broad range of media. The second year will consolidate and expand on design and brand expression, while encouraging individual and collaborative working and engagement with theoretical aspects of the subject, all within an exploratory context.
- Your final year will allow you to pursue your own interests and direction through supported independence. It will provide you with confidence to choose your future path within the industry, or progress onto postgraduate study.
Course structure
The academic year for this course is divided into 2 blocks.
The 1st block is of 15 weeks’ duration from early October to mid-February. In accordance with the University timetable, there will be a four week holiday in December.
The 2nd block is also of 15 weeks’ duration from mid-February to the end of June with a four week holiday for Easter.
Showcasing your work
All students are advised to set up a profile on portfolio.arts.ac.uk, UAL’s portfolio platform, which can be done at any point during your time at LCC and will last for up to 12 months after graduation.
This platform is often used to source student work for promotional use on the website, social media and for print and can be a great way of getting your work seen.
Course units
In common with all courses at University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.
Year 1
Units summary:
- Introduction to Graphic Branding and Identity (20 credits)
- Design Principles (40 credits)
- Brand Narratives (20 credits)
- Locating Practice: Graphic Branding and Identity (20 credits)
- Contextual and Theoretical Studies 1 (20 credits)
Year 2
Units summary:
- Brand Expression (40 credits)
- Professional Practices (20 credits)
- Brand Futures (40 credits)
- Contextual and Theoretical Studies 2 (20 credits)
Diploma in Professional Studies
The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) is an optional year-long learning opportunity, allowing you to undertake a variety of internships and professional experiences for a whole academic year in Year 3, as part of a four-year degree. It is a managed year of professional experience largely undertaken in the design profession in a variety of national and international locations.
Successful candidates are selected on a competitive basis from academic performance and studentship, successful completion of the DPS bridging studies and by portfolio and proposal.
Please view the Diploma in Professional Studies Programme Specification (PDF - 164KB) for more details.
Year 3
There are two pathway options in term one and two of Year 3. One route involves an 8,000 – 10,000 word piece of written work (Route A), or the other route combines a 4,000 – 5,000 word piece of written work plus a Self-Initiated Project (Route B).
Units summary:
Route A:
- Contextual and Theoretical Studies 3 (Route A) (40 credits)
- Industry Practice (20 credits)
- Major Project Studio (60 credits)
Route B:
- Contextual and Theoretical Studies 3 (Route B) (20 credits)
- Industry Practice (20 credits)
- Major Project Studio (60 credits)
- Self-Initiated Project (Route B) (20 credits)
Teaching and learning methods
The courses outcomes are taught using the following learning and teaching methods:
- Lectures/large group learning
- Workshop & seminar learning
- Academic tutorials:
- Self directed learning
- Outside speakers and visits
- Collaborative working
- Assessed assignments:
Assessment methods
The course outcomes are assessed using the following assessment methods:
- Practical project work and computer based activities
- Prepared writing
- Responses to case studies
- Oral presentation
- Personal presentations of prepared work
- Workshop based activities
- Written research projects
- The creation of a portfolio of collection of work which may contain a number of different activities.
Changes to courses
Information provided by the University is accurate at the time of first publication. Courses, however, remain subject to change. Changes may be necessary to improve the quality of educational services, in order to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body, in order to bring course content in line with best practice activities across the Higher Education sector, in response to student feedback, and/or due to a lack of student demand for certain units or options.
Events may arise outside of the reasonable control of the University which lead to changes to courses. Such events may include industrial action, civil disorder, severe weather, and changes in applicable laws and/or safety requirements.
If you have accepted a place on a course, we shall notify you of any changes as soon as reasonably practicable.
Webpage updates
We will update this webpage from time to time with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, use this register your interest form.
Staff
Alison Barnes
Course Leader, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding & Identity
Andrew Slatter
Senior Lecturer and Year 1 Contextual and Theoretical Studies Coordinator
Nela Milic
Senior Lecturer and Year 2 Contextual and Theoretical Studies Coordinator
Katy Oswald
Lecturer, BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity
Contextual and Theoretical Studies 3 Coordinator
Ian Hague
Contextual and Theoretical Studies Lecturers Year One
Tim Miller
Associate Lecturer
How to apply
Opportunities for all
We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.
Entry requirements
Home/EU/International
The course team welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds from all over the world. The course attracts students who apply direct from A-level (or equivalent) or from Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, or other art or design courses, as well as mature students who may have previously worked in industry.
The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:
64 UCAS tariff points gained at GCE Advanced (A) Level or equivalent. (A-level subjects studied may include: English; History; Media; Business; Art and Design, or other subjects within Social Sciences). Ideally your A-levels will be achieved at grade C or above.
Or
One subject at A-level achieved at grade C or above PLUS Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3/4).
Alternatively, you will be considered if you have achieved a minimum of 64 UCAS tariff points from one of the following qualifications:
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- UAL Extended Diploma in Art and Design
- Access to HE Diploma
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Equivalent EU or Non-EU qualifications
Additionally, you will have achieved passes at grade C/grade 4 or above in at least three GCSE subjects.
APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
- Related academic or work experience
- The quality of the personal statement
- A strong academic or other professional reference
- A combination of these factors.
Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
English Language Requirements (International/EU)
IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English language requirements page.
All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability when you enrol.
Selection criteria
The portfolio, along with the details on your UCAS application (including the academic reference and your personal statement) will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Visual language: quality of structure, use of line, shape - 2D or 3D, form, scale, space, light, colour, texture and time.
- Ideas generation: quality of ideas and thought process, expression of design thinking.
- Research and its application (including images from sketch books): evidence of investigation and use of appropriate resources.
- Materials, media exploration and experimentation; experimentation and testing of materials to achieve outcomes.
- Contextual awareness and its influence on the portfolio; understanding and application of subject knowledge and context.
How we assess your application
Your application form is reviewed when you apply to the University. If you have achieved or expect to achieve the standard entry requirements we will invite you to submit a full portfolio.
We make our offers based on the strength of the whole application, and therefore don’t routinely invite applicants to interview. To find out more, view our Undergraduate Application Process page.
Personal statement advice
This is an important part of your application and should demonstrate to the team that you are interested in graphic branding and identity and that you have thought carefully about why you want to study on this course.
You can demonstrate this through your previous work experience or study, personal experience and your ambitions for personal development as a student at LCC.
You should ensure it is written clearly, and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your chance to impress the team by demonstrating your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it will help you in the future.
State what you personally would bring to the course, and explain what motivates you to learn, explore and experiment.
Portfolio advice
Your portfolio of work is the most important part of your application, and you must clearly evidence development work as well as work from completed projects.
You are required to present a portfolio with a maximum of 20 images that you consider would help support your application.
Making your application
You must apply for this course though Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), where you will need the following information:
- University code: U65
- Course code: W213
London College of Communication courses are listed under University of the Arts London.
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by 15th January for equal consideration. However this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
Making a deferred application (for entry in 2020/21)
Home/EU applicants are permitted to make a deferred application. International applicants are not permitted to make a deferred application.
Entry to Year 2 or Year 3
If you have successfully completed year 1 of a degree course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at LCC, you can identify the point of entry as year 2 on your application, and consideration will be given by the course admissions tutor.
LCC will consider applications for entry at Year 3 in exceptional cases only.
Referral to alternative UAL courses
The University operates a cross-referral system, where applicants can be considered for and offered a place on an alternative course, if the admissions tutor feels they are more suited to that course. If you wish to opt out of the cross-referral process you can do so at the application form stage.
Erasmus
For further information on Erasmus and UAL exchange schemes, please visit the Erasmus and Non-Erasmus Exchanges section on the UAL website.
International applicants can apply through either of the following routes:
- Through overseas representatives in your country
- Through UCAS
- Through a direct application
If you are applying through UCAS you will need the following information:
- University code: U65
- Course code: W213
London College of Communication courses are listed under University of the Arts London.
Further information on applying via UCAS is provided on the University Applying through UCAS page.
For full details on the application process, visit the Undergraduate application page.
Making a Deferred Application (for entry in 2020/21)
Home/EU applicants are permitted to make a deferred application. International applicants are not permitted to make a deferred application.
Entry to Year 2 or Year 3
If you have successfully completed year 1 of a degree course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at LCC, you can identify the point of entry as year 2 on your application, and consideration will be given by the course admissions tutor.
LCC will consider applications for entry at Year 3 in exceptional cases only.
Referral to alternative UAL courses
The University operates a cross-referral system, where applicants can be considered for and offered a place on an alternative course, if the admissions tutor feels they are more suited to that course. If you wish to opt out of the cross-referral process you can do so at the application form stage.
Study Abroad applicants
International undergraduate students can apply to join BA (Hons) Graphic Branding and Identity for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student.
Visit the Study Abroad page for details of how to apply.
After you apply
Communicating with you
After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming we have successfully received your application and providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We will request any additional information from you, including inviting you to upload documents through the portal. You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.
International applicants may be invited to interview in person at LCC, or via Skype if overseas or unable to attend. Details of this interview will be sent via the UAL Portal.
Immigration history check
International applicants, whether applying online via UCAS or through a UAL representative or by direct application, you will need to complete an immigration history check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. If you do not complete the check, we will not be able to proceed with your application.
What happens next?
We will advise you of your application outcome through UCAS Track. If you are an International applicant and have applied directly or through an agent, we will notify you through the UAL Portal.
We invite all offer holders to come to London College of Communication to attend one of our Offer Holder events. Offer holders will have the chance to meet the team, find out more about the course, and see our diverse and vibrant student community in action.
Successful applicants will be guided through the rest of our admissions stages and towards enrolment on the course.
Deferring your place
If you are offered a place for 2019/20 but wish to defer to 2020/21, information on how to do this and who to contact can be found in your offer letter.
International applicants will have to pay a deposit in order to defer. In all cases, deferred places will be held for one year.
Fees & Funding
Home / EU fee
£9,250 (2019/20).
Tuition fees for undergraduate degree courses have been set at £9,250 per year for full-time study. This applies from the 2019/20 academic year, subject to changes in the law. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students, in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Please visit our Undergraduate tuition fees page for more information.
International fee
£19,930 (2019/20).
Additional costs
In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.
Accommodation
Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.
Scholarships and awards
There are a number of scholarships and awards available to students on this course. Use our search tool to find out more information.
Careers and alumni
Career paths
Careers include:
- Graphic Designer
- Creative Director
- Brand Strategist
- Branding Consultant
- Experience Designer
- Retail Designer
- Visual Merchandiser
- UX/UI Designer
- Packaging Designer
- Account Manager
- Social Media Strategist
- Copywriter
- Producer
- Art Director
- Motion Graphic Designer
- Arts and Culture Adviser
