Study graphic design abroad

Graphic design is the study of how information is conveyed through visual content.

As a graphic design student, you’ll explore how different design mediums, such as illustration, typography, iconography, and photography, can be used to communicate messages. You’ll develop your design skills to create visual content that meets specific project briefs and optimizes user experience.

Studying graphic design abroad is a great way to combine your education with your desire to travel the world. In a field that’s ever-changing, with new concepts and trends always on the horizon, you’ll build an internationally-inspired portfolio. You’ll observe first-hand how cultural contexts shape the visual content produced by other countries, and your new surroundings will spark your own creativity.

There are plenty of ways to study graphic design. Some universities offer short, intensive graphic design courses that typically require around three months of full-time study. These don’t usually require any previous experience and will provide you with a basic understanding of the field.

The most popular way to study graphic design is to complete a BA over three or four years. If you’re interested in getting a postgraduate qualification, a master’s degree can be studied over one or two years, followed by a PhD which takes five years on average to finish.

Graphic design programs are heavily structured around your practical work. As such, you’ll likely have more workshops and seminars than lectures. This means you’ll have more opportunities to think and design creatively with the guidance and support of faculty. You’ll probably be assessed through a mixture of design portfolios, essays, reports, and presentations.

Graphic design is a flexible course with a wide range of elective modules to choose from. While the precise content of graphic design programs will vary between institutions, there are some core areas of study, including:

• Typography
• Illustration
• Photography
• Principles of visual communication
• Design for online and print
• Cultural, historical and contemporary influences on graphic design
• Graphic design theory

As a graphic design graduate, you’ll have a range of creative career paths open to you. Your ability to produce original and memorable visual content will help you succeed in any of the following roles:

• Graphic designer
• Brand designer
• Illustrator
• Animator
• Concept artist
• Printmaker
• Creative director
• VFX artist

One of the best ways to gather experience, network with professionals, and improve your employability is to complete an internship with a design agency. Speak to your university’s career service to see if they have any partnerships with companies who might be able to offer you a placement.