Department of Graphic (Communication) Design Courses
Academic Programmes
BA Design (Communication Design) (B8CD2Q)
Communication designers are creative thinkers and problem solvers who use a range of design methods, processes and techniques to create professional communication designs, such as posters, books, magazines, corporate identity programmes, packaging and web sites, both individually and as members of teams. The Department of Graphic Design offers a Bachelor of Arts in Design specialising in Communication Design. The Department’s facilities include a number of studios and a centrally located computer studio.
Career Opportunities
Graduates will be able to enter a communication design career by working in design studios, marketing consultancies,branding and advertising agencies, and for newspapers, magazines and book publishers as:
— Graphic & communication designer — Art directors
— Typographic designer — Layout artists
— Illustrators — Instructional designer
— Digital designer
In addition, employment can be found as an in-house designer for companies or state-supported institutions, or graduates can choose to freelance or start their own graphic design business.
Admission Requirements — BA Design (Communication Design) (B8CD2Q)
— Senior certificate or equivalent qualification with a minimum APS or M-score.
— Submission of a portfolio of creative tasks.
Average Point Score (APS)
A minimum APS of 23 with Mathematics or 24 with Mathematical Literacy is required to apply for the programme.to page 4 of this brochure
| Languages | | Maths or Maths Literacy | Life Orientation | Subjects 1, 2 & 3 |
| Language of teaching and learning | Other recognised language | | | |
5 (60 – 69%) | 4 (50 – 59%) | Maths: 3 (40 – 49%) or Maths Lit: 4 (50 – 59%) | 4 (50 – 59%) | 4 (50 – 59%) 4 (50 – 59%) 3 (40 – 49%) |
ENTRANCE SELECTION PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS
The entrance selection portfolio requirements for the BA Design (Communication Design) (B8CD2Q) will consist of the following sections:
Section 1 – Self-Introduction Video
Upload a video of yourself.
This video must not be longer than 30 seconds.
A video that is longer than 30 seconds will not be assessed.
Very briefly, in 30 seconds, tell us who you are and what you find most exciting about studying at FADA.
Submission Format: MP4, 40MB
Section 2 – Three-Dimensional Drawing
Draw a three-dimensional drawing of a chair or a shoe of your choice.
Submission Format: jpg, jpeg, png, 2MB
Section 3 – Written Component
Essay Question:
Write an essay of 300 words only, about a recent news story or article that had an impact on your life and
how did it influence you or change the way you think about an issue?
Submission Format: Input to be made within the textbox provided as part of Section 3, via the online entrance selection portfolio submission process.
Section 4 – Departmental Assessment
Divide an A2 piece of paper into a grid consisting of 16 rectangles. Letter the word “go” differently in each rectangle. A variety of mediums must be used, from the traditional, such as pencil or paint, to the non-traditional, such as tea, beans, or bleach.
Assessment criteria: creativity, visual communication skills, technical ability, presentation skills, attitude.
Submission Format: PDF, jpeg, jpg, 2MB
Disclaimer:
Submission of a portfolio must only take place once you have officially applied to the university and have been officially invited by the faculty to participate in the entrance selection portfolio process.
You will be informed by means of an official entrance selection letter from the faculty regarding the portfolio requirements and the submission process.
No emailed portfolios (or part thereof) will be accepted.
Articulation possibilities
The Graphic Design Department offers a Bachelor of Arts
Honours in Design and a Master’s of Arts in Design.
Contact details
Ms Elda Majola
Departmental Secretary: Communication (Graphic) Design
Faculty Art, Design and Architecture
Tel +27 11 559 1117
BA Honours Design (Communication Design)
The Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design prepares students for research-based postgraduate study and entry into a design career by enabling them to produce creative solutions to complex problems within a specialist area of design, and to conduct and report research under supervision.
Admission requirements
An appropriate Bachelor’s degree with a recommended minimum of 60% for all final year modules.
Selection Criteria
In addition to the minimum admission requirements as outlined above, prospective students may be required to present a portfolio of their own work to an interview panel.
Programme structure
a) Minimum duration: One year full-time/two years part-time
b) Maximum number of modules per year of study:
i) Full-time: Five semester modules
ii) Part-time: Three semester modules in year one (Research Methodology, Design Theory, Research Essay); and two semester modules in year two (Communication Design/Jewellery Practice and Design Project)
* Please refer to the applicable programme code and the curriculum structure with respect to an elective indicated with an asterisk ( *).
** Prerequisites herein are set up against for programme code H8DE1Q.
| MODULE CODE | MODULE NAME | MODULE TYPE | PREREQUISITES |
| CDH8XA4 | Communication Design A (1st sem) | Elective | |
| FDH8XA4* | Fashion Design A (1st sem) | Elective | |
| MDH8XA4* | Digital Media Design A (1st sem) | Elective | |
| JPH8XA4* | Jewellery Practice A (1st sem) | Elective | |
| IDH8XA4* | Industrial Design A (1st sem) | Elective | |
| DPH8XB4 | Design Project B (2nd sem) | Compulsory | **CDH8XA4 or JPH8XA4 |
| RMH8XA4 | Research Methodology: Design A (1st sem) | Compulsory | |
| DTH8XA4 | Design Theory A (1 st sem) | Compulsory | |
| REH8XB4 | Research Essay: Design B (2nd sem) | Compulsory | RMH8XA4 and DTH8XA4 |
For more information email fadapg@uj.ac.za
MA (Design) Department of Graphic Design
The purpose of the programme is to educate and train researchers who can contribute to the development of knowledge at an advanced level. The Master’s degree is earned by completing a single advanced research project, culminating in the production and acceptance of a dissertation.
Admission requirements
A relevant Bachelor Honours Degree. A “professional” Bachelor’s Degree, or a Postgraduate Diploma, with sufficient preparation to conduct research with a recommended minimum of 60% for all final-year modules. A relevant Baccalaureus Technologiae, with an average mark of at least 65%
combined with a research methodology short learning component as recommended by a Status Committee and approved by the Faculty Board.
Selection criteria
In addition to the minimum admission requirements as outlined above, prospective students may be required to present a portfolio of their own work to an interview panel. A portfolio would be requested if further evidence is required of a students’ readiness to conduct textual or artefactual research. In the case of textual research the portfolio would contain examples of written research, and in the case of artefactual research a portfolio with design artefacts would be required.
Curriculum*
CODE MODULE: MGD9X01 Research Dissertation: Design
MGD9X02 Research Dissertation: Design
* Offered by the Department of Graphic Design
Programme structure
- Minimum duration: One year full-time/two years part-time.
- Maximum duration: Two years full-time/three years part-time
- The research component comprises 100% of the programme.
For more information email: fadapg@uj.ac.za
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Art and Design P8AD1Q
Admission requirements
An appropriate Master’s Degree or equivalent with a minimum final mark of 65%
Selection criteria
An appropriate Master’s Degree or equivalent with a minimum final mark of 65%
Purpose of the programme
The purpose of the programme is to enable candidates to undertake research at the most advanced academic level culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. The candidate is required to demonstrate high-level research capability and make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of art and/or design. In certain instances, creative work such as designed artefacts, public performances, public exhibitions or other practice based outputs may constitute the partial fulfilment of the research requirements.
Duration of programme
Minimum duration: Two years full-time or part-time.
Maximum duration: Four years full-time or five years part-time
Curriculum
| CODE | MODULE |
| PAD10XA | Thesis Art and Design |
| PAD10XB | Thesis Art and Design |
Contact details
Name: Mrs Adele Maritz
Tel: 011 559 1126
Email: fadapg@uj.ac.za