"I discovered the FdA Graphic and Spatial Communication and saw it as a great opportunity, because it's a course that is focused on what the market is expecting of designers today - the ability to work across boundaries in both 2D and 3D." (Ricardo Feijo, 2nd year student FdA Graphic and Spatial Communication.)

FdA Graphic and Spatial Communication is a unique design course that integrates 3D spatial design and environmental graphics, with a strong focus on user experience.

Space is your canvas! Students on the course use space as a visual communication tool to create unique and innovative identities for commercial and public environments such as, but not limited to, installations, exhibitions and leisure or retail spaces.

This integrated approach reflects significant changes in the design industry where design is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. This shift in emphasis away from specialization reflects the repositioning of many design companies towards being service providers that offer clients an integrated package of 3D spatial design, brand identity and communications as a tool for differentiation.

This course gives you the opportunity to experience first hand what those changes mean to design professionals by working on projects that focus on integrated communications where space forms a vital part of the design solution.

Companies such as IDEO, Why Not Associates, Studio Myerscough, Imagination, Dalziel and Pow & Fitch - who cross reference specialisms and encourage new approaches and synergies - are referenced throughout. The course intends to encourage and embrace similar approaches, helping you to think strategically across a range of media on projects that challenge disciplinary limitations and promote innovative practice.

You'll acquire a broad range of practical and theoretical skills that will enable you to confidently research and develop projects creatively and imaginatively. You'll be encouraged to re-evaluate existing practices and generate fresh approaches to visual, experiential, sensory and emotional modalities.

You will explore alternative communication strategies through spatial mapping and will create 3D compositions using form, visual scale, colour, pattern, line and tone. The emphasis is on learning practical skills and engaging with conceptual tools and research methods through a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, workshops, projects and tutorials.

The course draws on LCC's existing expertise in interior design, graphic design, information design and marketing and advertising to redefine communication beyond the limitations of the 2D context. It recognises the trend for designers to work across multiple areas and to play a strategic role in business decisions.

One of the strengths of the course is its work based learning programme, designed to help you undertake a work placement and gain invaluable work-experience at the end of year one. Live projects and briefs also provide an important part of the course curriculum and facilitate contact with potential employers and key representatives from industry.

This course is taught within the School of Design at London College of Communication.

Further information

For further details telephone +44 (0) 20 7514 6569
Email: info@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Who teaches the course

The course is delivered by active and enthusiastic professionals from a wide range of disciplines in design and communication. The listing below includes the names of course team members in 2011, as well as key subjects taught on the course:

• Valerie Mace, course director and senior lecturer: interior and spatial design for commercial and public environments, CAD and digital modeling.
• Karl Foster, senior lecturer: graphic design, environmental graphics, drawing and illustration.
• Mirsini Trigoni, visiting lecturer practitioner: exhibition design, model making.
• Katy Oswald, visiting lecturer practitioner: branding and identity.
• Sara Wilkins, visiting lecturer practitioner: environmental graphics, signage and wayfinding.
• Helen Elder, visiting lecturer practitioner: drawing and visualisation.
• Isabella Lockett and Adriana Eysler, visiting lecturer practitioners: visual culture and theory.
• Gregor Garber: 3D workshop technician.
• Graham Goldwater: photography studio technician.
  
  

What students say about the course

"My experiences during the past two years have been life changing...I have been taught new ways of thinking and the course has enabled me to start developing my own personal style using simple sketching techniques, CAD and 3D visualisation tools. It also has shown me how important it is to be able to develop that initial idea and to bring it to a level where it could be built. I learned a lot during the group work projects. I also thoroughly enjoyed the work experience, which I think brings a whole new dimension to the course in terms of what it means to be a designer in the real world." (Carlo Viscione, Fda Graphic and Spatial Communication)

The course is made of distinctive yet complementary units to reflect design industry requirements and working practices. Year 1 of the course is designed to enable you to develop core design skills, knowledge and experience. Year 2 of the course builds on the skills, knowledge and experience gained in year one to enable you to add depth and proficiency to your practice.

Our objective is to prepare you for employment in the design industry and related professions or for progression into further study.

On the FdA Graphic and Spatial Communication you will learn to:

• Develop study skills in Higher Education
• Develop your creativity, research, analytical and exploratory skills
• Develop your 3D spatial awareness and key aspects of spatial design
• Develop visual communication skills and key aspects of graphic design
• Translate your research into appropriate design solutions
• Visually articulate creative ideas using a range of methods (hand drawing, model making, digital visualisation)
• Prepare digital specification documents for 2D and 3D design
• Prepare and deliver design presentations
• Explore contexts and theories to incorporate design language and terminology into your projects
• Articulate graphic and spatial communication principles into meaningful experiences
• Develop personal and professional skills such as time management and collaborative practices
• Promote yourself and your work

FdA Graphic and Spatial Communication is part of the School of Design at London College of Communication, where graduates are continually sought after by employers for their talent and attitude, developed during their period as a student at LCC.

As a Foundation Degree program, FdA Graphic and Spatial Communication is designed to equip you with intellectual skills, practical 2D and 3D design skills, industry experience and opportunities for you to pursue a career in your chosen area:

• Careers in the commercial and public interior and spatial design sector: retail, leisure and hospitality, exhibition, events, experience, installations and display
• Careers in environmental graphic design: 3D graphic design, signage and wayfinding systems
• Careers as a multi-disciplinary designer.

Additionally, as a result of the multi-disciplinary nature of the course and its relevance to industry practices, students on the FdA Graphic and Spatial Communication are able to secure work experience at high profile consultancies in the UK and abroad:

Carlo Viscione worked for Inks Associates, a UK based architecture and interior design consultancy:
'I spent three months at Ink working on different projects from creating concepts to detailed fixtures within a retail space. Most of the work they do is for a retail environment and it was impressive to see the speed and level at which the designers worked. It showed me how important the first contact with a client is when presenting ideas. Being able to be present and actively involved in such meetings with high profile clients was definitely a privilege.'

Ricardo Feijo worked for Softroom, a UK based architecture, interior and exhibition design consultancy:
'I'm doing a work placement at Softroom Architects. I'm mainly working on their graphics, such as brochure, presentation boards and brand identity, but I'm also helping them with some 3D visualisation for a hotel interior. It's a great experience to be working with architects and interior designers and being able to sneak in and see how they work.'

Marina Rohrbach worked for Dyer-Smith & Frey, a multi-disciplinary design consultancy in Switzerland. Her role and responsibilities included: the refurbishment of restaurants, the layout of a fashion design website and furniture development.

Charlotte Hamilton worked with the in-house design team of the world famous Selfridges & Co. London department store. Her role and responsibilities included: preparing presentation boards, helping generate design ideas for the store displays and merchandising, sourcing materials, attending team meetings, project visualization and overseeing implementation.

Carla de Navas worked on a freelance commission for Maguen, a fashion brand launching its store in Madrid, Spain. Her role and responsibilities were to design the whole brand image in terms of business cards, documents, clothes bags, store logo and logo for clothing.

You should have one A-level plus three GCSEs (grades A-C) a BTEC ND, Foundation Diploma or an Access Award. A portfolio is also required to demonstrate your ability to succeed in art and design.

Portfolio advice

Applicants will be invited for an interview on receipt of their application for the course. Prospective students/candidates are required to bring a portfolio of a range of 2D and 3D design work to their interview. As well as finished work, you must include sketch books of design development, which can consist of research, photographs, 2D and 3D drawings, collage, scale drawings and 3D Models (or photographs of models).

You can also include ceramics and textiles models as well as freehand observations drawings. Evidence of essay writing skills is also desired.

International and EU students: If your first language is not English you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English.

Please note this course will not be recruiting students for entry in September 2012.