Program Overview
Design to make change, design to motivate, design for a cause – the medium of Visual Communication Design in today’s world has a great role as an encourager, influencer, and changer. At the Department of Art & Design, the Bachelor of Design program is designed to prepare all graduates of the discipline for employment in the media, communication, and design industry, by adopting a practice based approach to learning. With a focus on it’s vibrant studio culture and interactive study methods, the students are encouraged to push boundaries and think beyond the existing trends, to innovate and create while honing their skills in information design, visual identities, form and marketing, and the intersection between traditional print and new media experience.
The four year course encourages and enables students to develop knowledge of of Design and its adept application, through studio practice and contextual studies which allow the students to draw inspiration from their material and historical culture, sociological impact of the image, literature, art theory, and their own design practice. With an emphasis on Graphic Design, the course supplements the major area of study with interdisciplinary experimentations in film, photography, illustration, motion graphics, animation, UI and UX, and packaging design – which can allow the student to pick their path of specialisation in their final year. Equipped with multiple skill sets, the student can carve their path and upon graduation, with ease contribute to all fields of design and be the new creator of change.
Program Objectives
Gearing the degree program to offer students an informed context for the development of a personal visual practice, the curriculum employs an interdisciplinary approach where the student is first acquainted to all the basic principles of art & design, so that they may be able to form their perception in a well rounded manner. The program aims to inculcate in the student:
- A broad range of practical, analytical and academic skills to enable the articulation of personal issues and concerns within the production and study of design, in a local and international context.
- A visually literate approach to the production and appreciation /debate of design, with an emphasis upon developing critical skills, to be able to formulate original research based solutions at an undergraduate level.
- To make aware of local and international market standards and design trends, understanding of material, form, and the end audience, through series of workshops, interactive talks, and research trips.
- Provide a thorough understanding of the process of design as a problem solving activity.
- To equip with all the latest skillsets in the field of Design, so that the student, upon graduation, may be able to provide individual and unique personal input in any field of the design industry.
Entry Requirements
The admissions process is a combination of the University NTS test and the Departmental entry test. Candidates are required to have Intermediate or equivalent with a minimum of 60% marks from an accredited institution.
- All applicants must appear in the entrance test (NTS).
- All applicants to appear in the Creative Aptitude Test & Interview conducted by the Department of Art & Design.
- A list of selected applicants is prepared observing the following criteria:
- 30% weightage of General Merit (Matric/O-Levels 3% + Intermediate/A-Levels 12% + NTS 15% )
- 70% Creative Aptitude Test (Creative Writing 10% + Drawing/Making 25% +Portfolio 5% + Interview 30%)
Career Prospects
In the current day and age, with the boom in digital advertising and marketing, the graphic design industry is a very active field to be a part of. The graduate of the Bachelor of Design degree, being trained in not only the skillset of Graphic Arts but also it’s multiple offshoots, will find no dearth of jobs in Pakistan’s design industry.
A graphic design will easily find a home in the booming print and marketing industry, traditional and digital, being able to contribute to editorials, publications, newpapers, advertising, and more. The greatest asset of the visual graphic designer is that he or she is not bound to any office space – with the coming of the digital age, a graphic designer can easily freelance or choose to fit into any industry. The designer aids in communication, online media, can contribute to the software industry, bring new life into packaging, branding and informational media.
Through the skill set of illustration, one can easily find a home with book arts, video games, being the essential creator of assets for digital spaces, those who bring embellishment to products with their visuals. Photography and film opens the path to being able to document and record, whether on personal projects, or working with the film industry, while animation allows one to take a step forth into Pakistan’s fledging animation industry.
Whichever field the student chooses to specialise in, the world of design will open a new and liberating world of employment for them.