What will I learn on this module?
You will explore and further develop your knowledge, working practices and intellectual understanding of experiential graphic design and teamworking through the applied principles of typography and image creation/curation for physical and digital environmental applications.
Exhibition/environmental graphic design shapes the way a user interacts with a given space or environment. You will explore narrative and storytelling through applied graphic design to a designated or chosen exhibition or public space. You will understand how the editorial viewpoint can form the basis of a narrative platform for your communication and be conveyed through the compelling use of imagery and typography on both practical and emotional levels.
During the module, you may consider experiential techniques and technologies that can further enhance user experience and engagement. These could include the application of sound, tactility, olfactory components, motion graphics, set props/dressing, motion triggers, video mapping, AI, VR, AR, holographic elements, or other emerging technologies. You can explore how these could bring further dimensionality to your graphic design practice and thinking.
You will develop team-working skills, through on-going negotiation, coordination, task management and collaboration with your peers.
How will I learn on this module?
Working as part of a creative team on exhibition/environmental graphic design, you will continue to develop an understanding of your graphic design practice through reflection, presentation and the creative design process and methodologies that mirror contemporary graphic design practice.
This module provides an opportunity to collaborate with peers. As a creative team you will negotiate and develop creative responses interpreting a given topic, subject and/or audience through the application of iterative design practice. Resolving this brief will involve understanding how graphic designers deploy typography and imagery to identify and communicate often complex narratives and how to express or capture a particular editorial or personal viewpoint. This will involve utilising and developing your typographic and graphic design skills in hierarchy, scale, space, design and layout, as well as image-making and curation to produce intellectually stimulating and effective creative responses.
You will learn through activities including lectures, workshops and studio-based critiques. You will be responsible for organising your workload and for driving the project forward. This structure will challenge thinking around process and practice whilst opening new, authentic and efficient ways to be a graphic designer.
You will be supported through the module by technical staff who will provide specific intermediate support in:
Technical demonstration and support in the Adobe Creative Cloud tools depending on the needs of the module brief. (This could include InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Dimension, Firefly, Premier Pro, After Effects, XD, as well as other 2-D and 3-D visualisation software and techniques)
Access and support to making, finishing, prototyping, model making, book binding, physical 3-D visualisation techniques and finishes.
Studio Photography, lighting, creative techniques and image creation.
Technical staff will provide specialist workshops and on-going consultancy support throughout the module. You will also have access to the technical resource centre who can loan you any specialist equipment needed for your project outcome.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Support and feedback will be provided throughout the module.
Staff contact
Module tutors will provide academic support.
Informal staff-student critiques will help you to discuss, understand, develop and inform design project specifics in a collaborative way.
Formal group critiques, mirroring industry practice allow for detailed project critique, evaluation and feedback on the development of the creative responses.
Project requirements are normally introduced via a briefing session, where the module will be fully explained.
Blackboard will be used to communicate all relevant module information, updates or modifications.
Studio contact time
Delivery is through a blend of lectures, studio-based critiques, practical demonstrations and independent learning.
Studio culture is an important aspect of your development. It also mirrors industry practice.
Independent study hours should be utilised to continue the development and progression of your studio-based practice.
Peer and independent support
Studio culture and independent study also supports personal development and fosters an appreciation and evaluation of your own and your peer’s working practices.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding (KU):
Demonstrate and analytically evaluative the application of enhanced graphic design processes in the creation of original and effective experiential and/or collaborative graphic design outcomes. (KU 1)
Demonstrate a transitional ability to analyse responsible issues, sustainability, ethics, and spatial design considerations in the actualisation of experiential and/or collaborative graphic design solutions. (KU 2)
Intellectual/Professional Skills & Abilities (IPSA):
Demonstrate proficiency in generating original creative and conceptual ideas through the confident deployment of creative graphic design processes to visualise and communicate appropriate mediums for experiential and exhibition spaces. (IPSA 1)
Show knowledgeable awareness in the identification, interpretation, development and experimentation in solving creative experiential and/or collaborative graphic design problems. (IPSA 2,3,4)
Personal Value Attributes (PVA):
Demonstrate advanced appreciation and competent use of craft and technical skills through sustained engagement, iterative ideation, reflection and refinement. (PVA 1,2)
Evaluate self-directed project management skills to a proficient level displaying both conceptual and aesthetic approaches to graphic outcomes for experiential and/or collaborative graphic design. (PVA 2, 4)
How will I be assessed?
The assessment and feedback strategy is:
a. Formative assessment
You will receive verbal formative feedback both individually and in groups throughout the module. This feedback will facilitate the development of your assignment. This feedback will allow you to reflect upon your own work and act upon feedback prior to final submission.
b. Summative assessment
The summative assessment is a physical and digital portfolio comprising one or more design briefs. The brief(s) stipulate(s) outcome dimensions, format, and extent or equivalents.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
This module offers you an opportunity to work as part of a creative team on exhibition/environmental graphic design. You will continue to develop an understanding of your own graphic design practice through reflection, presentation and the creative process and methodologies that all mirror contemporary graphic design practice.
Exhibition/environmental graphic design shapes the way a user interacts with a given space or environment. You will be exploring narrative and storytelling through the application of graphic design and typographic principles to a designated or chosen exhibition or public space. You will understand how editorial viewpoint, narrative, and storytelling can form the basis for your communication on both a practical and emotional level, which can then be conveyed through the compelling use of imagery and typography.
Course info
UCAS Code W215
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries, Northumbria School of Design
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025 or September 2026
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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