GD6018 - Vaughan Oliver | Design for Music

This module offers you the opportunity to work on a brief set by Vaughan Oliver – our most famous alumni and one of the most influential graphic designers of his generation. The brief encourages serendipity, curiosity, risk-taking, experimentation and conceptual thinking in the pursuit of engaging and intellectually creative responses to a range of supplied music.



This is a creative practice module with an emphasis on experimentation and advanced conceptual and creative interpretation.

You will use and deploy all the strategies you have learned on the programme so far to generate and identify appropriate creative responses and to help you independently evaluate, justify and develop your work to a professional standard.



You will learn through a series of activities including workshops and studio-based critiques. You will be responsible for managing the expectations of your workload and for driving the project forward. You will be encouraged to push your own thinking, creativity and experimentation and that of others in the pursuit of highly creative and well executed responses.



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, Dimensions, 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.

 

You will continually develop a professional and intellectual understanding of your role as a contemporary Graphic Designer through the authentic experience of reflection, presentation and creative process, mirroring industry practice and intellectual processes.

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.

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)

Knowledge & Understanding (KU):
Show advanced critical understanding and contextual awareness surrounding research, development, experimentation and reflection for design for music. (KU 2)

Evidence insights, judgement and expertise in the application of craft and digital technologies to produce ambitious graphic design solutions related to design for music. (KU 3,4)


Intellectual/Professional Skills & Abilities (IPSA):
Demonstrate professional use of advanced skills, materials and technologies to communicate original graphic design solutions for music packaging and merchandising. (IPSA 2)

Demonstrate intellectual expertise in the identification, formulation, and realisation of professional level responses to a graphic design brief related to the music industry. (IPSA 3)


Personal Value Attributes (PVA):
Demonstrate professional use of materials, appropriate methodologies/technologies, and cultural awareness, to create ambitious graphic design solutions in music packaging and merchandising. (PVA 1,3)

Evaluate self-directed project management skills to a professional level, both aesthetically and conceptually.  (PVA 2)

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.





This module is exempt from the Anonymous Marking Policy. The nature of working closely and directly with the student in class makes anonymity impractical.

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This module gives you the opportunity to embrace serendipity, experiment and take some creative risks.



Vaughan Oliver (1957–2019) is a Northumbria BA (Hons) Graphic Design alumnus and was one of the most influential British graphic designers of his generation. He is best known for his work with independent record label 4AD, and working with artists such as the Cocteau Twins, The Pixies and The Breeders. His creativity inspired graphic designers as well as fashion designers, film directors, photographers and art directors and his unique experimental approach to design attracted clients from a diverse range of organisations including film director David Lynch.



This module offers you the opportunity to work on a live competition brief written by Vaughan Oliver. The brief encourages serendipity, curiosity, risk-taking, experimentation and conceptual thinking in the pursuit of engaging and intellectually creative responses to a range of supplied music.



This is a creative practice module with an emphasis on experimentation and advanced conceptual and creative interpretation.

You will use and deploy all the strategies you have learned on the programme so far to generate and identify appropriate creative responses and to help you independently evaluate, justify and develop your work to a professional standard.