Graphic Design and Illustration
at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (Banbury Campus)

Course Description

Graphic Design and Illustration at OCVC concentrates on the creative aspect of the subject - developing the personal visual language and ideas and new thinking. This is in direct response to the need of the creative industry for innovative visual communicators who can solve problems and at the same time do this with a unique "voice" using their own visual language.

To achieve this, the curriculum develops four key themes involving the whole person: 

• Investigation - using your eyes: seeing, researching, observing, visualising
• Information - using your head: thinking, theories, principles, concepts
• Imaging - using your hands: doing, media, techniques, processes, craft
• Intuition - using your heart: feeling, judgments, critical analysis, responses

 These four themes are totally interrelated; for example, simple observational drawing obviously requires imaging skills, but also visual investigation, critical judgment and maybe some knowledge of visualisation theory. We aim to produce graduate designers who excel in the creative, craft and conceptual aspects of the subject. These designers will then be able to continue to develop in a rapidly changing commercial environment, since the course has equipped them with a high level of intellectual development, visual literacy and technical skill.

We attract a diverse range of applicants to study both full-and part time, to start, or change career, or for pleasure.

Graduates go on to a wide variety of art and design and related occupations including:Graphic Designer for Oxfordshire based company Wheeler & Porter, junior art director London based design group Taniemedia, Graphic Designer, Oxford University Press, Music video producer& Bafta award winning filmmaker, Holographic designer, and many others work on a freelance or sub-contract basis.

Students have also progressed to MA study at The Royal College of Art, Central St Martins, Wimbledon and Bristol University. Several others have taken up PGCE study. For more information on our ex graduates click here