Communication Design and Strategy with Foundation Year

BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy is an innovative and unique degree program designed to equip you with the creative design skills and strategic thinking needed to communicate effectively across various media in today's evolving communication landscape.

This course is the perfect choice if you are passionate about creative design and are eager to harness the power of strategic thinking with the goal to create impactful and meaningful communication. It combines creative design practices with the study of business and design strategies, enabling you to develop design solutions that not only look fresh and engaging but also fulfil clients’ strategic objectives.

During the course, you will study a variety of units that cover key aspects of creating innovative and targeted design with a message which will be realised via strategic approaches to unlock the desired objective. The curriculum includes creative design, visual identity, typography, digital and print media, advertising, and branding, combined with units and projects on marketing strategies, consumer behaviour as well as, business operations. This interdisciplinary approach gives you a comprehensive understanding of both the creative and business sides of communication design.

By the end of the course, you will leave with a portfolio of work that will showcase your potential within industry. You will be adept at creating strategic communication designs that effectively convey a message, tell a story, or promote a brand. You will have the ability to integrate strategic thinking into your design process, ensuring that your work aligns with business objectives and effectively resonates with the intended audience.

Potential career paths include roles such as communication designer, marketeer, marketing strategist, graphic designer, motion designer, freelance creative, advertising creative, brand strategist, creative director and many more. The skills gained during this course are highly transferable and applicable to a wide range of industries, including advertising, marketing, communication design, publishing, public relations, and digital media.

You will have access to a creative studio and computers equipped with the latest industry-standard software. You will benefit from shared spaces for collaborative work, fostering an environment of creativity, innovation, and shared learning.

Foundation Year

If you feel you need some extra preparation before the full undergraduate degree experience, this Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) might be for you. IFY is for those who may not have the academic qualifications needed for admission onto the degree course or perhaps want the time and space to develop a foundation in creative and conceptual skills. It is intended to be a bridge between pre-university study and the academic rigour of an undergraduate degree. After IFY, you will hit the ground running – ready to take on your chosen undergraduate degree course and lean into the learning opportunities.
Students enrolled on the IFY will be a part of a cohort with other students in IFY courses across the School of Arts, Media and Creative Industries Management. Incorporating opportunities for you to work alongside your classmates, integrating opportunities for collaboration and fostering professional relationships to carry you throughout your degree and into your professional practice.

The School of Arts, Media and Creative Industries currently encompasses degrees in the following fields:
• BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy
• BA (Hons) Content Creation with Marketing
• BA (Hons) Creative Direction
• BA (Hons) Events Management
• BSc (Hons) Fashion Management and Strategy
• BA (Hons) Media, Marketing and Advertising

At Arts University Bournemouth, you’ll study at one of the UK’s leading specialist creative universities, joining a vibrant, collaborative community built around art, design, media, and performance.

With students and staff from over 60 countries and more than 30 creative courses across four specialist schools, AUB's a place where creativity and new ideas are encouraged and individuality is celebrated. From film and fashion to animation, design, architecture, and performance, you’ll develop practical skills and industry knowledge through hands-on, studio-based learning.

You’ll be preparing for a future in the UK’s creative industries sector - one of the country’s biggest employment sectors and worth £124 billion to the economy every year.

With guaranteed accommodation for all first-year students and set near award-winning beaches, AUB also offers an inspiring location where creativity can thrive both on and off campus.