Kira Salter, Emily Wood, Cath Caldwell

This three-week course explores the different subject areas of contemporary graphic design through a series of studio projects, turning you from a design student into a design thinker. The emphasis is on ideas-based problem solving as well as exploring 'What is graphic design?' You will tackle typographic and design projects and explore image-making through illustration and photography, all the time working with actual tutors from the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course at Central Saint Martins. As you explore creativity and experimentation you will be encouraged to find relationships between the different subject areas of design and learn in workshops to push your skills to new levels. The first week is a dynamic introduction to the visual context of London as a source of inspiration. The practical sessions will be combined with the opportunity to explore London's public space and museums. There will be critiques and discussions about the work-in-progress designed to give you confidence and increase your design vocabulary. During the second week you will explore a longer project based around you as a practitioner. Short one-day projects will keep the pace going, ready for finishing your work off in the third week. Your main project will be supplemented by a few experimental one-day pieces and you will each have some tutorial time with the main tutor before your final group presentation and discussion. You will leave the course inspired and knowledgeable about this dynamic and ever-changing area of art and design as it appears in a London context. Students report that they have gained confidence from talking about their work and have felt more prepared to either continue their studies or seek employment in the global field of graphic design. Students booking onto this course are expected to be independent and highly motivated and should have prior experience in graphic design, preferably having completed one year at university level. This is a course based on thinking, talking and making, and it will spend time on concepts rather than software skills. Bring your laptop if you can but this is not essential as software skills are not a priority.  

This course requires prior experience in Graphic Design.   In order to assess your suitability for this course, please complete the following questions and email them to the Short Course office before booking. You can email your answers to: shortcourse@csm.arts.ac.uk

1. Where are you currently studying Graphic Design?
2. What interests you most about this course?
3. What do you hope to get from this course?
4. What are your plans for the future?
5. Who is your favourite Graphic Designer?
6. What made you want to study Graphic Design?

Download the Graphic Design [PDF 160kb] overview for more information about this course.

Learn more about Study Abroad at CSM by visiting the Study Abroad webpage

Cath Caldwell is a senior lecturer and Stage 1 leader, of the BA Graphic Communication Design course at Central Saint Martins. She is a former art director of Elle Magazine UK and Elle Decoration UK and studio manager of an editorial design company in London. Cath is an alumni of the BA(Hons) Graphic Design course and is a published author in the field of graphic design.  Other tutors are from the BA Graphic Design course at Central Saint Martins and are practitioners as well as tutors.

Kira Salter teaches on BA Graphics at CSM and is a freelance designer.

Emily Wood is a co-founder of the REG design studio and is a graduate and associate lecturer of the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course at Central Saint Martins.