TG3DP: Design Portfolio

Module code: TG3DP

Module provider: Typography; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 60

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Rob Banham, email: r.e.banham@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module you will produce work for your design portfolio in response to four different project briefs. The aim of the module is to support you in producing high quality work that demonstrates your ability to design in different specialist areas. The outcomes of this module, which will include elements of design process and justification, in addition to the solutions you develop, will form the core of your first professional design portfolio. The problem solving and visual skills you develop are also applicable to a range of other careers. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Organise visual content: Create effective and engaging design solutions by demonstrating an understanding of how people process and react to graphic and typographic content. 
2. Challenge the obvious: Create, explore and analyse alternative solutions to solve design problems through a wide range of graphic styles, platforms and formats. 
3. Evidence design decisions: Explain and justify design concepts and proposals through a range of written, oral and graphic media. 
4. Employ technologies appropriately: Select and harness traditional, current and emerging technologies and crafts. 
5. Embed inclusivity and diversity: Develop an inclusive approach to design, centering the user, designing for diverse users, cultures and contexts. 

Module content

We will ask you to undertake. will undertake two compulsory projects and two optional projects.  

Compulsory projects will typically be editorial and UX/UI, building on projects in these areas in Parts 1 and 2 and enabling you to further develop your skills. 

Optional projects will enable you to direct your individual portfolios towards particular specialisms within graphic design and may include projects in branding, design for social change, editorial design, packaging, information design, typeface design and UX/UI. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

All projects will be delivered through a series of weekly feedback classes with tutors and supervised work in the studio, supported with lectures, seminars, and workshops. Students will receive weekly formative feedback in whole cohort or small group discussions in which you will be expected to present and defend your work and comment on the work of peers. At the end of each project you will submit your work for formative assessment and you will have an opportunity to rework you projects before final submission at the end of semester 2 (excluding elements such as presentations that will be submitted for summative assessment at the appropriate point in a project). Contact hours and structure may vary depending on the optional projects selected. 

Study hours

At least 80 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative assessment will usually fall into two categories: 

• Tasks and feedback that link directly to final assessment, allowing you to build relevant skills and measure your progress towards assessed work. 
• Tasks and feedback that feed into wider learning around the topic being covered. The skills and insights you acquire should help you achieve well in assessed tasks, but application of this leaning may be interpreted, rather than simply repeated. 

Formative feedback will often include: 

• Verbal feedback in class. 
• Written comments on a piece of work. 
• Self, peer of staff assessment against a mark scheme. 

Formative feedback is given: 

• During projects. 
• After initial project submission, using an assessment rubric. 
• Before final submission at the end of semester 2. 

Reassessment

Additional costs