Enter The Vortex at St Helens College

This site is for current, former and prospective BA Graphic Design students of St Helens College. It is intended as a focal point for design work and practice. It can be used as a tool to aid research, highlight current affairs, share information, provide networking opportunities, and show case work both past and present.  

State of the art new build for the Town Centre Campus. 

In an exciting new development for the town, St Helens College is redeveloping the Town Centre Campus at a cost of £60 million. The College’s Town Centre Campus will be demolished to make way for a new state of the art learning complex and the existing Smith Kline Beecham buildings are to also to undergo a complete refurbishment. Phase One of the SKB site (home to BA (Hons) Digital Graphic Design) is already complete with Phase Two scheduled and on track to be completed in the summer of 2009.

To preserve its listed status, the famous ‘clocktower’ building, home of the St Helens Business School, will remain as an integral part of the Campus, and continue to be one of the town’s leading landmarks.

The new facility, which will be part funded by the Learning Skills Council, will include:-

   • a spacious reception area accessible to visitors to the town centre
   • light and airy study and dining areas
   • safe and secure ‘user friendly’ environments 
   • landscaped ‘social gathering’ areas.

The environmentally friendly new build will also look to incorporate innovative, energy saving, sustainable technologies, through passive rather than engineered solutions.

Demolition work on the new development is currently underway. Building work  commenced in January 2008 and the development will be undertaken in stages in order to avoid disruption to students, staff and local businesses.

The following quote is from the architectural practice engaged to bring the scheme to reality:-

Ellis Williams Architects

"The proposal for St Helens College for a major re-development is fantastic news.”

“The college continues to go from strength to strength."

BA (Hons) Digital Graphic Design - St Helens College

Who is the programme for?  

This programme offers students an exciting opportunity to produce effective, innovative and creative design solutions for the current and future graphic design industries. We seek potential digital graphic designers with marked individuality and a willingness to challenge established design principles. Our aim is to ensure that on graduation our students have a robust and critical understanding of the contemporary environment in which they will be employed. Embracing new and developing technologies, the programme provides student with the skills necessary to produce design solutions that communicate effectively for tomorrow's digital future.

What will I study?  

The programme is divided into three levels as follows: 

FOUNDATION LEVEL. 

Directed teaching that provides a well balanced, progressive and sequential learning path dominates year one. Students are actively encouraged in their pursuit of learning for its own sake and are offered an exploration of all areas of graphic design. This is based upon creative thinking, ideas generation and the visual communication of ideas and image making. Modules studied at this level include: Academic and Personal Development; Introduction to Graphic Design; Visual and Perceptual Studies; Ideas and Concepts for Digital Graphic Design; Digital Tools for Print and Screen. 

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL. 

As this level, whilst the intuitive, creative and problem solving aspects of design are being fostered, the methodology of good design is progressively developed, along with the intellectual pursuits reflected in the modules studied. This level enables students to develop essential skills and knowledge that will prepare them for a career in the design environment. This is supported by the creative use of computer technology. Modules studied at this level include: Applied Research for Digital Graphic Design; Digital Design and Production; Collaborative Digital Project; Work-based Learning; Typography and Visual Language. 

HONOURS LEVEL. 

This level requires students to extend their intellectual and problem solving capabilities and draw upon their developed skills to research and experiment with self-initiated propositions. In this final year students are encouraged to develop an individual portfolio of work relevant to contemporary studio practice. This may take the form of print, illustration/editorial and corporate identity design, TV graphics and design for the web. Modules studied at this level include: Business Practice for Digital Graphic Design; Critical Study in Context; Client Brief for Digital Graphic Design; Digital Graphic Design Honours Project.

Entry to the Programme?  

Most students who apply to the programme will be expected to attain, hold, or be studying for appropriate qualifications in relevant subjects which may include A/AS Levels; Access to HE Certificates; AVCEs; HND/Cs; Art & Design Foundation Diplomas; Combined qualifications and Key Skill Units. You will normally have achieved qualifications equivalent to two A Levels, or a minimum UCAS tariff of 120 points.

How is it assessed?  

Assessment includes a range of activities that encourages both individual and group work. Coursework is continually assessed throughout the programme and there are no final examinations.

Future prospects?  

Successful graduates using their final portfolio should find a good range of opportunities to progress into employment in areas such as Graphic Design; Web Design; Exhibition and Conference Design, or Media and TV graphics. They could also progress onto post-graduate study or PGCEs.

How long will it take?    

This is a full time programme and will take three years to complete

What about the Money?  

For 2008 entry the fee for this full time honours degree is £1575 per year. Most students will be eligible to take out a tuition fee loan to cover their fees which they will only need to repay once they have finished their studies and are earning £15,000 per year or more. For more infomation please see the college website.

How do I apply?  

You should apply through the UCAS system. However, mature students may apply directly to the College in the first instance, but will eventually have to apply through UCAS.

Campus Address: 

Town Centre Campus
Brook Street
St Helens
WA10 1PZ

Contacts:  

For more information please use either the on-line enquiry form or contact: Trevor Green on: 01744 623 140