Visual Communication Program Overview
The Department of Visual Communication at
Dar Al-Hekma University embraces contemporary and traditional design methodologies in practice, teaching, and research. It instills in its graduates the aspiration to advance themselves in education and the professional fields. It seeks to foster an indigenous culture of design, conveying to students the responsibility to shape the future of visual communication in the region and the world. It also prepares students to the job market through real-life life projects and constant collaboration with industry professionals and entrepreneurs. The practical artistic knowledge that graduates of the program gain enables them to be in key positions in the job market.
Graphic Design Track Overview
Students majoring in graphic design learn both traditional art and modern design processes and are exposed to real-life production projects that promote relevant industry experience. The program offers a structured curriculum that helps students develop the skills and the knowledge necessary for their careers.
Students will also immerse themselves in a comprehensive curriculum encompassing all aspects of visual communication. This includes honing their skills in digital illustration, cultivating a profound understanding of design thinking, mastering the art of branding, and excelling in the intricacies of packaging design. Our dynamic and innovative approach to education ensures that students will consistently excel in industry job opportunities and competitions.
In the Graphic Design Track, students will delve into real-life projects, tackling assignments akin to those encountered within global creative agencies. This hands-on journey not only provides students with a practical experience, but also prepares them to be fully adept at collaborative problem-solving and innovation. The Department of Visual Communication provides its students with an access to cutting-edge technology and an array of comprehensive resources to express their creativity.
Paving the Path to Success
Our alumnae are a living proof of what awaits students who embark on their educational journey as graphic design students. They are the creative minds behind the illustration, motion graphics, advertising campaigns, and animation of industry giants and the driving force behind top-tier agencies. With our guidance and your passion, the possibilities are limitless.
Program Mission
Graduating professionals equipped with design thinking, leadership, and research skills in the field of Visual Communication to foster creativity and sustainability.
Program Goals
- Enrich the visual communication profession by graduating qualified professionals in the field of visual communication.
- Increase research opportunities in the area of visual communication.
- Obtain national accreditation from the NCAAA for the visual communication program.
- Promote the visual communication profession in the community.
Why Choose the Visual Communication program at Dar Al-Hekma University
- The Department of Visual Communication at Dar Al-Hekma is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia and is recognized throughout the Kingdom for producing graduates who are ready to compete in the exciting and demanding job market. The dynamic curricula of the program focus on developing resourceful and successful design professionals with great insights in the world of visual arts.
- The Mac labs, the latest software programs, the printmaking studios and the in-house digital printing services provide students with the appropriate facilities needed for their success.
- The program develops students' conceptions of the market by examining real company projects, and enhances their confidence and their social and artistic skills, which they very much need to compete in the global market.
- The program covers a diverse range of design areas including graphic design, animation, illustrations, printmaking, photography and typography.
- The program is taught by a team of professional instructors and researchers, who are experts in their chosen fields.
- Students benefit from a variety of talks and workshops presented by external professionals. They are also regularly engaged with the community, where they participate in various competitions industrial-linked projects and exhibitions, to be well prepared for the field of design.
Admission Requirements
Programs
| Linguaskill Score
| Required Certificate Percentage
| Qudurat Test Score
| Othe Admission Requirement
|
|---|
Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication
Graphic Design Track
| 162 or above
| 80%
| 65%
| None
|
For further details about admissions, click here
Learing Outcomes
On successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
Knowledge
- Discuss history theories, principles, and best practices to develop visual communication design.
- Demonstrate understanding of the sociocultural and economic issues encountered in the design profession in contemporary societies.
- Identify the process of critical, strategic, and conceptual thinking that meets local and global visual communication design standards.
Skills
- Determine theories and design thinking strategies including problem identification, research and information gathering, analysis, generation of alternative solutions, and prototyping to solve design problems.
- Demonstrate emotional intelligence through visual communication and team player skills.
- Apply current industry standard technologies in the development and final production of visual communication across a variety of media.
- Create original artwork for creative design solutions.
Values
- Consider ethical standards, social responsibility, and community engagement as visual communicators.
- Practice self-and life-long learning in the visual communication field.
Plan of Study
|
Year One |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
| COMM 1301 | Communication Skills I | 3 | COMM 1302 | Communication Skills II | 3 |
| ICTC 1301 | Information & Communication
Technology | 3 | ARAB xxxx | Arabic Studies | 3 |
| EMOI 1201 | Emotional Intelligence | 2 | ARTS xxxx | Art & Design | 2 |
| HART 1301 | Survey of World Art I | 3 | HART 1302 | Survey of World Art II | 3 |
| FDSG 1301 | Fundamentals of Drawing | 3 | FDSG 1303 | Introduction to 3D Design | 3 |
| FDSG 1302 | Fundamentals of Design | 3 | FDSG 1304 | Illustration Styles
and Techniques | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
|
Year Two |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
| BBBF 1101 | Basic Body & Brain Fitness | 1 | ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 2 |
| ARAB xxxx | Arabic Studies | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Required General Ed
Electives (HUMN,
NASC,SBSC) | 3 |
| HART 2301 | Visual Communication Theory | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Free Elective Course | 3 |
| VLCD 2302 | Typography I: Latin
Typography | 3 | HART 2302 | Modern Visual Communication
Theory | 3 |
| VLCD 2310 | Introduction to 4D Design | 3 | VLCD 2310 | Typography II: Arabic
Typography | 3 |
| VLCD 2311 | Introduction to Digital
Illustration | 3 | VLCD 2311 | Introduction to Digital
Photography | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
16 |
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
|
Year Three |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
Semester – Summer |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
| ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 3 | ENTR 3301 | Entrepreneurship &
Design Thinking | 3 | VLCD 3305 | Internship | 3 |
| LOGC 1201 | Logic and Problem Solving | 2 | VLCD 3307 | Web-based Design | 3 |
| XXXX xxxx | Required General
Ed Electives
(HUMN, NASC,SBSC) | 3 | VLCD 3308 | Islamic Design | 3 |
| HART 3301 | Research and
Writing for
the Creative Arts | 3 | GRDS 3601 | Graphic Design
Studio II | 6 |
| VLCD 3306 | Typography III:
Type Design | 3 |
| GRDS 3304 | Graphic Design
Studio I | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
Total Credit Hours |
15 |
Total Credit Hours |
3 |
|
Year Four |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
| ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Free Elective | 3 |
| XXXX xxxx | School / Program
Elective | 3 | XXXX xxxx | School / Program
Elective | 3 |
| GRDS 4402 | Capstone I: Graphic
Design Thesis | 4 | GRDS 4403 | Graphic Design Portfolio | 3 |
| GRDS 4501 | Graphic Design
Studio III | 5 | GRDS 4403 | Capstone II: Graphic
Design Project | 4 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 |
Total Credit Hours |
13 |
Career Prospects
The program equips students with the necessary skills that qualify them for a variety of career paths/jobs in the market including,
but not limited to:
Graphic Design:
- Graphic Designer
- Corporate in-house designer
- Advertising art director
- Advertising artist
- Advertising designer
- Advertising illustrator
- Advertising layout designer
- Biological illustrator
- Brand development designer
- Cartoonist
- Catalog illustrator
- Commercial artist
- Computer animator
- Computer graphics specialist
- Commercial artist
- Computer animator
- Computer graphics specialit
- Digital image artist
- Digital production artist
- Electronic games designer
- Interactive designer
- Packaging designer
- Packaging production artist
- Photo editor
