Government Pavilion, C/ Padre Herrera s/n
Post Office Box 456
38200, San Cristobal de La Laguna
Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Spain
Switchboard Tel.: (+34) 922 31 90 00
Hours: Mon, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Microdegree in Graphic and Visual Communication
Microdegree in Graphic and Visual Communication
Brief description
The Microdegree in Graphic and Visual Communication is a specialized training program that provides students with the fundamental tools for constructing professional visual narratives, enabling them to acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies in technical and creative specialization. Through a 24 ECTS curriculum, the program allows students to develop expressive and conceptual abilities applied to four key areas: illustration, typography, editorial design, and corporate identity. The degree offers a comprehensive overview of the graphic process: from conceptual ideation and image creation to technical typographic management and the final editorial production of printed and digital media. It is geared towards those who wish to professionalize their visual communication skills, learning to project strong visual identities and coherent publications that meet the current demands of the creative and cultural industries and various business sectors.
Block: Editorial Design
Book architecture: Fundamentals of publishing, typography, and complex grid design. Organization of hierarchies within the typographic area and analysis of the parts of the book.
Production and management: Production phases, paper formats, editorial calculations (costs and pages), and printing/binding systems. Technical differences between printed and digital books.
Block: Corporate Identity
Identification systems: Background on the graphic brand. Design and construction of the basic brand elements: logo, symbol, color palette and corporate typography.
Management and regulations: Strategic planning of graphic identity and creation of the visual identity manual (VIM). Case studies and application in real-world contexts.
Block: Illustration
Methodology and concept: Drawing methods and procedures applied to visual communication. Ideation strategies and conceptual approach.
Genres and narrative: Exploration of editorial, advertising, press, and children's illustration. Application of graphic narrative, the use of collage, and the semantic relationship between image and text.
Block: Typography
Fundamentals and technology: Study of type architecture, type families and digital formats (PostScript, OpenType, variable fonts). License and foundry management.
Micro and Macro Typography: Controlling legibility through spacing (letter, word, paragraph) and visual hierarchy. Advanced composition, orthotypography, and typographic experimentation on a grid.
Specific Competencies
- E1 – Knowing how to design, that is, possessing sufficient knowledge to analyze data, synthesize forms, propose and defend a design concept and develop it until it can be put into practice and manufactured.
- E2 – Knowing how to identify problems that can be solved through design, posing them as design problems, obtaining the relevant data to develop the project, proposing a design concept and deciding on formalization criteria, choosing the appropriate materials and construction procedures in each case, controlling the consistency in decision-making and evaluating the results obtained.
- E3 – Knowing how to visualize and communicate information visually: being able to master the drawing and graphic presentation techniques used in a design project and knowing how to present the results in an attractive way.
- E4 – To know the aesthetic fundamentals of design: morphology, structure, color, space, volume, tectonics, typography and composition.
- E5 – To know the symbolic values and the processes of semiosis in order to design products, communications, systems and services.
- E9 – To know the specific terminology, techniques and languages applied to the design processes: prepress and printing systems, digital and multimedia techniques and media.
- E10 – Knowledge and handling of all those technological and methodological tools applicable to the design project (specific computer programs, traditional and digital representation systems; construction of mock-ups, models and prototypes, photography, video techniques, animation and illustration) as well as demonstrating skill in handling other specific techniques and procedures, materials, technology and construction sciences.
- E11 – To know the fundamentals of design management (economics, marketing and legal aspects of design) in order to understand the economic and financial implications of creative decisions made in a design process.
- E14 – Be motivated by the quality of the results obtained, as well as demonstrate self-discipline and rigor in personal work. Familiarity with current regulations governing quality in products and services in order to know how to apply them (such as ISO standards).
General Competencies
- G1 – Ethical commitment: critical capacity to address problems as presented and self-criticism to evaluate the quality of one's own work, both in itself and within its context. Ability to seek solutions oriented towards universal use, equal opportunities, and equality between men and women.
- G2 – Learning ability and responsibility: develop the analytical and critical spirit to acquire the ability to analyze, synthesize, form a global vision and apply knowledge to practice.
- G3 – Teamwork: ability to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project; ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- G5 – Develop aesthetic sensitivity and cultivate the faculty of aesthetic appreciation: capacity for aesthetic criticism and evaluation, ability to make aesthetic decisions and extract information about the culture that has generated it.
- G6 – Ability to formulate independent judgments and articulate arguments. This implies familiarity with academic work, its rigor models, and standard procedures; the ability to research and manage specific information according to the subject matter and tasks; and the ability to select and use information sources appropriately and with respect to their diversity. It also includes the ability to analyze and interpret documentary and literary sources.
- G8 – Ability to organize and plan tasks to be developed personally or collectively.
- G9 – Employ both convergent and divergent thinking in the processes of observation, research, speculation, visualization, and action.
Basic Skills
- B2 – That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
- B3 – That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
- B4 – That students can convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- B5 – That students have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
The Microdegree in Graphic and Visual Communication is designed for individuals interested in creating visual narratives, graphic storytelling, and brand management. The recommended entry profile is considered to be:
- Students of the University of La Laguna: Especially recommended for students of the Degrees in Fine Arts or Journalism, who wish to complement their official training with technical and creative skills applied to professional design.
- Professionals in the field of Creative and Cultural Industries: People linked to the communication, advertising or arts sector who are looking for an update in editorial design tools, typography, graphic branding and applied illustration.
Students are advised to have a basic understanding of graphic design to better benefit from the coursework. A proactive attitude towards self-directed learning, experimentation with digital tools, and project planning skills are also desirable.
Curriculum
24 credits.
| Code | Subject | Credits | Semester | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 199473101 | Editorial design | 6 | First | Bachelor's Degree in Design |
| 199473102 | Corporate identity | 6 | First | Bachelor's Degree in Design |
| 199472201 | Illustration | 6 | Second | Bachelor's Degree in Design |
| 199472202 | Typography | 6 | Second | Bachelor's Degree in Design |
5 seats.
Selection and enrollment process
Given the limited number of places, the following evaluation criteria and order of priority are established:
- Students from the University of La Laguna enrolled in related degrees who have passed at least 60 ECTS of their original degree:
- Students of the Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts.
- Students of the Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage.
- Students of the Degree in Journalism.
ordering them by the average grade of the academic record of the degree.
- Other students from the University of La Laguna: Students from any other official degree program at the University of La Laguna who meet the requirement of having passed 60 ECTS credits, ordered by the average grade of their academic record for the degree.
- Professionals and other profiles: Individuals who meet the university admission requirements or who have at least one year of professional experience in fields related to graphic and visual communication. Applications will be ranked according to the professional experience assessment carried out by a committee appointed by the Faculty for this purpose.
First, applicants with direct access enrolled in related degrees will be ranked, followed by students enrolled in other ULL degree programs. Finally, professional applicants and those with other profiles who meet the university's admission requirements will be ranked according to the availability of places.
With the aim of ensuring the completion of the training program, an absolute priority for enrollment is established for those already admitted to the microdegree in successive academic years in accordance with section 4 of article 3 of the Microdegree Regulations of the University of La Laguna.
General information
Credits: 24 credits.
Places offered5 seats.
Place of deliveryFaculty of Fine Arts.
Expand your knowledge with a training itinerary in a field different from your main degree.
Acquire additional skills that add value to your academic and professional profile.
Obtain a qualification from the University of La Laguna that certifies your specialized training.
