Cutting edge & up-to-date skills taught by industry leaders

Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications

Creative thinking, and everything it facilitates, is the most important skill of the future. Our BA degree in Visual Communication is a 3-year full time, face to face programme that will equip you with an internationally recognised qualification and a highly competitive portfolio, granting you access to higher levels of learning or open the doors to the industry.

Unlike a typical graphic design degree, the course is highly practical. You’ll be exposed to all disciplines of Art Direction, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography and Digital Design from your first year which gives you a strong background in each. This enables you to confidently choose a major and one minor subject in second year before you focus on your major in third year and create a highly specialised portfolio. Theoretical subjects are there to arm you with strategic and critical thinking skills relevant to staying ahead in the ever-changing business landscape.

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Build the foundations of a strong & fulfilling creative career

Creating award-winning work starts with learning from the best in the business and bringing your creativity to life starts with a BA in Visual Communication.

Gain a wealth of real-world, practical experience, and the theory and practical skills to back your creative genius. Industry-relevant practical projects coupled with theory and skills-based learning is what you’ll work on with one-on-one interaction with experienced lecturers. Guest speakers from the industry and a work-integrated learning component (internship) in the final year will give you the practical experience you need to develop a highly sought-after skill set. You’ll be industry-ready and firmly ahead of the pack.

Three years of Marketing Communications and Visual Studies provides the logic (strategic and critical-thinking) component of the programme. We’ll test your abilities via recognised academic assessments of research, referencing, essay writing, presentations and formal examinations. This ensures that you’re a strategic and critical thinking force to be reckoned with, and gives you a solid academic backing that will grant you access to Honours-level programmes upon completion of the course.

Next generation creativity

Learn the most cutting-edge creative theory and practical skills that will form the foundation of your career.

Learn from top talent

The BA degree is built and taught by industry pros who know what the job market is looking for.

Build your career

Get your headstart with modules designed to expose you to every creative field before you specialise.

Get recognised

Be recognised with an industry centric Red & Yellow BA degree, giving you a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills.

Red & Yellow Degrees are made to future-proof your career

This Bachelor of Arts is packed with the most up-to-date and practical knowledge that is designed and taught by cutting-edge industry experts. It’s been created to elevate your career to help you stay ahead of the curve and do your best work.

What you’ll learn:

  • In your first year, you’ll learn creative subjects like Graphic Design, Art Direction, Digital Design and Illustration, supported by Photography and two critical thinking subjects in the form of Marketing Communications and Visual Studies.
  • In your second year, you’ll pick your creative subject major and continue with your theoretical Marketing Communications and Visual Studies modules.
  • In your third year, you’ll focus on your major and your theoretical studies, and immerse yourself in Red & Yellow’s unique Practical Experiences, including workplace learning (internships) and our signature Brand Challenge, where you’ll work on real-life client briefs.

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Explore your career options:

Creative Director

Art Director

Designer

Illustrator

Meet your team:

This course was created by, and benefits from, our full-time lecturers’ years of experience in the field – both in lecturing and in industry. They know how to nurture talent and bring out the best in students, resulting in many award-wins over the years.

Stephanie Simpson

BA Team Lead

Stephanie Simpson

Steph holds an Honours in illustration (cum laude) and, while lecturing full time, is completing her Masters.

She sees herself as a storyteller and believes that making mistakes, taking chances, experimenting and playing is the most creative way to learn. She hopes to encourage her students to make drawing a daily habit, like brushing your teeth or putting on underpants.

Carmen Schaefer

Head of Academics

Carmen began her career as a graphic designer in the fast-paced world of advertising. Since then she has been lucky enough to have been involved in the education of South Africa’s most talented young creatives for the past 20 years. She currently leads the academic team at Red & Yellow and is committed to growing Red & Yellow into the most creative business school in the world. She also authors the annual employability report.

“Thank you Team Red & Yellow for the knowledge. It’s only been a few months and I can see a difference in the way I think regarding advertising and marketing in the digital realm.”

Nadine Botes

Ogilvy – Senior Creative Specialist in Retail Marketing and Advertising