Bachelors of Visual Communication, Design and Multimedia (BVCDM)

History of the BVCDM Programme

The Department of Visual Communication Design and Multimedia is one of the three departments in The Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts (MTSIFA), under the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT). The department new curriculum provides a more in-depth understanding of the visual Communication Design field in relation to the ever-advancing modern design technology and industrial growth challenges in Uganda.

The BVCDM programme is design-based program meant to give learners basic skills in design, visual communication and multimedia. Design is a resource useful in a wider spectrum of everyday life and thus an important part of any society’s social, cultural and economic fabric. It is problem-based in nature and fundamentally deals with issues affecting society that require design interventions. In this way, Design is a wider creative engagement of which communication is a part. Visual Ccommunication Design (initially graphic design course at MTSIFA since 1937), on the other hand, is a creative process that combines the visual arts and new media technologies to communicate ideas. It begins with a message that, in the hands of a talented designer, is transformed into visual communication that transcends mere words and pictures. By controlling colour, type, movement, symbols, and images, the visual communication designer creates and manages the production of visuals designed to inform, educate, persuade, and even entertain a specific audience. Indeed, the nomenclature of the proposed new programme is Visual Communication, Design and Multimedia, whereby ‘design’ is the key word or concept.

What the Programme entails.

The Bachelor of Visual CcommunicationDesign and Multimedia is a broad spectrum that includes signs, typography, drawing, graphic design, illustration, industrial design advertising, animation, social design, colour and electronic resources. It involves 2D and 3D foundations. Indeed, graphic design is a subset of visual communication. It is problem-solving through typo, illustration, photography, etc. it is about user experience UX/UI.

Design constitutes imaginative and creative power that reaches almost all aspects of our lives. Application of visual communication, design and new media is therefore multi-sectoral in the Ugandan economy spanning across, but not limited to, industry, agriculture, health, education, tourism and hospitality, entertainment, environment, architecture as well as sports and recreation and the judiciary. “Information is power,” so is the adage. Visual communication design with the support of technological innovations enhances the flow of information. The need for specialized professionals and research in design, visual communication and multimedia is most critical at this time. In view of this, BVCDM Programme is the answer to these new design challenges.
The Programme Peculiarities.

The Bachelor of Visual Communication, Design and Multimedia programme addresses specific demands and to enable students cultivate a sense of focus and concentration in specialized design areas in order to ably serve and contribute to the community development. This curriculum has defined the visual Communication and Design aspects such as visual research, communication, emerging communication technologies, environmental and social issues, in which students are competent.

The BVCDM Relevance to the world today

The programme is focused on the integration of theory, practice and the modern technology.   BVCDM covers areas of study that include animation, graphic design, sound production, 3D modelling, web site design, game design and interactive media design, social design, professional practice and management among others.

The BVCDM programme enhances in-depth research, methodologies, materials, techniques, and application of knowledge and skill in Visual Communication Design theory and practice. The programme acquaints learners with fundamental concepts and practical concerns of environment, job creation and poverty mitigation in the country and the wider community.

BVCDM integrates emerging communication and multimedia design issues, theories, technologies in the field of Visual Communication Design (VCD): Web design, Photography, Animation, Illustration, Information design, Interactive multimedia (UX/UI design), Product design, Branding, and 3D visualization.

The developments in technology today have enabled design and visual communication to relentlessly grow as a formidable medium of expression, which bridges several media domains ranging from type-based media such as print, to new media including audio, animation, and three-dimensional modeling. The BVCDM programme focuses on research led innovations in visual communication design and Multimedia to foster national development and increase the university’s visibility in world rankings.