Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Visual Communication

Our unique academic program lets our students engage with exciting new trends in various creative disciplines, popular visual cultures, and cutting-edge design technologies. They begin with a foundation year where students have the opportunity to experience all of our visual disciplines: Graphic Design, Photography, Art Direction, Illustration, and Multimedia, before choosing a major visual subject to take through to their third year. This allows for a unique understanding of visual communication as well as an opportunity for our students to truly curate their learning according to their avenues of talent and interest.

We combine this practice with subjects like Marketing, Business Leadership, Discourse, and Visual Studies, ensuring our students are at the forefront of an industry that is constantly evolving.

The five majors (Applied Illustration, Art Direction, Graphic Design, Multimedia & Photography) focus on creative and industry-related practical knowledge and skills, with the remaining three components delivering vital context and theory that set our graduates apart in the South African job market.

Visual Studies develop students' understanding of how historical and contemporary world events have shaped the production of specific images, photographs, and designs. They are exposed to European, African, and South African forms of visual communication practice and theory, the intention of which is to enable informed decision-making in our students' own creative practice.

Marketing engages with the world of modern marketing where students are introduced to the essential theories and concepts of marketing that are critical to managing profitable customer relationships in an ever-changing marketing and business environment.

Discourse is concerned with the design and socially responsible design practice. In this context, students are made aware of the power and responsibility that visual communicators have in shaping the way they treat humanity and the earth.

We believe that by teaching our students the importance of citizenship and social responsibility, we will be able to nurture a future creative generation of problem solvers and change-makers who will use their creativity for the good of the community. In a world with as many problems as ours, it is only right that we look at innovative, creative ways of solving some of South Africa’s (and the planet’s) biggest problems.