What is Visual Communications at OCA?

Posted: 21/05/26 01:56 | 0 Comments

A Multidisciplinary Vision for Design

Image credit; Maya Mircheva, Vis Com Level 3 student.

What is it?

Visual Communications at the Open College of the Arts is a “big umbrella” of creative subjects and multidisciplinary design. This is more than just a degree—it is a global studio for hybrid creatives, defined by academic excellence and a broad, real-world curriculum designed for today’s changing society and creative economy.

A Unique Offer: The UK’s only home for flexible online design of this kind

While many institutions are moving into the digital space, we are proud to remain the only provider in the UK offering a fully part-time, online Visual Communications degree.

This online model is about accessibility, stability and a “global studio” outlook. It means you can create impactful work from anywhere—be it your dining room, a dedicated studio, or while you’re travelling the world. Our course allows you to balance professional ambitions with personal commitments while receiving dedicated 1-1 support from a team of experienced practitioners.

Can you do this course? Yes!

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a career changer, all you need is curiosity and a willingness to explore. OCA ethos and mission is to provide open access to creative arts education for all.

No prior experience? No problem—we are here to help you find your voice!

Navigating the “Big Umbrella”

At its heart, this is a practical, multidisciplinary course rooted in real-world purpose. We don’t believe in silos. Our curriculum is designed for those who want to play with everything!—from typography, illustration, graphic design, printmaking, animation and branding to hands-on doodling, collage, paint, and sound.

We provide a comfortable space for interdisciplinarity. Rather than being confined to a single specialist track, you are encouraged to find your unique creative voice by blending traditional skills with emerging digital practices. This “hybridity” is exactly what modern agencies and social enterprises seek: practitioners who can think across platforms and solve complex problems through visual language.

Excellence with Social Purpose

The work produced here is consistently praised by External Examiners as “experimental and adventurous”. Our students don’t just “make things”; they excel in visual literacy. However, visual communication at OCA goes beyond technical making; it is about problem-solving with heart.

You might wonder about the rise of AI. While AI tools are changing the landscape, they can’t reflect, provoke, or care—that’s your role. Here, we focus on being a creative thinker, not just a maker, asking the big questions: “What do I want to say, and how do I want people to feel?”. We empower our students to engage with diverse community contexts and address global challenges, from climate justice to sustainability.

Strengthening the Student Journey

To ensure the programme remains a seedbed for emerging talent, we have strengthened our academic infrastructure. While we’ve grown, we remain a small and nurturing team. You’ll get to know our core specialists—including experts like India Ritchie, Louise Cunningham, Ben Hall, Polly Harvey and Christian Lloyd—personally as we support you through every project.

This is a responsive curriculum that embraces the uncertainty of the creative process. Our Stage 1 units include access to high-impact projects and a Skills Hub, allowing you to plug in specialist skills and “mini-courses” in areas like animation, moving image, or typography at the exact moment your practice requires them.

Join the Conversation

Visual Communications at OCA is a community that celebrates the hybrid and the experimental. You’re not just studying online; you’re joining an international network. From sharing work in our friendly virtual “Studio Space” Padlets to engaging with the Student Voice project and our amazing OCA Student Association, there are endless ways to stay connected and help shape the OCA experience.

We look forward to seeing your work continue to flourish and seeing it showcased across our digital platforms and assessment galleries. The future of visual communication is multidisciplinary—come and build it with us!