School of Design and Creativity

Unlock the design and management skills you need to transform creative industries

About the school

Arden’s School of Design and Creativity equips you with contemporary skills in diverse areas of graphic and visual design and design management, preparing you to meet the future needs of the creative sectors.

Gaining a degree in visual design is the perfect choice for anyone looking to explore the power of visual messaging and how it can be applied in practice. Studying with us, you’ll learn the multimedia skills and the design methods, thinking, and strategies needed to excel in the creative sector of your choice.

Creativity, transformation, and employability are our principal tenets at the School of Design and Creativity. We offer an industry-led, practice-based learning environment to help our students bring their creative visions to life and get the best possible foundation for their future careers.

Graphic and visual design have experienced immense growth in today’s digital era, touching on almost every aspect of modern life and with opportunities in nearly every global sector. Using our close industry links, The School of Design and Creativity keeps up with developments in the field, providing you with a well-rounded education based on the most up-to-date creative, technical, and management skills. With courses accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), we ensure all our students graduate with a robust portfolio of work-ready skills, including a Level 7 Strategic Management and Leadership diploma for master’s graduates.

School in numbers

95%

student satisfaction

95% of our graduates said they were satisfied with the Arden University learning experience.

90%

of careers transformed

90% of Arden graduates say their career possibilities have been enhanced by studying with us.*

global study locations

Study from anywhere online, on campus in Berlin, or at one of our five UK study centres, including three locations in London.

9/10

Alumni are proud to be Arden graduates

In recognition of our continued commitment to our students, we were named number one education business in the 2020 Education Investor Awards.

Faculty staff

Professor Marcus Leaning is Head of the School of Design and Creativity. Marcus joined Arden University in 2023 and has worked in universities for over 25 years. He has taught in the UK, Thailand, Japan and Costa Rica, is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a National Teaching Fellow. He is the author or editor of eight books, numerous journal articles and has given over 80 conference papers and keynotes in over 30 countries. Marcus is particularly interested in assisting neurodiverse students achieve their potential. Outside of academia, Marcus is a practicing ceramicist / potter and specialises in medieval-influenced pitchers and other historical forms.

Prof. Marcus Leaning

Head of School of Design and Creativity

Dr Pernille Holm

Programme Team Leader

Stefanie Krynauw

Lecturer

Darko Kokic

Associate Lecturer

Student Stories

I have enjoyed doing my master’s here because it’s not like a traditional university where you sit in a classroom and a lecturer talks and you write down everything. I like that when we come here there’s actually a discussion and we do a lot of analysis.

What I love about Arden University is being made to feel part of a new kind of global learning.

Studying at Arden University has been great because I have now got that balance to run my family, work part time, and also study online. So it’s been really fulfilling that I can do a degree while looking after my family.

It’s a great way to study if you’re looking for flexibility. It was challenging to balance a full-time job with my degree but once I was in a routine, it was much easier to manage everything. Online learning has actually helped me become very good with time management and given me the ability to prioritise tasks.

Latest News

Graphic Design Subject Spotlight

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Stand Out Students Named

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Arden academic invited to House of Lords

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Six Reasons to Become a Graphic Designer

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Arden Deans named Women to Watch

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Accrediting bodies and industry partners

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes excellence in UK management and leadership. The institute aims to boost career development in the management sector and connect you with likeminded professionals.