Course details may be subject to change.
Graphic design is at the heart of everyday life, at home, work and in our leisure time from logo design and organisation branding to visual communications and interior design, graphic design has an ever increasing role to play.
Aimed at supporting progression to Level 3 study, this new creative skills qualification has been developed in consultation with teachers and employers from the creative industries to ensure they are current, relevant, highly practical and allow for holistic teaching and evidencing of skills.
Entry Criteria
You will hold four GCSEs at grade 3 or above (or equivalent), including maths and English. You will present a portfolio of work.
Additional Costs
You will be asked to contribute £30 to trips and visits - this is payable in September.
What are the next steps?
You will meet with a course tutor for an informal chat to find out moore aout the courses available and see the facilities.
Please bring along a portfolio of at least 5 samples that demonstrate work from creative subjects you may be studying or have studied. This could include: sketchbook, poster, drawings, any IT, DT, Graphics or Art work.
Study Aims
This art and design course aims to provide you with the fundamental creative and graphics skills and working practices needed for progressions to further study.
You will enhance your employability skills and develop essential transferable and personal skills and develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Modules Studied
Exploring and Developing Art and Design Skills:
- Exploration of the fundamentals of graphic design practice, learning how skills are integrated to create work.
- Application of creative practices to develop a full graphic design project.
- Personal Development: Exploration of roles within the graphic design sector and further development of the skills needed to progress towards personal aims.
- Responding to a Creative Brief: Production of a proposal and practical response to a creative brief, managing the project from inception to communication of outcomes.
Teaching and Assessment
You will have access to a wide variety of resources and course related materials in class and via on our online virtual learning environment.
Your study programme will include preparation for employment and an expectation to complete relevant work experience and independent study.
Teaching will be a variety of classroom based, self-study and workplace learning activities. Assessment is both formative and summative.
Formative assessment of learning will be through a range of methods such as peer assessment, self-assessment and tutor assessment including observations, group work, written assignment, oral presentations and projects and aims to support your learning in preparation for summative assessment.
Summative assessment is undertaken through assignments assessed internally and moderated by the awarding body.
Industry Links
We have strong links with well-established design agencies in Newcastle and London. Many of our students have accepted work placements with award winning companies and have continued to progress within the industry by securing a place in employment in graphic design, advertising, marketing, packaging design or print.
Placement
You will be required to complete a work placement of at least 70 hours (approximately 10 days) for each academic year of study. Wherever possible, we ask you to try and source a meaningful placement, however, if this is not possible, we do have limited opportunities sourced through the College.
You will be expected to proactively engage with applying for a placement as they become available. All of our placement opportunities will be posted to your online learning system. You will always perform to the best of your ability and conduct yourself in a professional manner as if an employee of your placement organisation.
What else?
Design Week provides a lot of interesting information related to the design industry.
This Level 2 Diploma in Art & Design Skills (Graphics) (minimum grade Merit) together with achievement in GCSE maths and English at grade 4 provides you with the entry criteria to progress to BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Practice (Graphic Design) or (Digital Arts) at New College Durham, or employment within the industry.
