Course details may be subject to change.
This Level 3 graphic design course will help you to explore and develop your creativity, putting it to the test with practical projects and assignments briefs. This one year programme provides a foundation in core aspects of Graphic Design and provides an excellent route to progress to the Extended Diploma with a second year of study.Taking your first step into a new career needs the right blend of technical and academic knowledge, skills and behaviours to support you. Employers and Higher Education are looking for highly skilled, job-ready individuals with a strong work ethic. The hands-on approach of this course ensures you have every opportunity to demonstrate your creative talent through collaborations, exhibitions, employer projects and workshops, setting you up for your future career in the creative industries.
The BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Practice (Graphics) qualification follows GCSEs and is equivalent to 1.5 A-Levels. This programme was developed in close collaboration with experts from professional bodies, businesses and universities to ensure the content provides high-quality preparation for progression.
Entry Criteria
You will hold a minimum of four GCSEs at grades 4 (or above).
This will include maths and English, as well as an art & design and/or design & technology qualification.
Additional Costs
You will be asked to contribute £30 to trips and visits - this is payable in September.You will be required to purchase the following to support your learning:
- A memory stick or external drive.
- A4/A5 Sketchbook
- Artistic Pencil (HB 2B, B 4B)
- Set of fine liner
- Highlighters
- Glue stick and masking tape
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Portfolio.
What are the next steps?
You will meet with a course tutor for an informal chat to find out more aout the coures 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 qualification is for you if you want to start a career in the Graphic Design sector. You will build a good understanding of the subject by taking part in a range of design-based activities and coursework. Each project is designed to give you an insight into a particular skill or specialism within graphic design. This means you will be given the opportunity to create additional evidence for your portfolio by trying new activities, and building new skills.Working with traditional design techniques, and industry standard design software, you will express your creativity when given live briefs from local and national organisations. This course provides multiple opportunities for students to visit a variety of relevant art galleries and design-based exhibitions to gather research for their own work.The course is designed for post-16 students and is an ideal qualification if you are intending to progress directly to employment within the Graphic Design industry, to an apprenticeship or to a university level course.
Modules Studied
This course will let you build an exciting portfolio of work whilst preparing you for progression into higher education or employment. The areas of design you will study are as followed:
- Exploring and Developing Art and Design Skills
- Skills Development: Exploration of the fundamentals of Graphic Design practice and develop practical skills
- Creative Project: Response to a brief from ideas generation 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.
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.Our employers work with us to support curriculum design, live projects, work placements, guest speaking, educational trips and visits and competitions.
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?
If you wish to browse digital portfolios, or create one of your own, visit Behance.
You can also visit our BTEC Graphic Design students' Instagram page.
Design Week provides a lot of interesting information related to the design industry.
You could progress to Year 2 of the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art & Design Practice (Graphics) at New College Durham or go into employment.On completion of the second year you could continue onto one of our Foundation Degree programmes, university or employment.Career pathways include Graphic Design, Multimedia Design, Brand Identity Designer, Photoshop Artist and more.
