Art and Design – Level 2

Required qualifications

Students wishing to apply for the Level 2 Award and Diploma in Art & Design will need a minimum of a UAL or equivalent Level 1 qualification or three GCSEs at grade 3/D or above or an equivalent Level 1 functional skills qualification in English and Maths. 

What skills will I develop?

Stage 1 (Level 2 Award in Art & Design)

• Unit 1: Introduction to materials, processes and technical skills in art & design
• Unit 2: Introduction to contextual research in art & design.

On successful completion of this stage, you will be awarded the Level 2 Award before progressing onto the Diploma

Stage 2 (Level 2 Diploma in Art & Design)

• Unit 3: Introduction to drawing skills
• Unit 4: Introduction to communication skills in art and design
• Unit 5: Solving 2D creative problems
• Unit 6: Solving 3D creative problems
• Unit 7: Solving time-based creative problems

Stage 3 (Level 2 Diploma in Art & Design)

• Unit 8: Developing and producing a personal project in art and design

Drawing is a vital skill to have as an artist or designer, and there are opportunities to develop this skill throughout the whole course.

You will also develop confidence in being able to communicate your ideas and thoughts effectively in a visual way, creating work in 2D (painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media), 3D (ceramics, model making, sculpture), and time-based (photography, animation, film-making and editing).

Careers

Typically graduating students from our study programme progress to a Level 2 course, and could use this as a stepping stone to eventual employment, apprenticeships, work experience and employment including innovative and dynamic careers such as:

Advertising, architect,  artist, arts journalist, art director, CAD/CAM designer, cartoonist copywriter, content writer, costume designer, creative director, curator, digital artist, engraver, entrepreneur, event manager, exhibition designer, researcher, fashion designer, film maker, footwear designer,  furniture designer, gallery staff, game designer, graphic designer, interior designer, illustrator, lighting designer, makeup artist, marketeer, merchandiser, multimedia designer, product designer, programmer,  photographer, set designer, teacher, therapist, UX designer, videographer and web designer.

Work experience

Our dedicated Work Experience team are here to help and support you in finding a meaningful work experience opportunity.

Recent studies have shown that employers consider work experience to be extremely desirable. Whilst qualifications are hugely important, employers also require candidates to have skills and experience necessary for the workplace.

Preparing you for the working world is very important to us, so that you may be successful in your next step.

Work experience placements provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills; have a better understanding of the industry you want to work in and give you an insight into what it is like to be employed. They can also be great fun and very rewarding and you may even be offered a great reference, a part–time job, holiday working hours, apprenticeships or full-time jobs.

Once you start your course you will be provided with further information about work experience programmes, but it is never too early for you to start thinking about work experience placements and finding an employer who will offer you an opportunity.

Work experience is an opportunity for you to gain experience in your chosen career path in order to develop relevant skills. Equally, it also helps you to acquire employability skills, attitudes and behaviours that are essential for future employment. There will be an opportunity for you to reflect on your performance during work experience and you will receive some form of reference/feedback from the employer.

English and maths

New candidates who ONLY have either GCSE Maths, or English at grade 4 or higher, will benefit from having additional time allocated to their study programme in order to achieve the other GCSE subject to the national benchmark grade 4, alongside access to ‘CENTURY’; an online Maths and English diagnostic and skills development site.

New candidates who have NOT achieved GCSE English or Maths to grade 4 or above, will benefit from having additional time allocated to their study programme in order to achieve GCSEs in English and Maths to the national benchmark grade 4, alongside access to ‘CENTURY’; an online Maths and English diagnostic and skills development site.

English and Maths skills development are also embedded within the core qualification.

Other important information

Study visits:

The art department recognises the importance and value of viewing art and design in the context of a ‘live’ exhibition, museums and gallery visits and we encourage all of our students to independently take regular advantage of galleries and museums, for research, inspiration and the purposes of ‘keeping up’ with current trends taking place within the creative industries. The art team invites you to join in with organised visits to local and national venues including Birmingham museum and art gallery, The Ikon, Walsall New Gallery. The National portrait gallery, the National gallery, Victoria and Albert museum, Tate galleries and each year we visit a major European city such as Paris for a weeklong study visit.

Equipment and materials kit list:

It is important that all students invest and equip themselves with a basic art and design kit. A comprehensive kit list will be issued to all students during the course induction. Most art and design equipment, materials and resources will be provided by the college, however, it is the responsibility of each student to come to each session equipped and ready to learn.