Digital Art: Graphic and Illustration – Level 3

Required qualifications

Students are required to have a minimum of 4 × GCSEs at grade 4 or above, Including Maths and/or English and at least one of which should be in a creative arts subject (or the equivalent Level 2 qualification in an appropriate subject) and an Art and Design portfolio.

This qualification is ideal for students who have decided to explore Graphic Design and Illustration as their specialist practice within the creative industries. Students who complete the Diploma may choose to progress onto year two of the Extended Diploma.

The UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication is equivalent in size to 3 A levels and is typically delivered over two‑years of full‑time study. The qualification comprises the Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication and an additional year of study with year two allowing students to focus and develop their knowledge and skills in one specialist practice vocation.

What skills will I develop?

• The Creative Process
• Developing Creative Practice
• Responding to a set brief
• Researching a Specialist Industry Practice
• Specialist Technical Skills Development
• Specialist Creative Outcome

You will develop a wide range of Graphic visual communication skills, techniques and knowledge over the two year course. This will include: drawing, painting, mixed‑media, printmaking, digital applications, packaging design, illustration, multimedia, motion graphics/moving image, photography/lens‑based media, presentation, portfolio building, interview techniques, HE application progression, English, Maths and IT skills, contextual studies, Art and Design history and contemporary research.

Transferable skills include independent and team working, creative and critical thinking, reflective learning, communication skills, self‑management and intuition, leadership, collaboration on external project management, professional industry practice, social responsibility, environmental awareness and sustainability, problem solving, numeracy & literacy.

Assessment and grading:

All units during stage one and two of the diploma and extended diploma are assessed internally and are graded at pass referral, once the internal verification and appropriate quality checks have been completed. The assessment process, grading and student feedback will take 10-15 working days from submission. At stage three, the (FMP) Final Major Project, assessment of students’ evidence is assessed internally and graded at increments of Pass, Merit, Distinction grades, Subject to internal verification. This stage is subject to external moderation.

Careers

Contemporary creative practitioners do not only make ‘things’ or try to minimise the material impact of their own work. They also lead opinion and design the world we inhabit, from our built environments to our systems, from the clothes we wear to the choices we make in digital spaces. They develop our cultural reference points and social debates.

As a graphic designer or illustrator there are many career options such as:

• Freelance visual Artists
• Gallery curator
• Social Media Specialist
• Teacher
• Arts development
• Web Designer
• Architect

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

Students who have previously achieved GCSE maths and English at grade 4, or higher will benefit from working through ‘CENTURY’. Which is an online brain training app, designed to maintain and further develop your English and maths skills through the colleges’ tutorial process.

Students 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.

Students who have not yet achieved GCSE English and maths to grade 4 or above, will benefit from studying the Level 2 programme alongside the course, to enable them to achieve both English and maths at grade 4 or higher, before progressing on to the level 3 programme.

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. 

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.