Level 3 Graphic Design and Illustration at Halesowen College

LEVEL 3 BTEC IN GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION Full time course 16 hrs a week 2 years Course Leader: Emma Stevens Lecturers: Elysia Whitehouse & Bryn Griffiths Graphic Design and Illustration Level 3 – is a full time, 2 year course that helps you focus your skillset on graphic design and/or Illustration as your specialism.

The course is made up of 2 components in the first year and 2 components in the second year.

The course covers a variety of digital and traditional Graphic Design/illustration techniques from traditional drawing, painting and mixed media techniques to digital skills, animation and photography.

There are a number of skills that you will develop such as illustration, photography, computer design, advertising and digital drawing.

You need to show evidence as you go along of the way you created the

the work and this includes being able to write clearly about your influences and intentions.

have set deadlines to meet, in order to encourage professional time management practice.

You will also have the opportunity to exhibit your work at the College’s end of year exhibition.

WORK EXPERIENCE You will also undertake a 5 day work placement which you will need to source, we will support you with this throughout the first few weeks of your course. We have some established placements available that students will be able to apply for.

GRADING The course is graded using the Pass/Merit/Distinction grading system, and you will receive a grade for each unit. You are marked against 5 criteria, and each one carries between 1 (pass) to 3 (distinction) points. The points are then added up and you have your final grade.

Supervised by our highly trained and experienced teaching staff, Graphics and Illustration is completely coursework assessed. You work on realistic design assignments that

This compulsory aspect of the course gives you the chance to apply the knowledge gained in class to the real world of work and can often give students their first entry level job in the industry. We offer support for all of our students in a friendly and creative environment.

This course will provide you with the essential skills you need to land your first job in visual design or progress to university.

You learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands.

As well as learning about design, you develop the skills you need to start a career such as writing an eye-catching CV, contributing to a discussion and making a presentation.

Course Content & Assessment There are Five assessment objectives throughout your assignments that you will be graded on: • • • • •

Informing ideas Problem solving Technical Skills Professional practice Communication

The first year of the L3 Graphic Design course will be made up of the following projects and units: Module A – Exploring and Developing Graphic Design Skills Unit A1 Skills Development Various Skills workshops (September to January) 2023 workshops included Fanzines, Editorial Illustration, College Christmas Card Live Brief, Penguin Book Cover Design Award, Branding and Identity, Animation and Contextual Studies.

Unit A2 Creative Project Self-direct a response to a brief (one central theme), from inception to communication of outcomes (February to June) The second year of the L3 Graphic Design course will be made up of the following projects and units: Module B – Exploring and Developing Graphic Design Skills Unit B1 Personal Progression – Portfolio building and career research (Sept-Nov) Unit B1 Personal Progression – Creating Pigeon Magazine in collaboration with Wolverhampton University L6 students Live Brief with Bryn Griffiths (including Photography skills) (Oct-Dec) Unit B2 Final Project - Self-direct a response to a brief, from inception to communication of outcomes (February to June) including the development of a final exhibition.

HOW IS THE COURSE STRUCTURED?

A LEVEL OR BTEC? Choosing between a Level 3 BTEC qualification in Graphic Design and A Levels depends on your learning style, career goals, and interests. Here are some reasons why a BTEC might be a better choice for some students:

However, it's important to consider your personal learning style, academic strengths, and career aspirations. A Levels offer a broader academic education and might be preferable if you're considering a range of post-secondary options or if you enjoy more traditional academic learning and assessment methods.

Practical and Vocational Focus: BTECs are known for their hands-on approach. If you prefer learning through practical projects and real-world scenarios rather than traditional exams, a BTEC in Graphic Design might suit you better.

Specialisation: BTECs allow you to specialise in a specific area from the start.

If you're certain about pursuing a career in graphic design, a BTEC offers focused training and skills development in this field.

Portfolio Development: BTECs often involve creating a portfolio of work, which is crucial for careers in design. This can give you an edge when applying for jobs or further education, as you'll have a body of work to showcase your skills.

Industry-Relevant Skills: BTECs are designed in collaboration with industry professionals, ensuring the skills taught are current and relevant to the workplace.

Assessment Method: BTECs are mostly assessed through coursework and practical projects, which can be beneficial if you perform better in continuous assessment rather than final exams.

Halesowen College Graphics, Web Design & Multi Media HNC or choose from a range of HNC/D, Foundation Degrees and Professional Qualifications University related degree such as Graphic Design, Photography, Animation and Fine Art, Product Design, Interior Design....

Careers or Apprenticeships – in Graphics, Illustration, Advertising, Architecture, Product design, Web design, Games design, UX/UI design, Art Director, Marketing, Interior Designer and more.

Access to Higher Education: A Level 3 BTEC is equivalent to A Levels and is recognised by universities, meaning you can still progress to higher education if you choose.

Career Readiness: BTECs often include work placements or industry projects, providing valuable work experience and networking opportunities.

WHERE CAN A LEVEL 3 BTEC QUALIFICATION IN GRAPHIC DESIGN TAKE ME IN THE FUTURE?

WHAT ARE *YOU* CAPABLE OF?

WHAT ARE THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS? ou will need to have achieved at least 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 and above, including English, Maths and an Art based subject.

This could include Art and Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Textiles, and iMedia.

You may also be offered a place if you miss out on a grade 4 in Maths or English, providing you have a strong portfolio. You would then have the opportunity to resit your Maths or English during your qualification.

You will need to provide a portfolio of work that demonstrates passion, commitment and energy. This can be either printed or digital.

If you do not meet these requirements please speak to the course leader as places on our courses are determined on an individual basis.

We also run a Level 2 Graphic Design course for students who want to study Graphic Design but are not quite ready for level 3. This is a 1 year course to help build your skills and support you if you need to resit Maths or English GCSE’s.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

Please email: estevens@halesowen.ac.uk

You can apply to the course at any time throughout the year, starting the October before you intend to start.

Please go to https://www.halesowen.ac.uk/study/ course/graphic-design-level-3/ and click apply!

Additionally, you will also be asked to complete an interview pack in readiness for your face-to-face portfolio interview.

This consists of a personal statement, written task and portfolio and you can send these across to us in a variety of ways:

PowerPoint – this must include all 3 tasks in one file in a slideshow Blog – Use a site like wix.com to create a gallery or online portfolio of work which you can then email the link over for us to view. www.wetransfer.com – You can send photos and/or word documents of your work using this site and our email address.

Use any of these formats to submit your interview pack to the email address opposite.

INTERVIEW TASKS As part of your interview I would like you to choose two designers from the following list: Lucy Stephens Hennie Haworth Jamie Reid Si Scott Alan Fletcher Ed Fella Please research the two designers you have chosen and find two pieces of work for each which you can comment on. I would like you to tell me: 1. What you like or don’t like about their work and why.

2. What do you think each piece you have chosen is trying to communicate to the viewer?

3. All of the designers above mainly work with typography. What influences could you take from their work to put into your own typography design work?

4. What are the differences between the two designers’ work?

5. What are the similarities?

This task can be written as notes on Word or by hand (and photographed) and submitted along with your personal statement and Portfolio of your own work.

Please include the titles of the images you have chosen to talk about, and images if you can.

1. WRITTEN TASK

2. WRITE A PERSONAL STATEMENT You should write a brief statement of around 250 words explaining: • Why you want to study Graphic Design • What knowledge and experience you have already of Graphic Design and Art • What you would like to do in the future, where do you see yourself and what career path do you want to take?

3. PORTFOLIO Here is your opportunity to show us your skills.

We would like to see a portfolio of your artwork!

This should include between 8-15 of your best images to really show us your art and creative design skills!

Questions? Like what you’ve seen today?

Feel free to contact the Level 3 Graphic Design department on the following: estevens@halesowen.ac.uk ewhitehouse@halesowen.ac.uk bgriffiths@halesowen.ac.uk We look forward to hearing from you soon!