Art and Design

If you're brimming with creativity and aspire to turn your passion into a career, our Graphic Design and Illustration course is your perfect starting point. This course is tailor-made for budding designers and illustrators looking to embark on an exciting journey into the world of visual creativity.

To join this course, you'll need a real interest in design and illustration, and your application will benefit from some formal qualification to National 5 level in Art and Design, or an equivalent such as our Introduction to Art and Design course.

If you don’t have formal qualifications but have life experience, then we’ll also consider you for a place, so please do apply.

You should be prepared for An interview with us, where you’ll need to present your a portfolio of your work and demonstrate the passion that helped you develop it.

Our Graphic Design and Illustration Level 6 course offer a comprehensive foundation in visual arts, including:

• Graphic design: Crafting logos, brands, advertisements, and packaging
• illustration: Exploring diverse techniques and media, with a focus on children's book illustration
• photography and digital imaging: mastering basic camera skills, composition, image enhancement, manipulation, and a creative project like designing a movie poster
• animation: creating and animating characters through stop-motion techniques
• life drawing: producing detailed studies of various parts of the human figure and drawing live models
• exploratory media: trying your hand at different media and materials, expanding your creative horizons
• art and design software: developing proficiency in industry-standard tools like Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop

While practical work is at the core of this course, you'll also delve into key theoretical aspects, including:

• colour theory: understanding colour relationships, values, and emotional responses to different hues
• art history: exploring significant art movements such as Impressionism, Pop Art, and Op Art
• digital media: examining the role of digital media in the realm of art and design

Moreover, you'll have opportunities to:

• collaborate on live briefs: for community projects or local businesses
• visit galleries and exhibitions: including renowned institutions like the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh and Kelvingrove in Glasgow
• participate in the Creative Department's Annual End of Year Show

Upon successful completion of this course, you'll have a range of pathways to explore, including:

• progressing to HNC Visual Communication or potentially another relevant course, such as HNC Art and Design
• paving your way towards an exciting career in roles such as Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Practising Artist, Community Arts Advocate, Youth Arts Worker, Art Therapist, Photographer, or Teacher
• with additional qualifications, you may even unlock the door to prestigious degree courses at institutions like Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow Caledonian University, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee, Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, University of Dundee, Edinburgh Napier University, or Perth College

Opting for our Graphic Design and Illustration Level 6 course means embracing a world of artistic expression and boundless creativity. You'll not only hone your technical skills but also cultivate empathy, creativity, and dedication. Our curriculum equips you with the latest industry knowledge, ensuring you're ready to make your mark in the dynamic field of visual arts. Along the way, you'll acquire versatile cognitive skills that extend beyond art and design, making you a valuable asset in a wide range of career opportunities.