Level: Further Education (Level 3)
Study Mode: Full-time
Duration: 2 years
Minimum Age: 16 years
Entry Requirements:
5 GCSEs at Grade C or above,
or a combination of equivalent qualifications (in subjects relevant to the course you are applying to)
or BTEC Level 2 Diploma in
Art & Design (Merit or above),
Interview and portfolio
Applicants will also be required to complete a short piece of written work
How to Apply: Direct to College

The Art, Design & Media industries include an incredibly wide variety of different subjects and opportunities for employment.

Due to this diversity it can be very difficult to identify what course might suit you, where you will flourish and where you will be happy. The majority of our students who come to us after Year 11 have a good knowledge of art and/or media but are not sure of how to apply or widen their skills. Our specialist status and resources mean we can really help you to look at a wide variety of art, design and media and encourage you to take on new ways of being creative, as well as allowing you to develop your preferred subjects.

So, what is Art & Design?
It involves ideas, products and techniques through processes and materials, across two and three dimensional design, over a wide variety of applications.

Media – Involves the visual communication of ideas and information using new and emerging digital technologies to combine words, images, movement and sound.

So, why choose Art & Design?
The Creative Industries are constantly looking for people with new ideas and concepts in order to promote innovation and creativity. Employment opportunities are diverse and exciting.

Media – As the creative industries respond to the impact of digital technologies, Media has quickly become an exciting focal point for individuals who wish to combine their creativity, with new and very accessible technology to promote their ideas.

This course aims to introduce you to a wide variety of options and will support you in making an informed decision about which area you should specialise in.

On completion, the course is worth the equivalent of three A Levels.

At the beginning of the course all pathways start with a common 2 terms which gives you a grounding in skills such as generating ideas, drawing, problem solving, IT, and digital image making. It will also introduce you to a wide range of new skills such as printmaking, video making, ceramics, photography, textiles, and working with different materials such as clay and metal. Assessment is continuous and you will have a constant dialogue with your personal tutor about your progress and so will always know what you need to do to improve. Students typically record their ideas development and visual imagery via sketchbooks and blogs. By the end of the second term you will have the opportunity to develop your work in one of the key areas of Art, Design or Media. You may wish to specialise in one particular key area, but you have the freedom to work and experiment across the spectrum of art, design and media arts. In fact, it will be actively encouraged by your tutor!

Key areas covered:
(Students also study Functional Skills and Wider Key Skills as an integral part of the course)
Art & Design
Focuses ideas and techniques across the many subject areas within art and design, and enables you to develop a specialism within either 2D or 3D. Students are encouraged to work on a multidisciplinary basis, through processes and materials – generating new ideas and products. Students typically specialise in product design, spatial design and applied arts including ceramics, jewellery, wood, metal and mixed media.
Fine Art
Is all about investigation, generation and expression of ideas and concepts. It is also about defining a personal response through the process of turning your ideas, found objects, thoughts, or observations into a physical reality. Students are encouraged to develop and express ideas in response to a wide range of situations, themes and projects, using both traditional and non-traditional media. Students specialise in a range of fine art disciplines including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, film and printmaking.
Graphic Design
Involves the visual communication of ideas and information through a combination of words and images. Students are encouraged to develop ideas in response to a wide range of situations and projects. The Students specialise in graphics for magazines, books, fashion, music promotion, advertising, information graphics and packaging.
Media Arts
A fast-growing and ever-changing area of the communication industries which uses new and emerging digital technologies in order to combine words, images, movement and sound. Students are encouraged to develop ideas in response to a wide range of situations and projects, across a variety of new media formats, using industry standard software. Students produce designs for websites, digital videos, games, virals, idents, promos, mobile phones, animations and short films.
Textiles
Encourages students to explore specialist processes such as surface design, print, fabric manipulation, embroidery and stitch, to produce designs for a variety of outcomes including fashion and clothing, homeware and interior furnishings. Students specialise in fashion design, fashion illustration, textile design, print & weave, surface design, printmaking and mixed media.
Photography
Concerned with ideas and themes using both traditional and digital photographic techniques. Students are encouraged to develop ideas in response to a wide range of situations and projects, using black and white, colour and digital formats. Students will explore areas such as documentary photography, studio photography, photojournalism, fashion imaging, and creative photography for advertising and for use on the web.

Year 1
Term 1 provides students with a grounding in the skills they will need to be successful on the course such as generating ideas, drawing, problem solving, IT, and digital image making. It also introduces students to a wide range of new skills in such as printmaking, video making, ceramics, photography, textiles techniques, animation, and working with different materials such as wood, metal, plastics and glass.

In terms 2 and 3 students use these skills by producing project work within a broad specialist area. These projects provide an opportunity for you to use your creativity to experiment within a subject area in order for you to decide where your passions and skills really lie. On each project, every student will be able to choose between either an Art & Design or Media subject area. By the end of the first year students have the opportunity to chose their own discipline area and will continue to do so into the 2nd year, offering a unique opportunity to tailor your work to your future aspirations, creating a portfolio and course that is personal to you.

Year 2
Students specialising in mostly Art & Design based projects will combine the general skills developed during Year 1 whilst being introduced to new and diverse specialist units such as Multi-Disciplinary Fine Art, Fabric Manipulation, 3D Design/Applied Arts and Specialist Printmaking, enabling students to produce a strong and varied portfolio of work. 2nd year students will also have the opportunity to work on live projects, submitting work for cross college showcase exhibitions such as the national touring Book Arts Exhibition and the HCA Affordable Arts Fair.

Students specialising mostly in the areas of Media will combine the general skills developed during Year 1 whilst being introduced to new specialist processes such as our industry standard software in order to a produce designs for websites, digital videos, animations, short films, game character design and editorial designs. Students will also continue to develop skills in Photography and Graphic Design to enable them to create a balanced portfolio. During the second year students will experience working both individually and as a member of a team.

Students who successfully complete this course are qualified to progress directly on to any of the college's undergraduate courses (click here) which will train the students to meet the demands of a professional creative life.

Any student successfully completing this course and is recommended for a full-time degree course at Hereford College of Arts by their tutor, and is offered a place will be guaranteed a generous bursary  in their first year of study with a further financial benefits  in each subsequent year. This bursary is not means-tested and does not affect a student’s eligibility for applying for maintenance grants or loans. Click here for more details


Students are also qualified to progress on to Higher Education at Universities and Colleges throughout the country, or to potentially gain entry to employment within the art and design industries at a junior level.

Please click on the blue link A - Z of Creative Careers