Hereford College of Art and Design - First Diploma in General Art & Design

First Diploma in General Art & Design Top Pic

Level: Further Education (Level II)
Study Mode: Full-time
Duration: 1 year
Minimum Age: 16
Entry Requirements: Portfolio & Interview
How to Apply: Direct to the College

Multi-media

Printing techniques

Photography

Sculpture

Painting

This one year course provides an introduction to the range of art and design practices if you are considering a career in the creative arts. It will give you the opportunity not only to study or perhaps revisit the fundamentals of art, such as drawing techniques, but also to work with a wide range of materials and processes to develop skills and become accomplished in them.

So, the First Diploma is a chance to study what you enjoy doing in order to gain a qualification that is equivalent to four GCSEs, and to build a strong portfolio of artwork. It would therefore suit students who do not expect to have the grades to progress to the National Diploma course, and on the other hand, it will also suit students who wish to gain a full experience of art and design, and gain a useful qualification within one year.

We believe it is important to make students feel valued, so we promote a belief that every student can achieve, within a curriculum designed to meet individual students needs. If you enjoy your art education you will have the confidence to realise your creative potential.

The course provides an opportunity to investigate art and design with hands-on, practical activities in order to complete projects and assessments which contribute to achieving each unit studied. You will work within a broad range of art & design subjects, and develop ideas and skills using a variety of both traditional and non- traditional media. The work is project-based, within the studio and workshops.

The course is made up of 6 units - 2 units completed each term. In order to complete each unit, students aim to achieve against a set of outcomes with practical exercises in techniques and processes. It is not an exam-based qualification. The assessment process is ongoing, so it allows you to analyse and improve your own performance throughout the course in much the same way as you would in a real workplace.

The projects that students undertake form the basis of their unit results which are graded as a Pass, a Merit or a Distinction. (Equivalent to GCSE grades C B A)

The course structure reflects the aim of the qualification - to give grounding in art and design principles. There is opportunity to explore a range of 2D and 3D processes including drawing, printing, painting, collage, photography, textiles,animation, working with wood, metals and ceramics.

In the autumn term there are a series of projects covering the communication of ideas in 2D and 3D, together with an introduction into the inspiration of ideas by looking at the work of other artists. This work is closely referenced to students practical work.

In the spring term we introduce the two specialist units: - working with Interactive Media briefs and working with Textile briefs. Students explore techniques and processes of these two areas and are introduced to key areas such as Photoshop, design, digital photography, media, animation, screen printing, appliqué and contemporary fashion techniques.

In the summer term students conclude with the Final Major Project where they write their own project proposal and produce work to exhibit in the End of Year Show, which brings together the expertise and skills learnt during the year.

Throughout the year, we feel it is important to look at art and inspiration for ideas 'outside of the studio', so we arrange a range of trips and visits to exhibitions and collections as well as activities such as a recent one based at a local Woodland Activity Centre to produce land art.

On successful completion of First Diploma in Art & Design students are guided through applications to further levels of art and design study, such as entry onto National Diploma in Art & Design giving students the opportunity to discover and develop skills in their specialist area, but also to gain skills to help them progress on to Higher Education. There is also guidance to alternative access to employment routes within the art and design field including vocational pathways such as apprenticeships or training.

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