Graphic Design

You will be able to study the following qualifications in this subject: 

• Level 1 UAL Diploma Art, Design and Media?(1 year) 

• Level 2 UAL Diploma Art and Design?(1 year) Graphic Design Pathway 

• Level 3 UAL Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Practice (2 years) Graphic Design Pathway 

Our Art Design and Media level 1 and Graphic Design level 2 introduces you to traditional and technical skills, so you build a broad, confident skill set rather than specialising too soon. You'll learn traditional techniques such as visual communication and fundamental creative practices that support your approaches to research, idea development and project management alongside using creative digital tools, developing real technical control over materials before deciding where your interests lie. 

Graphic Design teaches you to design for a real audience — logos, packaging, publications and digital media — using professional industry software. 

This UAL Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication covers branding, print design, illustration and motion graphics. You'll learn the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign) to a professional standard, alongside typography, layout and colour theory — the technical foundations every designer needs. 

Every project asks you to design for someone else's needs, not just your own taste, so you learn to explain and justify your design choices clearly — a skill that matters for exams, portfolios and later study in your Creative study. 

Real-world context 

We co-design parts of the course with design industry specialists, so what you learn reflects real creative practice. You'll gain experience of working in a professional context, creating design work for clients including community groups, and private and public organisations — building the confidence, experience and relevant portfolio that support your next step. Studio and agency visits also enrich your cultural and creative knowledge. 

You'll leave with a professional-standard portfolio and strong software skills, ready for progression to Foundation or degree-level Graphic Design, or an entry-level design role. 

Where it can take you 

Graphic Designer · Illustrator · Packaging Designer · UX/UI Designer · Junior Designer · Further Creative study at BA Hons level 

Work Experience

It is very important that you develop your experience within your industry and that you complete work placement opportunities. We can support you with this and our Graphics tutors have excellent industry links with relevant employers. We also invite employers and organisations to come in to offer you opportunities to complete projects and tasks in college, and have industry master classes and guest speakers from your industry specialism who will broaden your understanding of the career routes that you may choose to follow.  

So far, our students have completed work experience developing advertisements, social media marketing, product photography, book design, character design, print design etc. A selection of students have also been hired by an employer after work experience or competition briefs.

You will be continuously assessed to establish what you have learnt from each module and assignment.

To ensure you are ready for a demanding and successful career in the Graphic Design industry, many of your assessments are in line with the industry standards and protocols. This means you may be asked to pitch your ideas, present planning documents that meet professional standards, create outcomes for specific target audiences, or work with an employer to create a solution and outcome for a project.

With each project, you will be asked to produce a portfolio of evidence, which is also formally assessed by your tutors at various points throughout the year. Your feedback will be kept on our digital assessment platform at final assessment points, while one-to-one tutorials will discuss your progress and set you new and stretching targets to ensure you are always aiming high and making good progress.

Your final grade is established through your final major project, where you will use a selection of the skills and techniques that you have learnt, practised and developed on the course, and design & create a Graphics product of your own choosing. This project is examined by external moderators and is exhibited for your peers and tutors to assess.

On successful completion of Level 1 and 2 you can progress to the next level. Or if you enter at Level 3 you may have the opportunity to apply for advanced apprenticeships, university or full time employment. We also give students the opportunity to progress to our foundation course which develops your portfolio for prestigious applications to the top universities. Possible employment routes include Graphic Designer, Animator, Illustrator, Photographer, Magazine Editor, Website Designer, Print Designer, Games Designer, Creative Director and Games Designer.

Our students who choose to continue their studies at university generally choose higher education courses such as Graphic Design, Fashion Illustration, Illustration, Animation, Media or Architecture.