FdA Commercial Art and Design Practice

Overview

This course prepares students to operate as informed, effective, responsive and skilled professionals. It has a vocational emphasis and enables students to develop and explore skills in design, photography, arts projects and related computer software. The course encourages innovative approaches to art and design, with an entrepreneurial focus reinforced with live commissions and work placements.  

The course is designed in partnership with local employers to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to their future employment. Students will be prepared for the world of work and able to apply the right skills immediately. Project briefs will make clear the industrial requirements and restrictions including a fixed deadline and will often be ‘live’ assignments and competitions set by related companies and individuals.

Students who successfully complete this course have the opportunity to progress to BA (Hons) Arts Practice at UCS or the final year of a relevant Honours degree. Alternatively employment opportunities exist within the regional and national arts sector including graphic design, advertising, gallery management, photography, illustration as well as freelance opportunities and independent artistic and craft pursuits. 

Content and Modules

The course provides a broad range of art and design practice from art principles and processes through to techniques and communication design skills. Within each pathway students build on their capacity to be creative and resourceful, whilst becoming equipped with relevant entrepreneurial skills.

First year modules include: Introduction to Arts Projects, Sector IT Skills, Personal Development and Planning, Applied Image Making, Art project 1 and Business Practice.

Second year modules include: Arts Marketing, Skills Integration, Planning and Preparation, Sector Sustainability and Project Realisation.

All modules build on existing skills and knowledge, allowing and encouraging broad creative responses. Teaching and learning takes place through class sessions, projects, practical workshops and demonstrations, research activities and student-centred learning. 

Work-based learning consists of exhibitions of original art and design work. The first year project involves preparation, presentation and organisation of an exhibition of course work. The second year continues to develop this towards professional and sector requirements including a work placement. A number of selected industry professionals engage with the course, leading lectures, Q and A sessions and practical workshops in their chosen specialism.

Further Information

Assessment for this course is through essays/written work, portfolio production, student activity logs, exhibitions, course work and other assignments.

What is included in your tuition fees
At UCS your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with your course that you will need to budget for.

Read full details of the included and additional costs for FdA Commercial Art and Design Practice|

Please note, UCS reserves the right to change this information as and when required.