Art & Design (L3)

Level 3 Vocational – Equivalent to 2 A Levels

This course encourages students who are creative and innovative and enjoy working within a wide range of techniques. You will learn to work to realistic briefs that allow you to explore 2D and 3D disciplines. This course is purely coursework based. In the first year you will explore techniques in drawing, mixed media, photography, printmaking, design, 3D and painting; responding to personal artists and a range of workshops and themes. In the second year you will be able to specialise in combinations of design, fine art, illustration or multimedia leading to a personal identified project at the end of the course. The main purpose of the qualification is to prepare students who wish to progress to higher education in Art & Design or wish to enter a work placement in a creative industry. There will be professional elements to the course which will involve working with visiting artists and with our local gallery as well as trips to enrich learning. At the end of the year we celebrate all work in our end of year summer exhibition.

What skills will I develop?

• You will be introduced to a wide range of techniques and processes, which encourage you to explore and develop ideas.  
• You will develop skills in Fine Art, Graphic Design, basic Digital Photography and Film, Printmaking, Textiles, Multimedia, Design, and Sculpture.  

What topics will I study?

In the first year you will study the Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma (equivalent to 1 full A-level) and will cover a range of techniques and media within 6 of the following possible units: 

Cambridge Technical Diploma

• Unit 1: Art & Design in context-Core unit
• Unit 11: How artists and designers use 3D materials, techniques and processes
• Unit 10: How artists and designers use 2D materials, techniques and processes
• Unit 23: Exploring artists as photographers
• Unit 24: Photographic digital Image creation
• Unit 65: Fine Art Printmaking
• Unit 41: 3D Design work
• Unit 43: Product Design
• Unit 52: Textile design
• Unit 66: Fine Art Textiles

In the second year you will study the level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma (equivalent to 2 full A-levels) and will cover a range of techniques and media within 6 of the following possible units:

• Unit 63: Contemporary Fine Art

• Unit 60: Fine Art Drawing

• Unit 11: How artists and designers use 3D materials, techniques and processes

• Unit 12: Planning, researching and developing ideas for a specialist art or design brief

• Unit 13: Realizing an outcome for a specialist art or design brief 

• Unit 16: Exhibiting and presenting artwork

• Unit 32: Art & Design Illustration

• Unit 35: Design for Advertising

• Unit 41: 3D Design work

Where does the course lead?

Depending on your level of effort and attainment you can then go straight onto a Degree, a Foundation course, apprenticeship or employment.  Students with the right combination of other level 3 courses have progressed onto degrees in Graphic Design, Animation, Multimedia Design, Photography, Fine Art, Packaging Design, Fashion Design, Marketing,  Illustration, Interior Design and many more.