Graphic Design

Get a comprehensive introduction to the graphic design industry from working artists. Using state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll work on live briefs set by real businesses, as you learn design theory and application. From initial briefings and class discussions, to presenting your work and taking part in workshops, you’ll get to grips with the full design process.

You’ll become well-versed in all things design related, become a creative thinker, and produce a great portfolio of work for higher education or work as a designer.

What you’ll learn  

You’ll learn all the ins and outs of graphic design, spanning a huge range of design communication and concepts. From typography and illustration, digital manipulation and visual recording, to marketing and branding, digital design and desktop publishing – you’ll gain a thorough understanding of all of the ways in which design is used and can influence our lives. Putting your knowledge into practice, there’s plenty of topics to delve into and try your hand at producing designs for a wide range of live briefs.

You’ll study graphic design and other related topics to develop a range of traditional design and study skills. Through the history of design, you’ll get to research and discover the historical and contextual practice and evaluate how this impacts your own design work.

With a strong emphasis on digital design skills, technical workshops and masterclasses, as well as self-directed study, our expert lecturers will support you to develop a full, professional design skillset that prepares you for your next steps.

Highlights 

You can look forward to:

• Opportunity for internal internships
• Each year there is a residential trip abroad, as well as a range of field trips that form a vital part of learning outside of the classroom. Last year we visited Design Museum, V&A, Oxford Natural History Museum, Ashmolean, Tate Modern, as well as other course related trips
• Industry week delivered by industry specialists 
• 3D printers, A2 printer, heat press, foiling materials, screen printing
• Industry-focused tutors, studio classroom environment, independent approach

Assessment  

Assessment is coursework based with no exams. There are two modules per year with mini briefs for skills development and portfolio building. Throughout the course there will be a range of formative and summative feedback, giving you the opportunity to develop and grow as a designer. By the end of the course, you will have a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design with a Graphic Design pathway from Pearsons.

Anything else?  

There is a course fee charged at enrolment to cover essential course materials and trips. This includes use of iPads, Apple pencils, Wacom pen, photography equipment, print credits, Poska pens and other consumable equipment that you use.

You’ll normally spend 4 days a week in college, and benefit from a weekly pastoral session with a student mentor for any additional support.

At Gloucestershire College we want students to develop their English and Maths skills so that they achieve their learning goals and future career aims. For this reason, all full-time students (16-18) who have not achieved grade 4 or above English language or maths GCSE will study these subjects as part of their course.

You’ll also complete 100 hours of CPD and develop additional employability and work-based skills through our Which Three Skills programme.