Graphic Design and Communication A Level

Many of our students choose to take a one-year Art Foundation level 3/4 Diploma (equiv. to 2 A levels) before embarking on an arts degree often studying at Brighton GB Met or Northbrook. Joining a Visual Arts tutor group in A2 to support them in their applications helps them explore the wide variety of arts degrees available.  Arts universities such as Falmouth, Bournemouth and Norwich specialise in Visual Arts courses.  

Should I study Creative Arts at degree level? 

Would you like the opportunity to develop your ability to express yourself creatively through drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, performance art or film? Teaching varies between lectures, groups and one-to-one help. The course teaches many things - conceptual thinking, illustrated book, advertising and editorial work, life drawing, digital skills. You can study Graphic Design or focus on Graphic illustration, Graphic Communication for Graphics for Computer Games. Photography courses include composing and taking photographs and digital or darkroom techniques to manipulate images. You will learn a mix of technical and creative skills. If you have creative ability and a wish to communicate your ideas by producing visual images or design solutions, then a degree in Creative Arts may be for you. 

There is a huge range of Creative Arts related degrees. 

Entry Requirements 

A-levels (or equivalent) usually required 

• No Specific Requirements 

Useful to have 

• A Creative Arts subject 

• You may well need a portfolio & interview 

Top Universities for Creative Arts 

Oxford, Newcastle, Loughborough, UCL, Lancaster, Bournemouth 
Bristol, UWE, Aberystwyth, De Montfort, Lincoln – all very high student satisfaction scores 
Kent, Bournemouth Arts, Falmouth - all with top graduate prospects 

Many of our students choose a combined degree - applications from our students have included: 

• History of Art and English Literature 

• Interior Design 

• Interior Architecture and Design 

• Illustration 

Example entry requirements (please check): 

A-Level/BTEC equivalents:  
 
Reading Graphic Communication B,B,B 
AU Bournemouth Fashion UCAS Points: 112-120  
Southampton Fine Art BBB  
AU Bournemouth Photography UCAS Points: 112-120 
Falmouth Photography (Foundation) UCAS Points: 80-120 
Newcastle Fine Art B,B,B-A,A,B 
Falmouth Fine Art (Foundation) UCAS Points: 80 -120 
Solent Fashion Design UCAS Points: 104-120  
Nottingham Trent Fashion Management UCAS Points: 104-112  
Royal Holloway Video Games Art & Design A,B,B-B,B,B 
Plymouth Graphic Design (Foundation) UCAS Points: 32-48 

Some examples of Creative Arts-related degrees that our BHASVIC students have gone onto study in the past few years are: 

• 3D Animation & Visual Effects 

• Architecture (with placement year) 

• Artist Designer: Maker 

• Arts Management 

• Ceramic Design 

• Comic and Concept Art 

• Commercial Photography 

• Computer Animation and Visual Effects (with Foundation Year) 

• Computer Games Art 

• Contour Fashion 

• Costume Design and Construction 

• Costume for Performance 

• Creative Advertising 

• Creative and Cultural Industries: Art Direction 

• Creative and Cultural Industries: Design Marketing 

• Creative and Cultural Industries: Fashion Promotion and Communication 

• Design for Branded Spaces 

• Design for Stage and Screen (Costume Design and Construction) 

• Digital Arts Computing 

• Documentary Photography 

• Fashion and Textile Design 

• Fashion Business and Management 

• Fashion Buying and Merchandising 

• Fashion Design Innovation 

• Fashion Journalism and Content Creation 

• Fashion Marketing and Consumer Behaviour 

• Fashion Pattern Cutting 

• Fashion Photography 

• Fine Art and Art History 

• Furniture: Design and Make (Activate Learning - City of Oxford College) 

• Game Design 

• Graphic Branding and Identity 

• Graphic Communication 

• Illustration for Communication 

• Industrial Design and Technology 

• Interior Architecture 

• Landscape Architecture (with Foundation) 

• Marine and Natural History Photography 

• Model Design (Model Effects) 

• Photojournalism and Documentary Photography 

• Product Design Engineering 

• Prop Making and Special Effects 

• Textiles Design with Business Studies 

How BHASVIC helps: We have a wide range of information and resources to support students applying for university including subject area guides, personal statement and UCAS resources, super-curricular activity guides, open day and bursary information. We also cover university research, careers, art foundation and all other destinations in depth in tutorial and students can choose an appropriate pathway for them in the second year from UCAS, Employability & Enterprise, Visual Arts, Oxbridge and Medics. Our Spring Futures Fair brings in a huge number of university visitors with workshops and information stands and departments will bring speakers in wherever possible. 

Jobs where studying a Creative Art would be useful include: 

• Art therapist 

• Interior and spatial designer 

• Stylist  

• Exhibition designer 

• Fine artist 

• Interior and spatial designer 

• Landscape architect 

• Medical illustrator 

• Multimedia specialist 

• Photographer 

• Urban designer 

• Advertising art director 

• Digital marketer 

• Visual merchandiser 

• Web content manager 

Career Prospects 

Many fine artists produce and market their own work. You can diversify by taking courses in art-related disciplines, such as graphics or teaching, or become a 'portfolio' worker, holding down several jobs to support your creative work. You can also apply for mainstream graduate jobs and training in a range of industries, such as banking, insurance, media and public relations.  

The most common jobs are in the arts are photographers, audio-visual technicians, operators and designers, as directors, as artists and as graphic designers. Training in presenting sound and graphics is useful in other industries as well, so you can find graduates in advertising, in business management, in events management and in web design and IT. Be aware that freelancing and self-employment is common in the arts, as are what is termed 'portfolio careers' – having several part-time jobs or commissions at once. If you choose to study at university workshops are often available in business and entrepreneur skills. 

The UK has a proud reputation as a centre of design excellence, and last year, design was behind only nursing in the number of graduates from UK universities with nearly 13,700. You can work for a variety of businesses, such as design consultancies and studios or branding specialists. You may be part of a team specialising in advertising design, including identity and event branding or corporate communication. 

Advertising and PR agencies also employ graphic designers to create positive images of organisations, individuals and products, and deliver imaginative solutions that generate sales or an increase in business interest. You could also work for a publishing company. Many publishers have moved into interactive and online products where you can use your skills to help with the design, production and marketing of books, magazines, newspapers and journals. 

Local Market 

The creative sector receives government funding. In recognition of the large contribution to the UK economy, £20m government investment has been received by the UK creative industry, part of which will be used to create a Creative Careers Programme to highlight employment opportunities within the sector to schools and colleges. A new report entitled ‘Growing the UK’s Creative Industries’ from the Creative Industries Federation was published and according to the report, one in eight UK enterprises are creative enterprises, which are collectively responsible for two million jobs 

Examples of apprenticeships and opportunities include: 

• Graduate Art Consultant 

• Junior 3D Designer 

• Gallery Manager 

How BHASVIC helps: We have an excellent Careers Hub and careers advisors who are available for appointments through student services. Local jobs are advertised and they will advise on skills and specialist areas such as degree apprenticeships. Students can choose an appropriate pathway for them in the second year from UCAS, Employability & Enterprise, Visual Arts, Oxbridge and Medics. Our Spring Futures Fair brings in a huge number of careers & apprenticeship visitors with workshops and information stands and departments will bring speakers in around the subject area.

You will gain many transferable skills studying Creative Arts that will be valued in the workplace including:  

Researching, problem solving, project management, presentation skills, working to a brief, creativity, communication, IT skills, critiquing, teamwork, emotional intelligence 

Local Skills 

The Local Skills agenda considers job prospects and employment in our local area of Sussex. Many of our students will contribute to the National Skills agenda and go onto find a career in a wide range of sectors. For students in Sussex our local skills are identified as the following sectors: 

• Construction 

• Creative & Cultural 

• Digital (includes IT and Technology)  

• Engineering & Manufacturing 

• Healthcare (includes Bio Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical)  

• Visitor & Hospitality  

• Land-based (includes Agriculture and Viticulture)  

• Green Skills 

Degree choices that match the Local Skills agenda our BHASVIC students went onto study and work in Creative & Cultural include: 

• Ceramic Design 

• Comic and Concept Art 

• Fashion Design and Marketing 

• Graphic Communication Design 

• Promotional Media: PR, Advertising and Branding 

Career choices that match the Local Skills agenda our BHASVIC students went onto study and work in Creative & Cultural industries include: 

• Web designer 

• Graphic designer 

• Printmaker 

• Product designer 

• Secondary school teacher 

• Visual merchandiser 

How BHASVIC helps: Skills Week in A1 helps students build skills in the workplace and a focus on developing skills through tutorial in A1 and A2 supports students in writing outstanding Personal Statements and CVs. We know our students have already gained a wide variety of skills at home and with extra-curricular activities and will increasingly take up jobs. Our focus is on supporting them to evidence skills already gained, identify gaps and ensure that they transfer that to CVs and applications. This is in partnership with every curriculum area.