Art & Design (Arts Practice) | Selby College

Higher National Certificate/Diploma, Level 4 / 5

Art & Design (Arts Practice)

The HNC in Art and Design (Arts Practice) is a one-year programme providing students with a specialist vocational grounding in art and design. There will be a strong emphasis on the development of both individual creative practice and an understanding of professional and employment-focused skills. The programme will also provide students with a higher level of contextual awareness of art and design practices.

Our goal is to prepare you for a successful career within the creative arts industry. Building on previous knowledge and skills in art and design, the course is structured to provide opportunities across a broad academic and vocational base, progressively deepening students’ knowledge. Based on the current specification from the awarding body, students will undertake eight units to complete the first year of the programme.

This full-time programme is run over one year with students attending daytime sessions. The course is divided into a number of compulsory units which are designed to give you a broad overview of the subject area. You will also be provided with the opportunity to specialise in dedicated subject areas. A range of teaching and learning methods including seminars, lectures, group work, tutorials and e-Learning are used, with a work-related, problem-solving and research-based approach emphasized. You will engage in practical workshops, theory sessions, critiques, lectures, exhibitions and visits, alongside specialist workshops delivered by visiting contemporary practitioners.

This programme is currently open to applicants from the UK and EU applicants only.

The course will focus on three main areas of specialisation: photography, fine art and graphic communication. You will undertake general art and design project work and sample all pathways, working to your existing strengths but, at the same time, developing many new skills and competencies.

The HNC in Art and Design is designed to help you gain academic and vocational skills. You will learn a wide range of practical in-demand vocational skills in art and design such as studio photography skills including advanced lighting techniques, digital workflow management, colour control and RAW conversion, all using state-of-the-art software and hardware. Graphic communication assignments will concentrate on the advanced use of key industry-standard software and the preparation of artwork for print and screen.

Fine art practice will focus on the need to source opportunities to disseminate art projects to a wider audience and manage the many forms of presentation whether 2D, 3D or time-based in nature. You will also gain a sound knowledge and understanding of the art and design sector while developing research, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities which are essential employability skills for work within this field.

Building on previous knowledge and skills in art and design, the course is structured to provide opportunities across a broad academic and vocational base, progressively deepening students’ knowledge. We also offer different pathways after the first semester in; Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Communication and 3D practices.

Based on the current specification from the awarding body, students will undertake eight units to complete the first year of the programme. These are currently planned as*:

HNC Techniques and Practices (Mandatory core)
Material Practices (Mandatory core)
Individual project - Pearson Set (Mandatory core)
Media Practices (Mandatory core)
Professional Development (Mandatory core)
Contextual Studies (Mandatory core)
Communication in Art and Design (Mandatory core Specialist)
Darkroom Techniques (Fine Art) (Optional)
Printmaking (Fine Art) (Optional)
Graphic Design Practices (Graphic Communication) (Optional)
Photographic Practices (Photography) (Optional)
3D Practices (3D processes fine art) (Optional)

The second year of the course will then follow on with a further six units. These are currently planned as*:

Professional Practice (Mandatory core)
Applied Practice Collaborative Project (Pearson set) (Mandatory core)
Advanced Art Practice Studies (Mandatory specialist)
Conceptual Practice (Fine Art/3D) (Optional)
Material Selection and Specification (Fine Art/3D/Graphics) (Optional)
Creative Industries Placement (Optional)
Branding and Identity (Graphic Communication) (Optional)
Advanced Photography (Optional)

*Please note, units may be subject to change from year to year, due to curriculum updating/sector changes/changes in delivery staff specialisms or awarding body requirements.

Assessments for the course may take a variety of forms, from practical tasks, group work and presentations to formal, written assignments and reports.

Academic and practical skills developed through the course focus on workplace and transferable skills to equip students for progression into employment, developed alongside academic skills such as research, problem analysis and critical thinking to support progression to higher level study. You will develop the ability to work independently and on your own initiative.

You will develop career-ready employment skills which will include:

Technical and practical confidence in the use of a wide range of professional-level equipment Management of the digital workflow (ideas-artwork-production-reproduction)
The ability to manage time effectively and to plan to meet your client’s expectations
Awareness of budgets, production costs and charging for time
The ability to communicate your ideas to others and present compelling concepts appropriately
The capacity to work safely and responsibly throughout the creative process when dealing with clients and other stakeholders

On successful completion of the HND, you will have the opportunity to progress to a top-up course to gain a full BA (Hons) degree at university in just one year. Other students may progress to employment or set up their own enterprise.

The course aims to equip students with the skills required to embark upon a variety of employment opportunities in the creative industries:

Graphic Design
Commercial Photography
Illustration
Animation
Moving Image Production
Marketing
Teaching are all viable areas of employment.

Students might also use the course to set up in business for themselves, exhibiting and selling their art products or using their design skills or photographic talents to work freelance.

This is a nationally recognised qualification offering career and professional development for those entering, or already established in, the art and design field, as well as opening up progression opportunities for successful students to further their academic study to degree level. The course is aimed at those who have completed a Level 3 course, or equivalent, in Art and Design or a related subject, or who have relevant industry experience and are looking to progress to a practical Higher Education qualification. This programme will appeal to those who wish to complete their studies in an inclusive setting which is accessible and can provide a highly supportive teaching and learning environment.

64 UCAS tariff points (NEW UCAS TARIFF) from either:

A Levels (including Art and Design or another relevant subject)
BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) in Art and Design
Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design)

The following are also required:

A grade C or above in GCSE English
Two satisfactory references

A grade C or above in GCSE Maths is also desirable.

Applications from mature students with relevant professional/life experience are welcome. You might be required to provide further evidence to decide on your suitability for the course and an admissions test may be used in certain circumstances.

The College has a wide range of equipment/facilities for art and design including:

access to your own studio space
industry-standard, Apple Mac-based computer facilities and the full range of relevant software
fully-equipped digital photography studio with lighting rig and Profoto studio equipment
access to high-end, professional-level digital cameras including Phase One medium format
traditional darkroom for film/print processing
printmaking workshop supporting photo silk-screen and relief processes

We do ask that students obtain their own DSLR camera to use in all general-purpose research and recording situations (we are happy to provide advice on what to buy).

A wide range of general art and design materials are provided but students may be expected to source and purchase any particularly specialist materials themselves.

There could be additional costs associated with certain elements of this programme such as optional residential trips, visits and specialist equipment.

Selby College has a dedicated HE room, extensive IT facilities and a well-stocked Learning Resource Centre with relevant texts, journals and e-resources which can be accessed on site and remotely.

Where can it lead?

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