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Graphic Design BTEC HND

Graphic Design TBCG
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  • Graphic Design HND (Full time) – L132

Overview

Graphic Design HND (Full time)

This full-time qualification is designed to equip you with the knowledge, flexibility and skills required for a successful career within an exciting and ever-widening industry. The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop a professional portfolio, covering branding, corporate identity, design for print, advertising, illustration, editorial design, typography, digital design, and animation.

You will regularly engage with leading UK design professionals through ‘live projects’ and talks, and benefit from our impressive track record for both gaining employment and winning national competitions. The course is an active member of British Design and Art Direction (D&AD) and has forged strong industrial links with both local and national designers. At the end of the year, you will exhibit your work both locally and at a major London venue as part of D&AD’s New Blood exhibition. Work experience opportunities will also be made available to you in the latter stages of the course. A list of visiting contacts and speakers is available on request.

Course information

Entry requirements

To begin this course you will need a Higher National Certificate in an Art & Design subject, or relevant professional experience. Entry will also be subject to a successful interview, where you will be asked to present a portfolio of your previous work.

Entry is subject to a successful interview, where you will be asked to bring along a portfolio of your existing work. We welcome applications from mature students who will be considered individually on experience rather than qualifications.

You will be suited to this course if you can evidence the ability and/or potential to:

  • Work imaginatively in graphic and visual media
  • Generate and develop creative ideas in response to a wide range of briefs
  • Articulate and communicate your creative intentions clearly
  • Show a willingness to collaborate and discuss your work in group situations
  • Reflect critically on your activities and learning, and demonstrate intellectual inquiry
  • Embrace new ways of thinking and exploit digital technologies.
Course content

To achieve HND status you will have studied the following modules

(Year 1 HNC study modules are marked HNC):

  • Professional Development (HNC)
  • Individual Project (HNC)
  • Contextual Studies (HNC)
  • Techniques and Processes (HNC)
  • Typography (HNC)
  • Graphic Design Practices (HNC)
  • Professional Practice
  • Applied Practice Collaborative Project
  • Advanced Graphic Design Studies
  • Communication in Art & Design (HNC)
  • Surface Design (HNC)
  • Branding & Identity
  • Conceptual Practice
  • Art Direction

You will also be introduced to web design and motion graphics in the second year.

Assessment methods

You will work with a range of specialist lecturers, including practising designers, in well-equipped studios and workshops. Projects brief will be set for each assignment, and you will be encouraged to develop a personal response to each task. All activities will be supported through one-to-one tutorials and group discussions to inform you of personal progress and to aid assessment. Assessment will be continuous throughout the course, with assignments graded at the end of each task.

Further study and career options

On successful completion of the HND you can move directly into employment within the design or advertising industry, or top-up the qualification to a full Bachelor’s degree at Bedford College and elsewhere.

Upon successful completion, graduates are employed as graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, web and digital designers throughout the UK with some entering Europe and the USA. Alternatively, you could continue your studies with a Master of Arts (MA) qualification at University.

Additional information
Recently, Bedford based brewer Charles Wells challenged students to come up with branding design ideas for its new multi-million investment brewhouse and visitor destination. 20 students will soon have the opportunity to pitch their individual creative design ideas.

Additional costs

  • Basic art & design equipment such as layout pads, pens, scalpel, ruler, and external hard drive as per the materials list.
  • Resource fee of £150 to cover all in-studio colour laser printing, use of specialist studio materials, papers and adhesives, provision of studio journals, two key texts, visiting speakers’ travel expenses and for completing students a contribution towards exhibiting at a major London venue.
  • Developing a personal portfolio (completing students) and self-promotional items of approximately £100, and occasional visits by train to London.

Please note: You will be required to attend college 12 hours per week (Days to be confirmed).

Take the next step

Apply through UCAS

Apply now
Graphic Design TBCG
Graphic designs for Green Hangar Movement
Creative Conscience Awards

Higher Success

Two Graphic Design students, Ellie Di Carlo and Konrad Konopka, have come through with winning/highly commended entries in the International ‘Creative Conscience Awards’.

Read more
Available Courses
Tresham College Kettering Campus
Starts: 19/09/2024
Type: HE
Length: 30 weeks
Day(s): Thursday, Friday
Time(s): 9:00am - 4:30pm
Fees: £6,000.00 Fee notes: The fee indicated is for each year of the course.
Bedford College
Starts: 19/09/2024
Type: HE
Length: 30 weeks
Day(s): Wednesday, TH
Time(s): 9:15am - 4:30pm
Fees: £6,000.00 Fee notes: The fee indicated is for each year of the course.
Disclaimer

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information on the Website is correct, some details may be subject to change. The Bedford College Group reserves the right to make amendments to the courses, dates, fees or other details, and to make cancellations or changes if numbers are insufficient. In the unfortunate situation that we have to cancel a course we will refund your fees in full, but we regret we are not able to offer any refund if you withdraw from your course or fail to start, and you will be liable to pay any outstanding fees that may be due.

Funding Information

Loan Pay by Instalments

You could be eligible to take out a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees. Click on the link below to find out more about the financial support available for our Higher Education courses.

Find out more

If you decide to pay for your course yourself, we also offer an affordable Direct Debit instalments option to help spread the cost of tuition fees (terms apply).

Bedford College Graphic Design HND
Art & Design

Samantha

When I started College on the HNC last year, I knew I wanted to go into work as a Graphic Designer. However, during my time here I have found my niche and realised, with the guidance of my tutors, that an Art Direction role would suit me better. I’m good at coming up with ideas for briefs, and I have good communication and people skills. In the meantime, I’ll be looking for an entry level position as an Artworker after College.

College is what you want to make of it; I am constantly asking questions to get better and find out as much as I can. I’m putting the work in and it’s paying off.

I recently won a project with Kettering Borough Council to propose ideas to produce design panels for the cultural quarter. The design had to celebrate Northamptonshire, so mine was based around shoes. I got to meet the Mayor and have an interview with BBC Radio Northampton, but above all it was great to get a real taste of a client brief. To see a design of mine go to print was very exciting.

We are now working on our Final Major Project. I contacted a company called Mondo, who are based in Texas and design and print incredible movie posters for collectors. I already have a degree in Film, so this seemed a great way to combine my two passions.

Mondo use designers to recreate movie posters as works of art, just as they used to be before movie memorabilia was lost in the 1990s. Mondo have made it popular again and they make Graphic Designers artists in their own right. I now have access to their Creative Director to comment on my work and give feedback throughout the project. It’s an avenue I’d love to pursue and it would be an incredible honour to design for them one day.

HNC Graphics_Level 4_ Will Stewart_YCN Image 1

CREATIVE TALENT OVERCOMES COVID

From January to March 2021, HE Graphics students worked on a variety of commercial briefs as part of the YCN International Student Awards. Despite the additional challenges of lockdown and working only online during this period, two teams have been recognised with Awards.

 

Find out more

Additional Learning Support

If you have a specific learning difficulty or disability, are deaf or hearing impaired, our Additional Learning Support team are on hand to give you assistance whenever you need it.

Any questions?

If you would like to find out more about this or other courses, please use our Livechat below, email info@bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk or call us on 0345 658 8990.

Accessibility

We have access arrangements in place to help students with disabilities or any other particular needs. Call us on 01234 291000 or 01536 413123 for more information.

Additional formats

Course information sheets are also available in large print and audio formats. Call us on 01234 291000 or 01536 413123 to order your copy.