Graphics and Digital Imaging BTEC Level 2 Diploma

This is a one year course which will encourage and challenge your creative talents and teach you new skills and knowledge. It is for those of you who really like the design side of the arts.

The course will cover drawing and colour theory, but will also introduce you to the design process, typography, photography and computer applications such as Photoshop. It will cover a broad range of skills so that you have chance to discover where your creative strengths lie.

The diploma aims to provide education and training in art and design for those learners in full-time education who either want to go into employment or onto further study. It will help you to develop skills, knowledge and a better understanding of the world of graphics and digital arts.

The BTEC Level 2 Diploma gives opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of practice and theory, knowledge of the sector in terms of careers paths, work on a major project, and gives opportunities for you to build a portfolio for progression. In addition to your functional skills sessions and personal tutorial sessions you will have approximately four art sessions per week of 2.5 hours each. They will be varied and include group critiques, lectures and sessions in the Digital Zone and specialist workshops.

You will produce a variety of practical work including production plans, annotation and final evaluations. You will also learn to develop your critical skills and ability to contextualise your work in relation to historical and contemporary artists. There are several skills and attributes that will be expected of you. You will need to be continually focused on generating and developing ideas as this is the essence of all creativity. In addition to this you must demonstrate a willingness to be experimental and self-motivated.

Many of your tutors are practicing artists and designers bringing current industry practice to the classroom. From our teaching team you can expect an enthusiastic and committed team, individual guidance to help you progress and achieve, help with working on your individual strengths, extensive guidance for application to Further Education, help to build a varied portfolio of work and help with exploring careers within the Creative Industries.

The course is taught through a range of approaches designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop your technical and conceptual skills. In order to cover all of the 8 units you need to pass the course you will be given assignments to work on at regular intervals throughout the year. The teaching team will help guide you through all of the assignment requirements. All of your work will be assessed and as you complete the assignments the staff will provide you with feedback to help you better understand the processes behind the subject matter. Delivery methods will include practical workshop sessions in specialist room,s classroom-based theory sessions supported by IT, and computer-based research, real-world industry situations (group projects, collaborative assignments) and educational visits to venues within the UK.

Students studying on this exciting programme will gain access to specialist facilities such as the Digital Zone, photography equipment and some of the specialist workshops, highly skilled and industry experienced teaching staff, excellent routes of progression within Reading-College for further Visual Arts courses, a full Art, Design and Media, BTEC Level 2 Diploma plus Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths, and it will help you to become more independent.

Throughout the duration of the programme students will develop a portfolio of work, industry knowledge and skills to help them find employment or support an application for further study. Additional learning and pastoral support is offered through the tutorial support.

Four GCSE grades D or above including an Art-related subject, English Language and preferably Maths, or a BTEC Level 1 Diploma with a Merit profile and supporting Functional Skills. Details of suggested portfolio content is included at the bottom of this page. A satisfactory reference is required.

Students who successfully complete the one-year programme will be able to progress to a Level 3 course such as Graphics and Digital Arts, Photography and Digital Imaging or Art and Design.