BTEC Award in Graphic Design Level 3 (B00233-121303)

Course Overview:

This practical 12-week course leads to a L3 BTEC Award in Graphic Design and is invaluable for those aiming to work in design, editorial or media-related fields, or who need to build a portfolio of work for progression to Further or Higher Education in Media Production or Art & Design. The course aims to develop your knowledge of type, layout and desktop publishing techniques for print, focussing particularly on:

If your course takes place in the Autumn term: The Relation between Words & Images.
If your course takes place in the Spring term: Typefaces & Letterforms
If your course takes place in the Summer term: Typography & Layout Design

You can also choose to combine all three terms to achieve a BTEC L3 Certificate in Graphic Design, a recognised qualification in the design and advertising industry.

Entry Requirements:

Good keyboard skills and a good degree of computer literacy are essential, and a basic knowledge of InDesign or QuarkXpress, Photoshop, and Illustrator is highly desirable, as is any previous art and design experience (eg life drawing, painting etc). Students who have no knowledge of Adobe CS5 are advised to take this course in conjunction with specialist InDesign and Photoshop courses.
Students should be keen to experiment with innovative treatment of words and images and to explore new techniques and processes.

Course Content:

The course aims to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to design effective and creative page layout solutions using typography, page layout conventions and DTP software applications.

Topics covered in the Autumn term course include:
• Exploration of the visual relation between graphic elements: combining word and image, principles of good layout/design, use of colour, texture, perspective etc.
• Exploration of abstract and literal design solutions
• Exploration of the design work of others (ie in galleries, exhibitions as well as TV, advertising, the internet etc)
• Words and images – how they communicate a message
• Suitability for purpose
• Type and letterforms: the power of typography in communication
- Typographic conventions and terminology
- Fonts: style, size, weight, suitability for purpose
- Legibility
• Text Editing

Topics covered in the Spring term course include:
• Exploration of the historical and contemporary developments of typefaces and letterforms
• Exploration how typefaces and letterforms communicate a message: the power of typography in communication
- Fonts: style, size, weight, suitability for purpose
- Legibility
• Exploration of the typographic design work of others (ie in galleries, exhibitions as well as TV, advertising, the internet etc)
• Typographic conventions and terminology

Topics covered in the Summer term course include:
• Exploration of the visual relation between graphic elements: combining word and image, principles of good layout/design, use of colour, texture, perspective etc.
• Creating long documents, eg magazines, brochures - planning and organising your work to maximise effective production
• Suitability for purpose
• Type and letterforms: the power of typography in communication
- Typographic conventions and terminology
- Fonts: style, size, weight, suitability for purpose
- Legibility
• Text editing

All courses cover the development and presentation of creative ideas in response to a brief. You will evaluate your own and others' work in terms of aesthetic values, innovative values, suitability for purpose and perceived audience.
This is a project-led course in which you will learn through practical demonstration, formal instruction and individual tuition, but primarily by working towards your individual design solution to a given brief.

Assessment Methods:

Your progress will be assessed through coursework, observation and in-class tests.

Additional Information:

It would be useful to have access to a computer with graphics software (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop. Illustrator) outside course hours so that you can progress your project in your own time.

For any further information please contact the course leader by email: nicky.gregory@racc.ac.uk

You can also make an appointment for further information or tutor approval on our Open Days: http://www.racc.ac.uk/opendays.

For further course information email: bit@racc.ac.uk or phone: 0208 891 5907 ext 7506 or 7507 or drop in to our main reception area at either site.

If you would like more information on course fees and how to get additional help to pay for them, please click here

Bring To First Class:

Pen and sketchbook (preferably A4, unruled, hard/spiral bound), ruler, pencil, folder for handouts, samples etc, 4GB USB memory key for transporting your digital work.

Attendance:

Regular attendance is essential.

Further Study and Career Opportunities:

Students successfully completing one Award course can combine it with the 2 additional BTEC L3 graphics Award courses mentioned in this outline to achieve a BTEC Certificate in Graphic Design.
This course could usefully be taken in conjunction with other multimedia courses such as Photoshop, InDesign, Flash etc, or with other Fine Art courses such as Drawing and Painting or Illustration.
Please ask your course tutor for advice during the course.

Alternative Courses:

• B00582-121301 Adobe Acrobat X
  Start: 12/07/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00634-121301 Digital Publishing Suite CS6 – Summer School
  Start: 18/07/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Thu, Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00422-121301 How to make an E-book
  Start: 05/06/2013 Duration: 4 week(s) Days/Time: Wed (19:00 to 21:00)
• B00580-121302 Illustrator CS6: Intermediate
  Start: 05/07/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00633-121301 Illustrator CS6: Intermediate
  Start: 09/07/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Tue (19:00 to 21:00)
• B00414-121302 Illustrator CS6: Introduction
  Start: 14/06/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00428-121302 Illustrator CS6: Introduction
  Start: 04/06/2013 Duration: 5 week(s) Days/Time: Tue (19:00 to 21:00)
• B00581-121302 InDesign CS6: Intermediate
  Start: 28/06/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00383-121302 InDesign CS6: Introduction
  Start: 07/06/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00074-121309 Introduction to Photoshop & InDesign
  Start: 07/05/2013 Duration: 10 week(s) Days/Time: Tue (18:30 to 21:00)
• B00508-121304 Photoshop & Indesign Intermediate
  Start: 25/04/2013 Duration: 12 week(s) Days/Time: Thu (10:00 to 12:30)
• B00579-121302 Photoshop CS6: Intermediate
  Start: 21/06/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00354-121303 Photoshop CS6: Introduction
  Start: 24/05/2013 Duration: 1 week Days/Time: Fri (10:00 to 16:00)
• B00353-121304 Photoshop, Illustrator & Indesign Intensive
  Start: 22/06/2013 Duration: 6 week(s) Days/Time: Sat (09:30 to 15:00)
• B00508-121305 Photoshop, Illustrator & Indesign Intermediate
  Start: 08/05/2013 Duration: 10 week(s) Days/Time: Wed (18:00 to 21:00)
• B00353-121307 Photoshop, Indesign & Illustrator Intensive
  Start: 04/05/2013 Duration: 6 week(s) Days/Time: Sat (09:30 to 15:00)

How to Enrol:

For Information on how to enrol please click here

Frequently Asked Questions:

“How much homework will I need to do outside of class?”

The more you practise, the easier you will find it to learn the programs and make progress. The more exhibitions and galleries you visit, and the more magazines etc you study the faster your work will develop.


“When will the exams take place?”

There are no exams. You will be continuously assessed based on your in-class and submitted work.


“Do I need any special equipment?”

A memory stick (4GB) to save your work is essential. It is useful to have access both to the internet and to CS6 software outside the class so that you can practise what you have learned in class.

“Is there any tutorial support?”

Individual tuition and advice will be given in class, and an Individual Learning Plan will be drawn up to help you achieve your goals.

Information Advice and Guidance:

You can enrol online, over the phone or in person at either site
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