Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

26th Aug 2024, 2 years

Location

City Campus

Applications from International Students Welcome

Overview

This creative course is an opportunity to explore a range of art disciplines and provides a foundation for you to develop your creative potential within the context of emerging technologies.   You will have the opportunity to develop art and design skills through a range of, art, animation, 3D modelling, digital video, digital sound and computer art projects.   

The primary focus of the course is to give you the knowledge and skills to move onto further study at art school and university.  This will include an understanding of the role that research plays in art and design and is reflective of your own creative practice.  On the course, we continually underpin the importance of developing an individual art process rather than copying existing styles and ideas.

View our students work.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

• Higher Art and Design at Grade C or above AND National 5 English at Grade C or above; OR
• NC Art and Design, Graphic Arts Portfolio, Graphic Design or Illustration; OR
• Other equivalent qualifications or experience

Year 2 Entry

• An HNC in Computer Arts and Design or an equivalent level qualification.

Additional selection requirements

Submit a portfolio of art and design work that contains:

• 2 examples of finished art or design work.
• 2 examples of research for art or design work.
• 2 examples of development work for art or design work.
• In addition, include at least 5 examples of observational drawing and sketching.

This may be uploaded along with your application or linked to as part of an online portfolio of work. Successful candidates will be invited for a course information session.  

ESOL entry requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

What you study

Year 1

• Introduction to Animation.
• Art and Design Project Development.
• Developmental Drawing.
• Mixed Media.
• Observational Drawing.
• Story Boarding.
• Motion Studies.
• 3D Computer Visualisation.
• Art and Design Context.
• Introduction to Creative Industries.

Year 2:

• Personal Projects.
• History of Creative Practices.
• Compositing and Motion Graphics.
• 3D Animation Motion Studies.
• Portfolio Building.
• Art and Design Presentation.
• Professional Studies.

After the course

Careers

Students who complete their HND can progress to a career in motion graphics as an animator, storyboard artist, layout artist, character developer, compositor, VFX designer and other-related specialist.

There are opportunities for employment in-house or as a self-employed freelancer working for animation studios, VFX companies, BBC, STV, TV production companies, web design studios, advertising agencies, and other clients requiring animation or motion graphics sequences.

Continuing Study

Due to the on-going success of the course many of our graduates move onto a diverse range of art school courses, including: -  

• Interaction Design, Environmental Art, Product Design and Fine Art Photography, Games and Virtual Reality at the Glasgow School of Art.   
• Animation, Fine Art, Art & Philosophy, and Interior & Environmental Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design.  
• Animation, Graphic Design at Edinburgh College of Art. 

In addition, students have moved on to Film Making at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, New Media at UWS and because of the interdisciplinary nature of the course, many graduates have gone on to study Computer Games and Computer Art at Abertay University. 

Teaching

How the course is taught

Assessment methods