The HND year of the architectural design course extends and complements the wide range of design and technical skills gained in the HNC year.
Students expand and develop their skills in spatial design across a range of varied projects. The scale and scope of projects become gradually more complex as students focus on how to design buildings and spaces in the city.
Units in Urban Design and Landscape Design offer opportunities to learn about the value and importance of external spaces in the built environment. Students also analyse and explore an existing Victorian structure, which they are asked to reuse and adapt, while their graded unit focuses on the design of an environmentally conscious Urban Building. All design projects are underpinned by themes of sustainable design, the circular economy, biodiversity and active travel. These classes are further supported by a range of guest lectures by industry professionals and design-specific field trips.
Technical skills are further developed with units focussed on construction detailing and the latest BIM software, which ensures that students gain industry-relevant skills to compliment their design experience.
The course has been structured to enable students to generate a comprehensive and vibrant body of visually outstanding and technically accurate design work, for their portfolios.
As with the HNC year, the HND is led by architects. Previous students who have excelled and produced a strong portfolio of work over the HND year, have gained direct entry to year 2 of Architecture School, following a portfolio review. Our students have also pursued careers across a number of design disciplines, including interior design, computer games design and teaching following completion of their HND.
To see examples of our work follow us on Instagram @architecturaldesigncogc and view our course portfolio.
The course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 8.