Study Guide: Art & Design
With the March UCAS deadline for Route B applications, it’s a fine time to take a wander through the sleek and stylish world of Art and Design. Calling all creative types!
Introductions
A career in art has very little to do with berets and tortured souls – in fact, it’s a highly specialised field responsible for making our world look the way it does. From clothes and furniture to shampoo bottles and restaurant interiors, it’s almost impossible to find something that hasn’t been touched by an artist or designer at some point of its creation.
Art and design is one of the most creative and varied fields out there. Careers can involve traditional artistic methods, such as drawing and painting, or cutting-edge computer programs used in 3-D modelling and animation. So there’s bound to be a fit for every creative mind out there.
Different disciplines
In today’s design-driven world, artists don’t starve for options. Here is just a dab of the many career paths:
Graphic Design. A graphic designer’s job is to visually convey a message. They are behind almost everything you see – billboards, movie credits, labels, websites and magazines, to name a few – so it’s no surprise that it’s the most popular and quickly expanding field within the art and design field.
Photography. It’s not just about journalism and family portraits – technical photographers can work in areas such as medicine, fashion, crime detection and real estate.
Curation. Curators are the people who work behind the scenes of museums, art galleries and cultural organisations. It is their job to acquire, maintain and display exhibitions, as well as to perform a variety of administrative duties.
Interior Design. More than just redecorating the house – interior designers can create theatre sets and exhibitions, as well as the space inside hotels, restaurants, shops and aircrafts.
Fashion. Only a few may go on to be the next Dolce or Gabbana, but the fashion world requires an army of designers, stylists, buyers and consultants to keep it ticking.
Three Dimensional Design. 3-D designers create the look of a variety of crafts and gadgets, such as jewellery, furniture, ceramics, packaging and consumer electronics.
The skills
Each course of study requires its own specific set of skills, but a flair for creativity, attention to detail, and passion for art are prerequisites for anyone considering this field. Most careers in art and design also require a good deal of creative problem solving – when creating a new product, designers must ask questions like, ‘How do I represent this in a striking, fresh way?’ and ‘How can I improve on this design?’ The field is constantly evolving with technology, so an interest in computers and new trends is essential.
Ways in
Foundation Degree. These one-year courses are designed to build up your portfolio for application to an undergraduate degree course. They introduce you to different techniques within the field so you can make a focused and informed choice about university studies.
Degree. Three-year course of study involves theory and studio work in specialist studios, workshops, IT labs and lecture rooms. In addition to learning important skills, you will complete projects that will help build up a portfolio that will help you land a job after graduation.
Qualifications
For the most part, art and design careers require specialised training and an undergraduate degree. If you want to pursue a degree in art and design, you will likely need two A-levels and at least 3 GCSEs at grade C or above. Some universities require the completion of a foundation course.
Route B
The Route B application deadline is geared towards those who are completing a Foundation Course in Art & Design (though anyone may apply), and gives students extra time to finish their portfolios. On the application, you will be asked to indicate your first, second and third choice universities. Choose the order wisely –
UCAS sends each application one at a time, and if you get accepted by your first choice, they do not send out the applications to your remaining choices.
The portfolio
Undoubtedly, your portfolio is the most crucial part of the application. In fact, many universities will consider applicants who fall short of the necessary qualifications if they have standout work. Your portfolio should be filled with your very best pieces and reflect your creativity, commitment and passion, in all its glory. While each university has slightly different requirements, all of them are looking for potential in your work.
What you’ll get
At degree level, you could receive an Honours degree as a Bachelor of Arts (BA). You could then go on to postgraduate courses that lead to a certificate or diploma, and then further your specialisation by getting a Master of Arts (MA) in your chosen area.
The jobs
Starting salaries vary quite a bit within the field of art and design, with fine art-based jobs earning less than the computer-based design jobs. Graphic designers can expect to start anywhere from £11,000 - £18,000, depending on location and specialisation. (Generally, web designers tend to make more than print-based designers.) Design jobs can lead to senior and art director roles that can earn you in excess of £40,000.
Interior design jobs begin anywhere from £16,000 - £20,000. Curators typically need postgraduate degrees and start anywhere from £15,000 - £23,000. Jobs in fashion have notoriously low starting salaries, but often involve free clothes and accessories. With art and design, it is important to remember that if you have the talent, you have the potential to earn quite a bit of money.
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