Course Overview
This two-year Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Design and Communication is designed for aspiring designers and illustrators who want to turn creative ideas into powerful visual communication.
You’ll develop ideas from initial research and sketches through to finished artwork using traditional techniques and industry-standard digital tools. As your skills develop, you’ll respond to creative briefs, present your work and build a portfolio that showcases your personal style and creative thinking.
Entry Requirements:
4 x GCSEs at grade 4(C) or above, including at least 3(D) in English
Course Highlights
Course Units
Year 1
• Unit 1 – The Creative Process: Explore research, idea generation and experimentation to develop original visual concepts.
• Unit 2 – Developing Creative Practice: Build creative and technical skills through different materials, techniques and digital design processes.
• Unit 3 – Responding to a Set Brief: Respond to a creative brief, developing ideas from initial concepts through to finished artwork.
Year 2
• Unit 4 – Researching a Specialist Industry Practice: Investigate the graphic design and illustration industries, exploring professional practices and creative opportunities.
• Unit 5 – Specialist Technical Skills Development: Refine your specialist skills, develop your personal style and strengthen your creative portfolio.
• Unit 6 – Specialist Creative Outcome: Plan, develop and present an independent final major project showcasing your creativity and technical abilities.
Course Breakdown
Course Structure
This two-year course combines practical projects, creative experimentation and industry-inspired briefs to help you develop your skills in graphic design and illustration. You’ll explore traditional and digital techniques, build your creative confidence and gradually develop your own specialist style.
Explore and Develop – You’ll experiment with drawing, illustration, typography, printmaking and digital design while developing your understanding of the creative process. Through practical projects, you’ll learn to research ideas, respond to briefs and turn initial concepts into finished designs. The year concludes with an independently developed creative project.
Specialise and Create – You’ll build on your existing skills, explore specialist areas of graphic design and illustration, and develop a deeper understanding of professional creative practice. You’ll work on more independent projects, refine your personal style and create a professional portfolio. The course culminates in a final major project that showcases your creativity, technical ability and individual approach.
Progression & Next Steps
On successful completion, you could progress to degree-level study in graphic design, illustration, visual communication, animation, advertising or digital media, building on the skills and portfolio developed throughout the course.
You’ll also gain transferable skills valued across the creative industries, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving and independent working. Future career pathways could include graphic design, illustration, branding, editorial design and digital content creation, with further study or industry experience supporting entry into specialist roles.