Overview

This is an award of Teesside University delivered in partnership with Hartlepool College of Further Education (01429 295000).

A foundation degree in design for the creative industries explores the spatial design, product design, graphic design, and interactive media. This innovative and unique course offers a holistic approach to develop your academic and vocational skills to help you succeed in the creative industries. 

  You focus on creativity, specialist skills, new media and technology, and learn to respond to the challenges of a dynamic and rapidly changing range of professions in the creative industries.

The flexible nature of the curriculum content allows you to develop your own individual pathway or specialism within the broad subject areas of spatial design, product design, graphic design and interactive media. You have the opportunity to work in a professional design studio developing autonomy in your professional skills along with gaining an academic qualification.

Level 4 modules develop generic skills in design and provide opportunities for you to work in a chosen specialist discipline including spatial design, product design, graphic design, and interactive media. At Level 5 it is anticipated that you develop your own learning plans in negotiation with your tutors.

Course structure

Year 1 core modules

Design Communication

This module introduces you to the basic principles of design communication. You will perform practical tasks to demonstrate your awareness of some of the key principles by means of techniques such as sketch, drawing, image-making or model making. Through the study of design contexts, you will explore how other designers use visual language to communicate their ideas.

Design Processes in Creative Industries

This module allows you to explore the core practical skills that you’ll need as a designer working in the Creative Industries. You will be introduced to the design process and explore the working methods, skills, and techniques used by design practitioners across a range of design disciplines

Digital Design for creative Industries

This module introduces you to digital processes, equipment, and the fundamentals of key software applications for use in the Creative Industries. You’ll develop technical knowledge in the context of creative projects.

Understanding the creative Industries

This module will provide you with an introduction to the context of the creative industries. You will explore who works in the creative industries, their roles, and the contexts within which they work.

Work-related Learning 1

This module is the starting point from where you are able to link the skills and knowledge achieved in the program with the National Occupational Standards. You are expected to show the transfer of knowledge and understanding in both directions between this module and the other associated modules. This module is the submission of evidence relating to five given key standards (chosen by the tutor and subject or specialism specific).

Work-related learning is appropriate for those who want to work in a range of design-orientated careers in the creative industries. Whether you want to work in 2D or 3D, digital design, or work in a team as a creative thinker, problem-solver, and generator of ideas, you need to be able to explain your skills and underpinning disciplines in practice.

This module refers to the National Occupational Standards for Design as identified by the Sector Skills Council for the Creative and Cultural Industries. The Standards are used to provide a framework for portfolio building that demonstrates your competence in the key areas of work within the Creative Industries. You write reflectively on your practice, making the connections between your work-related learning and your design education.

Work-related Learning 2

This module is the starting point from where you are able to link the skills and knowledge achieved in the program with the National Occupational Standards. You are expected to show the transfer of knowledge and understanding in both directions between this module and the other associated modules. This module is the submission of evidence relating to five negotiated key standards (negotiated by the tutor with the student and subject or specialism specific).

Work-related learning is appropriate for those who want to work in a range of design-orientated careers in the creative industries. Whether you want to work in 2D or 3D, digital design, or work in a team as a creative thinker, problem-solver, and generator of ideas, you need to be able to explain your skills and underpinning disciplines in practice.

Work placement

Work-related learning modules provide exciting opportunities for you to work in a professional design studio developing autonomy in your professional skills along with gaining an academic qualification. You can find your own work placement or work freelance supported by in-house staffing and resources.

Career opportunities

You work in a specialist design discipline towards a professional career in spatial design, product design, graphic design, and interactive media.

Opportunities exist for future employment links with a strong vocational element to the course aiding and developing career progression. Academic rigor is promoted and encouraged, along with a suitable curriculum, to allow progression to Level 6 qualifications.

This module refers to the National Occupational Standards for Design as identified by the Sector Skills Council for the Creative and Cultural Industries. The Standards are used to provide a framework for portfolio building that demonstrates your competence in the key areas of work within the Creative Industries. You write reflectively on your practice, making the connections between your work-related learning and your design education.