The BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design is an internally assessed one-year course for students hoping to progress to higher education in art-related subjects. It focuses on critical awareness, creative abilities, and building a portfolio.

This course provides an introduction to the creative arts by introducing you to a wide range of disciplines and allowing you to experiment with a range of materials and processes, preparing you for progression onto a higher education art/design related degree programme.

By exposing you to a number of specialist pathways including Fashion and Textiles, Fine Art, 3D Design/Sculpture and Graphic Communication Design, you will have the opportunity to experiment within the different creative fields and choose the right specialist pathway for you.

On the Foundation in Art and Design you will explore through drawing and mixed media, research and contextualisation which will be taught through workshops, seminars, studio critiques and lectures. The outcomes of your exploratory processes will be refined and demonstrated in a Final Major Project which will be exhibited at the Trinity Art Gallery the end of the course.

Assessments will consist of a range of practical portfolio based assessments.

Stage 1- Exploratory stage

• Unit 1: Researching, Recording and Responding in Art and Design
• Unit 2: Media Experimentation in Art and Design

Through studio and workshop projects you’ll develop technological and practical skills by experimenting with a range of materials and processes. You’ll learn how to research, develop and evaluate your ideas and begin to relate contemporary, historical and cultural contexts to your own work.

Stage 2 – Pathway stage

• Unit 3: Preparation and Progression in Art and Design
• Unit 4/7: Information and Interpretation in Art and Design
• Unit 5/8: Personal Experimental Studies in Art and Design
• Unit 6/9: Extended Media Development in Art and Design

In this stage you will develop and build a portfolio to prepare you for interview to enter higher education employment. Using the research you have developed in the exploratory stage, you’ll combine your ideas and processes to produce a body of work that explores your own creative intentions in your preferred specialist pathway.

Stage 3 – Confirmatory stage

• Unit 10: Final Major Project in Art and Design

This stage is internally assessed and graded. You will continue to develop your style and individuality feeding off of your personal research and development. You will self-direct your own final major project which will be internally assessed and graded and your project will be displayed in our Foundation Exhibition which will be open to the press, public, family and friends.