Digital Design: Photography and Motion Graphics / Interactive Design Pathways (Foundation Degree)

This course will help you to become the adaptable new media designer, photographer and image producer that industry and business require.

This course is taught at City of Bath College

Why study Digital Design: Photography and Motion Graphics / Interactive Design Pathways (Foundation Degree)?

In the past, design houses employed specifically skilled people for different roles. Today, multi-skilled computer literate designers and image makers are required who can produce work for a variety of different media outputs, including web, TV, print, and computer games.

Course structure

Divided into two overlapping pathways this two-year course allows you to develop specialist skills that will complement your growing design awareness. This course is taught at City of Bath College. Throughout the two years you will develop your own ideas, practically through a number of different projects, establishing your own creative identity. The course is entirely coursework based and can be taken full-time or part-time.

Digital Design shares common modules covering the important skill areas in motion graphics and design: Print and Web Design, Video and Image, Typography and Motion, Professional Studies, Critical and Historical Studies. Whether you wish to work in the photography/film/new media design industries these shared modules will complement and enhance your portfolio of skills.

The Photography and Motion Graphics pathway teaches photography and related disciplines for the digital age. If you already have a photographic qualification you will be able to develop those skills and complement them with other areas such as video, image manipulation, typography and web design. If you don't have much photography experience then the traditional photography principles are covered early in the course. You will then cover many areas of photographic practice alongside digital skills. Specialist modules are: Photography Principles, Editing and Manipulation, Applications of Photography, Photography Locations.

The Interactive Design pathway teaches the multimedia skills needed to become a new media designer/producer for screen. A strong design awareness underpins a successful interactive designer as well as competency in many skill areas, including web design, image generation and sequencing, and also programming. For example, interactive DVDs require video production and understanding of narrative knowledge; computer game design requires knowledge of 3D modelling, understanding of gaming issues and as well as planning skills. All these areas are covered in the following modules: Design Principles, Design for Interactivity, Software and Usability, Computer Game Design.

After successful completion of this course, you may wish to apply to progress to the third year of an associated honours degree course. In the event of insufficient places being available to accommodate all Foundation Degree students who wish to progress, there will be a selection process based on achievement during the Foundation Degree, supplemented by audition and interview as appropriate, and will be subject to satisfactory academic references. 

Modules

Professional Experience and Graduation

In the second year, you'll have the chance to gain real professional experience, partly through work placement in local companies, but also through involvement with client briefs, professional and freelance work.

Through work placement or business plan project and the self-directed project you will be able to develop and apply your skills to professional situations in your own areas of special interest. On successful graduation you will have the experience and skills to help gain your desired job, and the opportunity to apply to the final year BA Graphic Communication course.

Course assessment

Assessment is through a variety of methods

This course will help you to become the adaptable new media designer, photographer and image producer that industry and business require.

Teaching methods

The modules are project-based and teaching sessions take place in studios, workshops and computer suites and out on location. Weekly drop-in software workshops are provided in recognition of the challenges of getting to grips with a range of demanding computer applications.

Course enquiries

For more information please contact Catherine Sellars, Course Leader, on 01225 328617
or email sellarsc@citybathcoll.ac.uk

Entry requirements

180-220 UCAS Tariff points, with minimum 80 points from Art, Design, IT or a related subject preferred.

OR Art Foundation Course.

All short-listed applicants will be interviewed.

Career opportunities

• Interactive design
• Industrial and commercial photography
• Graphic design
• Picture editing
• TV and video production
• Game design
• Animation
• Motion graphic design