Art & Design Futures Level 2

Entry requirements

A keen interest in art and design is desirable. Students applying must have at least three GCSEs at grade 3, or a Merit or Distinction at BTEC Level 1. A previous qualification in art is not required for this course. 

Course overview 

For students looking to study art and design in Southampton and the New Forest, our Art & Design Futures Level 2 course, covers a range of art and design concepts and techniques. Taught by subject experts at Totton College, you will cover a range of art and design areas including drawing, painting, photography, illustration, 3D and digital design.  

You will be able to advance your creative skills and undertake projects with commercial briefs to develop your confidence and see how your skills transfer for employment. Apart from your own art and design practice, you will learn to appreciate the work of other artists and designers and the impact they have on society.  

You will be encouraged to work within a team as well as developing your independence, creative skills, research, writing, numeracy and problem-solving skills. Students will also have the opportunity to work with employers and visit local higher education providers.  

What will I learn?

Our Art & Design courses are based on the Nacro Education Get Set! framework, enabling you gain critical skills and transferable skills that you need to progress onto your next step and help build your CV.  

As part of this course, you will learn a wide range of skills giving you a strong foundation in the art and design sector. We’ve designed this course to enable you to discover your creative vision, while supporting you to present ideas, take the views and advice of others and apply this to your work. You will have the opportunity to work with commercial briefs and learn how art and design can make a positive difference in the wider community.  

In addition, you will have the opportunities to learn maths and English as part of this course. 

Work Experience

You’ll be expected to do two block of one week’s work experience, and can request extra days.

Modules

Modules for the Art & Design Futures Level 2 course include:  

Exploring the work of artists and designers

In this unit students produce a simple timeline for a chosen area of study that relates artists, craftspeople, or designers to their movements or styles. Students identify relevant influential key trends and events, producing competent final creative work inspired by the work of the artist, craftsperson or designer studied. 

Exploring self-image  

Students use annotated studies to investigate a range of ways artists have responded to self-image and research an artist’s work that is of particular interest to them. Developing a range of appropriate ideas for self-image work inspired by reflection on their own self-image. They consider how they see themselves, and how others see them in their final outcomes. 

Exploring photography 

Students investigate the colour and black and white photography work of a range of professional photographers, using annotated studies. Students produce their own photographic images and informative text to explain technical settings such as shutter speed, aperture and exposure. Using digital or film-based camera techniques and processes to take good quality photographs. 

Developing ideas in response to an art and design brief 

Students investigate a given brief or project by considering the client requirements and responses by other artists and designers to similar project briefs. Students develop a range of their own ideas in response to the given brief or project. They use annotated studies to record how their ideas have developed. Students deliver a competent presentation to the client, showing the range of ideas, they have produced in response to the brief or project, gathering feedback from the client on the ideas that they have presented. Students use the client feedback to identify the most suitable final idea for development and realisation. 

Realising art and design ideas 

Students identify suitable media, materials and techniques best suited for use in their final idea. Students competently present their final proposal to the client using a suitable presentation format. They gather final feedback from the client and seek the client’s approval to proceed. Finally, students realise a competent outcome that meets the requirements of the client brief or project. 

Exploring fine art

Students use annotated studies to investigate a range of fine artists’ work, including subject matter, content, and approach. Students then use annotated studies to generate ideas for a personal fine art project, developing one idea further, producing competent fine art 

work that displays some understanding of the materials and processes used. Finally, students present and review their final fine artwork. 

Assessment

At Totton College, we use a variety of assessment methods to ensure you achieve the Art & Design Futures Level 2 qualification.  

Modules are assessed in the form of a portfolio of work; this could include observations on practical tasks or written assessments. You will be supported with all your work and your teacher will go through all this when you sign up for the course. 

The coursework is graded at the end of each unit with continual and final assessment. There is an interim external moderation in March to check on standards, internal moderation, confirm grades and sign off the first two units. Final external moderation is in June.  

Enrichment Opportunities

As part of the Get Set! framework, we encourage all students to engage in enrichment activities to support your learning.  

You will be required to complete 60 hours of work experience during the college year. This can be undertaken throughout the year or during the two work experience weeks, one in February before the half-term break and the other the week before the Easter holiday. 

This course uses the work experience weeks to undertake creative tasks in the local area. Previously, these have included mural painting at the Hanger Farm Arts Centre, painting Memorial Day sculptures through Totton Town Council, working at local galleries such as ‘A Space Arts’ in Southampton. 

In addition, you will be encouraged to visit local creative higher education providers to see the day-to-day activities provided within this level of study, and attend careers fair to discuss employment, apprenticeships, further and higher education.  

You will also be able to take part in drawing and painting activities with internal and external organisations. Recent activities have been to produce artwork for some of the management offices, painting Memorial Day statues and producing photographic publicity for college departmental teams. 

Career and Progression

After successfully passing this course, you will have core knowledge to progress to a higher-level qualification and to move forward towards your chosen career.

On successful completion of this course, you will achieve the Level 2 OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma in Art and Design. After completing this course students can progress onto the Level 3 Introductory Diploma in Art and Design in the next college year.  

You may also wish to discuss career options with the college careers advisor prior to completion of the course to investigate possible apprenticeships or entry level employment. 

During my course, I have had the chance to explore printmaking, fine art, collages, and self-image and using equipment like the printing press and darkroom facilities. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with different techniques and mediums and having supportive classmates and teachers, it has made experience even better. My proudest achievement was creating my first piece, inspired by the Dada movement, during my Level 2 Art & Design course, which is currently displayed in reception. My advice to new students is to take full advantage of the opportunities here and embrace mistakes, as they can lead to new creative ideas. After college, I hope to have my work showcased in a local or national art gallery.

Hayden Thornton

Art & Design Level 3 student

Funding and bursaries

Students if you’re aged over 19 you may be eligible for free tuition depending on the course you want to study, your existing qualifications and your financial circumstances. For more information email info@totton.ac.uk or call 023 8087 4874.

Advanced Learner Loans are available for students who are aged 19 or over. Repayments do not begin until the course is completed and you are earning £25,000 or over. Eligible learners will be enrolling on a level 3 or above course and are a UK or EU national. For further information, visit gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan.

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