Careers in Art & Design

PHOTOGRAPHYIf you’re artistic, have an eye for detail and are great with people

then a career in photography could be perfect for you. You will get the opportunity to combine creativity and technical knowledge to take

perfect shots in a range of fields, including...

•Advertising

•Fashion

•Journalism

•Publishing

•Weddings and events.

CAREERS IN

HOW CAN I GET INTO THE INDUSTRY?

Salaries will vary depending on your specialism and how often you work. Assistant photographers can

earn up to £17,000 a year, while full-time professional photographers can earn anything between £18,000

and £50,000. Many photographers are self-employed and undertake freelance work, in which case your wage would depend on how often you are commissioned for

a job, your reputation and how much you choose to charge for your services.

Good technical knowledge of photography will be crucial, and most professional photographers will be trained

to degree level, so it will be beneficial to take industry-recognised qualifications, especially if you want to specialise

in a certain field. As well as having a high level of ability with a camera it’s also important to be familiar with the

latest digital software such as Adobe Photoshop. While studying you can also gain work experience as

an assistant photographer, which will be a great way of brushing up your skills and making key industry contacts.

KEY FACTSThe photography industry employs

around 44,000 people

There are around 14,000 photography businesses, almost half of which are

self-employed freelancers

94% of these employ less than 50 people

Over 20% of workers are educated to degree-level.

HOW MUCH WILL I GET PAID?

BedfordCollege

@BedfordCollege

www.southbankarts.com

01234 291000

Sources: Bedford College Destinations Survey 2012 leavers, National Careers Service

recently invested in our facilities to give you an outstanding experience

of students progressed on to employment or further study after completing an

Art & Design course with us

of students would recommend us travel bursary to help you with the cost of getting to college

Benefit from an

as rated by Ofsted

Our state of the art South Bank Arts Centre is the perfect place to turn your

passion for photography into a successful career. It’s packed full of industry-standard

equipment and first class teaching facilities, and even has its own art gallery

to showcase your work to the public.

The best way to discover what life at our College is really like is to come along to one of our open days – you can take a tour, talk to tutors and support staff, and have a chat with some of our current students.

We’re open throughout the year – just visit

www.bedford.ac.uk/eventsto find out the latest dates.

WHAT MAKES BEDFORD COLLEGE STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD?

Don’t worry, we have over 70 different full-time courses and apprenticeships, so there is sure to be something to suit you.

Just visit www.bedford.ac.uk to find out more.

PHOTOGRAPHY NOT FOR YOU?

92%

91%

£450

£15+ million

outstanding education

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

FACILITIES

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Levels 4/5

Entryrequirements

An interest in art and design, and some evidence of studying at GCSE level.

Art & Design BTEC Level 1 Diploma, or 3 GCSEs at grades A*-D (including Art & Design and English).

Art & Design BTEC Level 2 Diploma, or 4 GCSEs at grades A*-C (including English language).

Art & Design (Photography) BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

QualificationArt & Design BTEC Level 1 Diploma.

Art & Design BTEC Level 2 Diploma.

Art & Design (Photography) BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

Photography HNC/HND.

PHOTOGRAPHY QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING...

FINE ARTCAREERS IN


Your income will depend entirely on how successful you are in selling your work: the stronger your reputation, the more you are likely to earn. As your reputation grows you may have the opportunity to work for commission or as an artist in residence, which could secure a more regular

wage. Many fine artists also supplement their income through teaching their skills to others, or in curating and

promoting the work of other artists.

As almost all fine artists will work for themselves in selling their work, self-motivation and good business sense will be key. The ability to network and promote your work will be crucial for your success, as you will need to maintain close contact with galleries and art dealers to have the chance of

selling your creations.

KEY FACTS

37,480 people are employed in the art world, 76% of which are artists

The visual arts industry contributes £1.9 billion to the economy

70% of workers in the visual arts are self-employed


BedfordCollege

@BedfordCollege

Put your creative talent to the test in a role that values artistic expression above all else. Use your knowledge of working with a variety of materials

to create and sell your own artwork, or you could use your experience of the art world to become a curator in a gallery. If you enjoy complete

creative freedom and have the business skills to promote your own work then this could be the career path for you. Job roles include....

•Art editor

•Art gallery curator

•Artist

•Designer

•Sculptor.


01234 291000






Benefit from an

as rated by Ofsted

Our state of the art South Bank Arts Centre is the perfect place to turn your

passion for fine art into a successful career. It’s packed full of industry-standard

equipment and first class teaching facilities, and even has its own art gallery

to showcase your work to the public.







FINE ART NOT FOR YOU?

92%

91%

£450

£15+ million



FACILITIES


Entryrequirements




Art & Design BTEC (Pre-Degree) Level 3 Diploma, or a relevant Level 3 qualification.



Art & Design (Fine Art) BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

Fine Art BTEC HNC/HND.

FINE ART QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING...

FASHION & TEXTILES

CAREERS IN


Most entry level fashion design roles will have a starting salary of around £18,000 to £22,000, rising to between £25,000 and £40,000 with experience. Entry level textile workers can earn up to £15,000, with more experienced workers and managerial positions earning up to £35,000.

Most roles will require a relevant higher education qualification, so a foundation degree, HNC/HND or a degree is a must. Having knowledge of the industry beforehand is also essential, so it’s important to do your research and find out as much as you can about the path you’re interested in pursuing. If you already have experience and an interest in managerial positions then you may already have many of the transferable skills needed for entering the industry.

KEY FACTSThe Fashion & Textiles industry

employs around 156,000 people in the UK

20,000 workers use design skills in their role

There are around 35,000 fashion and textiles businesses in the UK.


BedfordCollege

@BedfordCollege

If you’re passionate about clothing and want to show off your artistic side then this is the career path for you. You’ll use your taste and knowledge to create the latest styles for the catwalk and the high street, or get hands on with fabrics and other materials in a more

technical role. Jobs in this sector include...

•Knitwear designer

•Fashion designer

•Garment or Pattern cutter

•Textile technologist.


01234 291000






Benefit from an

as rated by Ofsted

Our state of the art South Bank Arts Centre is the perfect place to turn

your passion for fashion and textiles into a successful career. It’s packed full of industry-standard equipment and first class teaching facilities, and even has its own art gallery to showcase

your work to the public.







FASHION & TEXTILES NOT FOR YOU?

92%

91%

£450

£15+ million



FACILITIES


Entryrequirements




BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma or Foundation Diploma in Art & Design or an equivalent Level 3 qualification.



Art & Design (Fashion & Textiles) BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

Fashion & Textiles BTEC HNC/HND.

FASHION & TEXTILES QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING...

ANIMATIONCAREERS IN


Salaries vary depending on the specific role – an entry-level wage for an animator is likely to be around

£12,000-£15,000, rising to around £25,000 with experience. The average wage in the sector is £25,000,

compared to £32,000 in the wider arts sector.

Most animation workers are graduates, so being qualified to degree level in a relevant subject will be important. It is common for most in the industry to begin in an entry-level role and progress to higher roles with experience. Making

personal contacts and networking is also crucial for working your way into the industry.

KEY FACTS

4,700 people work in the animation industry, with a further 1,100 employed in animation roles

elsewhere

There are over 250 animation-related businesses in the UK

41% of the workers are under the age of 35

78% of the workforce are university graduates.


BedfordCollege

@BedfordCollege

In this vibrant industry you can apply your creative talents to a wide range of animation techniques, including traditional drawn

animation, stop motion, 2D motion graphics and 3D animation. There is a demand for animators in a range of media, including film and

television, advertising, games and more. Jobs in this sector include...

•Animator

•Director

•Producer

•Production designer

•Special effects animator.


01234 291000






Benefit from an

as rated by Ofsted

Our state of the art South Bank Arts Centre is the perfect place to turn your passion for animation into a successful

career. It’s packed full of industry-standard equipment and first class teaching

facilities, including cutting edge animation technology, editing studios and computer

suites complete with the latest Apple Macs.







ANIMATION NOT FOR YOU?

92%

91%

£450

£15+ million



FACILITIES


Entryrequirements




Art & Design Foundation Diploma, or an equivalent Level 3 qualification, or relevant professional experience.



Art & Design (Animation) BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

Interactive Media (Games, Art and Animation) BTEC HNC/HND.

ANIMATION QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING...

3d DESIGNCAREERS IN


Wages will vary depending on which particular path in this field you wish to pursue – many people in this field

are self-employed, so the amount they earn will also depend on the amount of freelance work they are able to do. A newly-qualified product designer, for example, can

earn anywhere between £17,000 and £25,000 a year, while senior designers can earn upwards of £50,000.

A high level of design skill and a strong portfolio of work will be essential for gaining work in this industry. 3D

designers are also well-trained and most are highly qualified, with HNDs and doundation degrees being required for many roles. As with all careers, strong GCSE results – especially in

English and Maths – will be an advantage.

KEY FACTSThe design industry employs over

190,000 people

There are 18,105 design businesses in the UK

94% of these employ less than 50 people

32% of workers are self-employed

50% have a Level 4 qualification or above.


BedfordCollege

@BedfordCollege

In this diverse field you can apply artistic creativity to a range of disciplines, working with a wide variety of materials. From working with ceramics and furniture to designing jewellery and consumer goods – 3D design is a great way of combining artistic flair with

hands-on design work. Careers in this field include...

•Automotive designer

•CAD (computer aided design) technician

•Ceramics designer

•Furniture designer

•Product designer.


01234 291000






Benefit from an

as rated by Ofsted

Our state of the art South Bank Arts Centre is the perfect place to turn your passion for 3D design into a successful

career. It’s packed full of industry-standard equipment and first class teaching

facilities, and even has its own art gallery to showcase your work to the public.







3D DESIGN NOT FOR YOU?

92%

91%

£450

£15+ million



FACILITIES


Entryrequirements




80-120 UCAS points (including an element of art, design and media), an Art & Design BTEC Level 3 Diploma, or an equivalent Level 3 Diploma.



Art & Design (3D Design) BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

3D Design BTEC HNC/HND.

3D DESIGN QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING...

GRAPHIC DESIGN

CAREERS IN


A typical annual salary for an entry level role is between £14,000 and £17,000, rising up to around £32,000 with experience. Senior roles in graphic design can have a

salary of up to £50,000. Many graphic designers are self-employed, in which case your wage will depend on the

amount of freelance work you are able to do.

Most graphic designers will hold a specialist qualification at Level 4 or above, such as a foundation degree, degree or a HND. It is essential to be experienced with the latest design

software, such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. There are industry-recognised courses and qualifications

you can take for these programs, which will be a welcome addition to the CV of any budding graphic designer.

KEY FACTS

Over 193,000 people work in the design industry

32% of workers are self-employed

14% work part-time

94% of design businesses employ less than 50 people.


BedfordCollege

@BedfordCollege

Graphic design is crucial in a number of industries for communicating brands, ideas and products, so if you’re artistic and have a keen eye

for striking visuals this could be the perfect career for you. You could find yourself working in a huge range of roles, including advertising,

marketing, publishing and more. Jobs in this sector include...

•Graphic designer

• Illustrator

•Creative director

•Artworker

•Web designer.


01234 291000






Benefit from an

as rated by Ofsted

Our state of the art South Bank Arts Centre is the perfect place to turn

your passion for graphic design into a successful career. It’s packed full of industry-standard equipment and first class teaching facilities, and even has its own art gallery to showcase your

work to the public.







GRAPHIC DESIGN NOT FOR YOU?

92%

91%

£450

£15+ million



FACILITIES


Entryrequirements




80-120 UCAS points (including an element of art, design and media), or BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma or Foundation Diploma in Art & Design or an equivalent Level 3 qualification.

QualificationArt & Design BTECLevel 1 Diploma.


Art & Design (Graphic Design) BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

Graphic Design BTEC HNC/HND.

GRAPHIC DESIGN QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING...

Documents

Careers in Art & Design