Careers Brief - Applied Art & Design FdA
Overview
To be successful in the applied arts requires talent, drive and good business sense. Many 2D and 3D designer makers are self-employed or freelance and will be managing their own business, selling directly or indirectly through galleries and shops.
You need to be self-confident and a good communicator to promote yourself; be prepared to work long hours to meet deadlines; be creative and practical, have good visual communication skills and enjoy working with your hands.
IT skills are becoming increasingly significant and familiarity with design software is useful. You could be working on your own or as part of a team and might well have to travel to deal with clients and market your work.
Use the website links below to find out more.
Further Study
You will be able to apply for a Top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as a direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Ordinary or Honours degree.
Alternatively, you could transfer into a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, portfolio and overlap between courses but could be into the final year.
Go to HE Courses on the HE Home page for information on the one-year BA (Hons) Applied Art & Design Top-up degree awarded through Bournemouth University and designed as direct progression for this course.
Other institutions offering Top-ups include:
Bath Spa University; Staffordshire University; Truro & Penwith College.
To search for degree courses go to www.ucas.com (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK ). Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to the university/college site for information on costs and finance and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for additional help with student support.
Go to the main Further Study section of this Careers Guide for additional help.
Resources
Creative Choices - online service supporting the individual and business in the creative industries and cultural sector.
Drop down sub-heading 'Knowledge' + go to sector side-headings.
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Careers Advice Service
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on sub-heading 'Job Families & Articles' or Quick Search by typing in job title
Graduate Prospects is the careers website for higher education students in the UK:
- Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification' for 'Your Foundation degree...what next?'
- Drop down 'Sectors' to click on 'Creative arts & culture'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' to click on 'Explore types of jobs' for 'Creative arts & design'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' for Prospects Planner and other services
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on side-heading 'Careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
The Artists Information Company supporting contemporary visual arts practice:
Go to 'Publications' for 'HE Publications' to click on 'Signpost' - 'the new graduates' guide to being an artist'.
The Arts Council England is the national development agency for the Arts in England:
Drop down sub-heading 'Publications' to 'Browse all information sheets' - click on side heading 'Careers and training' under 'subject' section.
Artjobster: The free artworkers jobsite for the UK
Arts Jobs and News - a free service from the Arts Council England
The Crafts Council is the UK's national organisation for the promotion of contemporary crafts
Design-Nation an educational resource for designers - go to 'Business start-up guide' top left
www.arts.ac.uk/student/careers/
University of the Arts London - Creative Careers
BBC careers site
ArtsMatrix is the skills and enterprise development agency for creative professionals in the South West
Intute is a free online service providing a database and access to web resources for study and research. Browse 'Creative and performing arts'.
Brief careers site
Go to the Job Applications section of this Careers Guide for advice and help with making applications.
