Graphic Design
In the top 10% nationally* our A Level Graphic Design course teaches you how to use layout of text and image to communicate ideas. You’ll be designing logos, branding, posters, packaging and much more. As a graphic designer, you’ll explore text, shape, colour and layout, learning to convey messages effectively across various formats. The course is a mix of digital and non digital approaches and projects on this course can grow out of drawing or photography so you can work to your strengths.
We have designers and illustrators from industry that visit the department to talk to our students about their careers and their design work and about the latest trends in Graphic Design and Illustration. On this course you will learn Adobe Photoshop as well as some Adobe Illustrator and InDesign and the graphic design studio has graphics tablets for every student to explore digital drawing techniques. The busy practical lessons include collage, printmaking and typography using letterpress which are then scanned in and developed further on the computer. For the majority of our students the graphic techniques and the stages of a design process may be unfamiliar to them at first but they enjoy the challenge of exploring a new way of expressing themselves and soon gain confidence in their skills and judgements.
Towards the end of the first year each individual student establishes their own project brief in discussion with their teacher and the work in the second year is even more personal and ambitious. One student might be designing the branding for a music festival and then design the posters, tickets and promotional flyers. Another student might create their own fashion magazine and create the front cover as well as a series of illustrations for the articles inside the mag and visuals for the app.
The majority of our students use their graphic design work as part of a portfolio to help them progress to an Art Foundation, to a degree or into employment and this course equips you with the skills and knowledge to work to a design brief for a client whilst also creating design work that you can be really proud of.
*an independent ALPS report places Varndean College A Level Graphic Design course in the top 10% in the UK when comparing our student grades against all other centres offering the same qualification.
There is no expectation to have digital design software skills to do this course.
Rhiannon Rolf
Studied: Graphic Design, 3D Design, Dance
Progression: Art Foundation at Brighton Met, then Graphic Design for Digital Media, University of Brighton
Riannon attends the University of Brighton studying a BA in Graphic Design for Digital Media, Her art foundation teacher had noticed she paid a lot more attention to online platforms rather than physical ways of designing so suggested that course over the standard Graphic Design course.
She enjoys the course so much, having never previously considered going to university, and has found it the most rewarding experience. I got a 2:1 in her first year and a 1:1 in her second. She has also gained three years of customer service in jewellery from aged 16 and in 2017 secured a job as a print and design specialist. More recently she landed a job as a part-time Social Media expert at a dance studio. She hopes to work for a magazine or fashion/street culture environment in the future.
Rhiannon says: “Varndean was an amazing experience for me, I made loads of friends and was allowed to express myself in a way no other educational place had allowed before. I would say be yourself, try as hard as you can but always stick with what you want to do in the future.”
Course Essentials
Courses Available
A Level
How The Course is Assessed
60% coursework, 40% external assignment
Career Pathways
Many students continue their studies onto an art foundation courses or higher education degrees in graphic design, illustration or photography. Some students go onto degree courses outside of the design field, such as fine art, textiles, architecture, history, politics and economics.
Transferable Skills
Use and application of imagination; teamwork; creativity; layout, composition, visual and technical skills.
Other Information
You do not need any prior knowledge of Photoshop or Illustrator to enrol onto this course.
Enquiries To
Jas Chopra: jcc@varndean.ac.uk
Staff Profiles
Rob Macdonald
Rob Macdonald teaches Graphic Design and Photography. He is a photographer and has exhibited internationally, in the USA and Italy, as well as in group and solo exhibitions in London and here in Brighton. He has work published in DOCU magazine and featured on SEEZEEN. He has a Masters in Design from Edinburgh College of Art and has been teaching for over 25 years. Rob is also head of Visual Arts at college.
Jas Chopra
Jas Chopra is the programme leader for graphic design and also teaches digital skills. With a strong background in digital design, he has both trained and worked in the graphic design industry prior to his teaching career, and he continues to engage in occasional freelance commissions. He holds a degree in graphic design and a masters in art, health and wellbeing and has over 15 years teaching experience in further education.
Enrichments
Digital Illustration
Studying digital illustration is an exciting journey that merges creativity with digital technology. It offers the student the freedom to experiment with various styles and techniques, enabling them to create versatile works for print and digital media. As the field constantly evolves, students are motivated to learn and adapt, keeping their skills fresh and relevant. Overall, digital illustration provides a fulfilling opportunity for artistic expression and technical growth.
Portfolio Builder
Creating a graphic design portfolio is essential for showcasing your skills and creativity to potential employers or clients. A well-curated portfolio not only highlights your best work but also demonstrates your design process, versatility, and unique style. This enrichment class allows you the opportunity to put together a strong portfolio to help you stand out in a competitive job market, making it easier to attract opportunities and build professional connections. A graphic design portfolio is a vital tool for advancing your career and establishing your personal brand in the design industry.
Art Curator
We are excited to partner with a local gallery to hold an annual exhibition which a group of students on this enrichment course curate as a team. They learn about the role of a curator in the art world with input from local and international curators. Our curators learn about the process of selecting work, collaborating with others, publicising an exhibition and holding a launch event.
Art Enrichment
Art Enrichment encourages learners to expand their critical thinking and industry knowledge and to become clearer about their progression plans by being introduced to a range of artist practitioners. Participants will be inspired by meeting a range of professionals and hearing them talk about their life, work and ideas development. Regular visitors include Brighton artists; Murray Ballard, Photographer; Sarah Jones, Illustrator; Jon Mills, Sculptor and Andrew Gifford, Painter. These talks also include some local university and college presentations.
Alumni Success
Owen Davey
An award-winning Illustrator, living & working in Leicester, UK. The primary Illustrator for TwoDots which has been #1 in over 70 countries, as well as the illustrator of iPad App of the Year 2015 game, The Robot Factory. Work has been published in every continent except Antarctica, including picture books in UK, America, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, China, Sweden, Russia & South Korea.
Will Becher
Will Becher is a British animator and film director. He is best known for his directorial debut A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, which earned him an Academy Award and BAFTA Award nomination.
Will studied Graphic Design at Varndean College and went on to study Animation at Edinburgh College of Art.
When asked about his time at Varndean, Will reflected on how he was inspired by the things he did at college and how he discovered the elements that he really enjoyed doing, such as his love of crafting and creating a film.
Sanna Annukka
Sanna lives in Brighton, working as a Printmaker and Textile Designer.
Her work expresses her love of pattern, decoration and mythology so often found in traditional cultures all over the world, but especially close to her heart are the Sami people of Lapland. She divides her time between designing collections for the Finnish textile brand Marimekko, and working on her own range of screen prints and other products.
Student Work
“[Talking of our Creative Arts Showcase 2024] Each piece showed a deep understanding of design principles, seamlessly combining technical skill with creative vision. It’s clear that these young artists are not just learning to create art; they are learning to communicate and resonate with their audience. The works on show are akin to University level, and they convey a disciplined approach to art and design that would rival any industry standard.”
Sarah Crossley, ILOVEDUST
Creative Arts Showcase 2024
Varndean College’s annual Creative Arts Showcase is a dynamic and vibrant celebration of the outstanding creativity and diverse talents of the year’s graduating students. It features live music, dance and drama performances, interactive gaming and film screenings, alongside exhibitions of 3D design, textiles, graphic design, art and photography.
International Trips
Visual Arts love to go on international trips, most recently we’ve been to Paris, Madrid and Berlin. Our artists, designers and photographers return from visits abroad with well-used sketchbooks, hundreds of photographs and many new and creative ideas to develop in their projects back at college.