You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:00 to 4:00. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction.
Entry requirements
4 x GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. At least one of these should be Maths or English. Entry is via an interview where your commitment, enthusiasm and motivation should shine through.
Campus
Leonardo House, West Suffolk College sixth form campus, Bury St Edmunds
You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:00 to 4:00. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction.
Entry requirements
4 x GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. At least one of these should be Maths or English. Entry is via an interview where your commitment, enthusiasm and motivation should shine through.
Campus
Leonardo House, West Suffolk College sixth form campus, Bury St Edmunds
About The School of Art, Design & Digital-Creative / Leonardo Creative House
We hope you apply and join one of our courses. You will belong to the biggest curriculum area at West Suffolk College - The School of Art, Design and Digital-Creative. We are thriving, fun and ambitious. Studying ONE subject that you truly connect with (with no exams) is a liberating joy. You will love it!
This year we have over 500 students studying a broad range of creative courses across different levels. We are fortunate to have our own purpose-built building - 'Leonardo House' - on the main campus. Over many years we have all worked hard to be considered one of the very best Further Education creative centres in the UK. We care about what we do and strive to develop the next generation of professionals for the UK and global Creative Industries. Our culture is one of very high standards and freedom of individual expression. You will be working with like-minded individuals and professional specialist staff. Being part of Leonardo Creative House is a great thing. With hard work you will thrive and progress to a rewarding future.
Derek Johnson - Director of The School of Art & Design / Leonardo Creative House
The course - what is it all about?
Is it your dream design characters and create creatures, spacecraft or miniature robots or environments that will wow, fascinate or scare millions or are you fascinated by realistic modelling and the magic of animation? If you are interested in storytelling and characters then this unique course is the right one for you. In year one you will develop pixel art in 2D and 3D, animate digitally and by hand, learn how to sculpt by hand and on computer, develop model dioramas and digital landscapes in 3D software as well as comic and concept art, props and merch or games.
In year two you will choose to work in your specialist pathway which could include the fabrication of props, large and small scale model or sculpting and stop motion animation, 2D animation or comic design, concept art for games or 3D digital character design, 3D assets for games or film. We will support you to apply to the right University and our students are currently studying Special Effects Make Up, Model making for film, animation, stop motion, creature design and prop making, VFX compositing for film and games, 3D animation for games, comic book design and illustration, 2D Concept art and set design and architecture and our course is built to find your strengths and specialist skills and support you to achieve.
This is the only Level 3 course in the UK that specialises in Prop and Model Making design.
The courses and what you need to get a place
UAL Level 1 Diploma in Art, Design and Media (1 year)
UAL Level 2 Diploma in Art & Design (Digital Arts) (1 year)
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design & Communication (internal pathway: Interactive Media & Model Making) (2 years)
What level will you do? Put simply, to gain a place a level 3 you will need at least four x GCSEs grade 4 or above. We would like least one of these needs to be in Maths or English. If you feel you may not achieve this then level 1 or 2 will be the perfect first step. These are outstanding courses. We are flexible to individual circumstances. At interview (do not worry it is a very pleasant meeting!) we will discuss levels and your entry skills. All will be fine and we will make sure that you are on the right course!
What the course covers
Creative and Technical skills:
2D illustration and comic book development
Concept art and Character Design
Games Art
Storyboarding for Screen
Animation - traditional and digital
Prop making and model making - digital and by hand
Digital - various software - including Adobe CC Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate and Aftereffects - plus industry specifics Cinema 4D, Mudbox, MagicaVoxel and Twin Motion or Unreal
Physical - polymer clays, sculpting, laser cutting, casting and model making
Idea generation and audience
Exploration and experimentation of specialist pathway skills
Independent development of studio work into own unique outcomes
Professional Skills:
Working on 'live' competitions
Meeting deadlines
Working with focus and independence
Communication
Presentation both physical and online
Online media profiles and promotion
How will I be assessed?
The certificated qualification at the end of the two years is: UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design & Communication (Level 3). Within this qualification specifications our specialist pathways are delivered. This is the model across the UK for this qualification. This is a full Level 3 qualification - fully aligned to the value of 3 x A-levels in terms of UCAS points and academic value. This course is assessed by deadline-driven coursework with no exams. The final grade is assessed via the summative unit at Pass, Merit, Distinction levels against the qualification unit criteria. We are proud to be a University of the Arts London (UAL) accredited college, the largest creative awarding body in Europe.
Where will it take me?
Level 1 and 2 students progress to levels 2 and 3.
Level 3 students progress to university or employment. Annually about 85% of our level 3 students decide to progress to university. They all successfully gain places. Our students progress to the very finest universities in the field such as Hertfordshire, Staffordshire, Bournemouth, Bolton, Manchester, Nottingham Trent, Wrexham, Leeds, Norwich and Southampton and many others.
Outstanding aspects and highlights
We love doing as many enriching things as possible. This ensures your educational experience is varied, challenging and positive. In the past 3 years Interactive Media & Model Making students have:
Met industry leaders at EGX Eurogamer and visited the Runescape studio Jagex
Won the Concept art and Games design sections of the FXP competition set up by Rizing Games and supported by Jagex
Won the local competitions set up by Norwich University of the Arts
Been involved in the initial concept design for the dream section of the short film Maximus directed by Richard Prendergast supported by Place 21 funding
Storyboarded the script for shooting Maximus
Created SFX makeup designs and application for the Maximus shoot
Designed and created the monster props/claws for the Maximus shoot
Visited the Cinema for new or old industry classics
You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:00 to 4:00. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction.
Entry requirements
4 x GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. At least one of these should be Maths or English. Entry is via an interview where your commitment, enthusiasm and motivation should shine through.
Campus
Leonardo House, West Suffolk College sixth form campus, Bury St Edmunds
You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:00 to 4:00. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction.
Entry requirements
4 x GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. At least one of these should be Maths or English. Entry is via an interview where your commitment, enthusiasm and motivation should shine through.
Campus
Leonardo House, West Suffolk College sixth form campus, Bury St Edmunds
