Commercial Illustration and Animation - Level 3 (UAL)

Summary

The new Digital Arts and Animation course at Blackpool School of Arts is an exciting two-year, full-time Level 3 programme designed to equip students with a diverse range of skills. The curriculum includes digital drawing, animation design, moving image, traditional drawing techniques, and proficiency in software such as Procreate and Adobe. While the focus is predominantly on digital art, the course also incorporates traditional arts practice to help students understand how these techniques integrate into modern digital workflows. This blend of traditional and digital methods ensures that students gain a comprehensive understanding of the arts.

Throughout the course, students will cover the basic elements of animation, allowing them to further develop their skills in their preferred genre. The programme is designed to provide students with the perfect stepping stone into higher education or the industry, offering a solid foundation in both digital and traditional arts. Blackpool School of Arts boasts a wide range of traditional practices as well as state-of-the-art digital resources, making it an ideal environment for students to explore and develop their artistic talents. This course is an excellent opportunity for aspiring artists to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the ever-evolving field of digital arts and animation.

Next course dates

Start date	Location	Duration
02 Sep 2026	University Centre	2 Years	Apply now

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

Upon completion of the Digital Arts and Animation course, you will be well-prepared to progress to our Foundation course or a higher education suite of courses. Additionally, the comprehensive skill set you acquire will open doors to various industry opportunities. Whether you choose to further your academic journey or step directly into the professional world, this course provides a solid groundwork for success. Explore advanced learning or embark on a career in digital arts, graphic design, content creation, or digital marketing.

Next steps at B&FC

Options to progress at B&FC include:

Illustration and Visual Communication - HNC
Graphic Design and Digital Media - Certificate of Higher Education

Employment Opportunities

The digital arts employment sector is experiencing substantial growth year on year. With the skills learned on this course, you can easily transfer them into various other employment sectors such as graphic design, content creation, and digital marketing. The course is meticulously designed to equip you with a broad range of transferable skills, both in digital and traditional practices. This versatility ensures that you are well-prepared to thrive in a dynamic and evolving job market. Embrace the opportunity and enhance your career prospects with a comprehensive skill set from this Digital Arts and Animation course.

Key information

Entry Requirements

Students are required to have a 4 in GCSE English and Maths or equivalence as well as a interview.

Qualification obtained

Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication

Fees and funding

Courses for learners who are 16-18 years old at the start of their course and resident in the UK are fully funded. You may also be entitled to further financial help to support your studies depending on your personal circumstances. For more details of these, please visit our page on Finance Support for School Leavers.

If you are not a UK resident, we will confirm whether funding is available when we process your application. If not, you may be liable for course fees.

Extra costs and equipment

Students do not require any specialised equipment for the Digital Arts and Animation course. However, they will need to bring basic essentials such as pens, pencils, and a notebook or sketchbooks. These items will be necessary for taking notes, sketching ideas, and completing various creative tasks throughout the course. This ensures that students are well-prepared to engage in the learning activities and develop their skills effectively.

What will I learn?

1. Creative Process:
Stages and activities within the creative process.
Role of the creative process within the creative industries.
2. Responding to a Brief:
Analysing the requirements of a brief.
Developing and implementing a project proposal.
3. Research Skills:
Using research sources and methods to support creative processes.
Undertaking research in response to a brief.
4. Intent and Purpose:
Exploring and applying intent and purpose within creative processes.
5. Visual Language:
Analyzing and applying visual language in creative processes.
6. Reflective Practice:
Using reflective practice to inform and direct creative processes.
7. Generating Ideas:
Exploring methods for generating ideas.
Considering ethical design and social responsibility.
8. Specialist Industry Practice:
Researching and understanding a specialist industry practice.
Developing technical skills and creative processes associated with a
specialist practice.
9. Problem Solving:
Identifying and solving problems within creative practices.
10. Safe Working Practices:
Applying safe working practices within the creative environment.
11. Presentation Techniques:
Using presentation techniques to communicate creative ideas and
outcomes.

Essential skills: English and Maths

All school leavers at B&FC are encouraged to continue developing their English and maths skills as higher ability in both these subjects is linked to long-term career success and increased earning potential - irrespective of how well you performed at GCSE. If, however, you achieve a GCSE Grade 3 or less in either subject, you will also have the opportunity to work towards re-sitting these to enhance your paper-based qualifications. This won’t delay your career journey because you will be undertaking this programme of study at the same time as your chosen subject.

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

The course will include research trips to vibrant cultural hubs such as Manchester and local venues, providing students with exposure to diverse artistic environments. These visits are optional and costs will be advised closer to the time. The course will also feature guest lectures from practising artists, offering valuable industry perspectives and inspiration. These experiences will enrich students' learning, broaden their understanding of the commercial arts, and help them build connections within the creative community. This comprehensive approach ensures a well-rounded education, preparing students for successful careers in Digital Arts and Animation

How will I learn?

The Digital Arts and Animation course will be co-delivered for two-thirds of the program alongside the new Pathway to tattoo artistry and commercial arts course. One day each week will be dedicated to teaching specific Digital arts and animation skills separately. The course will offer an equal mix of practical work and academic research and analysis, ensuring that students gain a comprehensive understanding of both creative practices and theoretical knowledge. This integrated approach will prepare students for progression to
the industry or higher-level qualifications, while fostering a well-rounded skill set in both digital and commercial arts.

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich students’ learning experience, giving them an insight into what working in the industry is really like.

How will I be assessed?

Internally assessed and internally verified portfolio of evidence (Units 1, 2), which are subject to quality assurance by UAL Awarding Body Internally assessed and internally verified assignment (Unit 3) which is graded by the centre and externally moderated by UAL Awarding Body. The UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication contains the following six mandatory units:
> Unit 1 The Creative Process
> Unit 2 Developing Creative Practice
> Unit 3 Responding to a set Brief
> Unit 4 Researching a Specialist Industry Practice
> Unit 5 Specialist Technical Skills Development
> Unit 6 Specialist Creative Outcome