Graphic Design & Media (Visual Arts)

Every advert on television and every page in a magazine, every film or music video you watch is the work of a graphic designer or media practitioner. This industry offers a whole host of careers in publishing, illustration, 3D animation or video editing, giving you countless ways to showcase your creativity.

What next?
As a graphic designer you can work in the publishing sector, designer layouts for newspapers and magazines, or working as an illustrator. In media choose from careers ranging from 3D animation on the next Disney blockbuster to editing movies or TV shows. Alternatively, further your studies by progressing to an advanced level such as a foundation degree or a university course.

Potential careers
Graphic designer: £14k - £65k per year
Animator: £16k - £35k per year
Freelance Illustrator: £250 - £650 per illustration
Photographer: £25k - £65k per year
Production designer: £15k - £33k per year
Television Producer: £15k - £75k per year
Location Manager: £916 - £1297 per week
Television Floor Manager: £180 - £400 per day

Anton Adekoya is an Digital Project Apprentice for world famous marketing and advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather UK.

He studied BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Graphic Design at Redbridge College from 2010 to 2012.

Anton says: “I learnt a ridiculous amount in my two years at the college.

“Having good teachers really pushed me on. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am now - they gave me so much advice, insight and guidance.

“I applied for the Apprenticeship at Ogilvy as an alternative to going straight to university after finishing my course.

“I think my passion for the job showed through – it hasn’t sunk in yet that an agency which has won awards for being the best in the world wants me to work for them.

“In my role at Ogilvy Advertising I break down client briefs and help create a strategy for individual marketing campaigns – my work is right at the heart of the organisation.

“One of the things I learnt at Redbridge was to look outside of the box, and that’s what got me this opportunity.”

What to study:

• Level 2 BTEC Diploma in Graphic Design
• Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Graphic Design

Fashion photographer Rio-Romaine Willis launched his own freelance photography career after studying at Redbridge College.

His work has appeared on the Vogue Italia website and in fashion magazines Fault and Black Hair.

Rio-Romaine says: “My tutor at the college helped me so much, because she first encouraged me to get out there and use the college’s cameras.

“If it wasn’t for her - or if I had chosen to go to my school’s sixth-form instead of coming to Redbridge - then I wouldn’t be doing photography now.

“I love clothes, style and creativity - you can create characters and your own worlds through fashion photography.

“I’ve two websites, which I developed from starting out by selling photos to friends.

“My ambition for the future is for my work to appear in all the big fashion magazines, like Vogue.”

What to study:

• Level 2 BTEC Diploma in Photography
• Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Creative Media Production

FX Studios
FX Studios is a visual arts and Media Company which operates at Redbridge College. Its aim is to offer students industrial experience in the fields of photography, video and film production and graphic design. As a student you will work on real commissions for external companies and collaborate with the college record label, Last Word Records. The portfolio of work produced so far includes promotional videos, music videos, artists’ photo shoots and CD artwork.  Students are assigned job roles and take control of the commercial running of the company on a daily basis.

In Redbridge College’s fully-equipped TV studio lights are dimmed and anticipation is building.

Learners are eagerly awaiting the premiere of a music video they have filmed, produced and edited for two local R&B acts who hope to be on their way national stardom.

The learners created a concept for the track by Boistrus and Miss Morgan – titled Think You’re The One – before directing a two-day video shoot shot on location at a local nightclub and hotel.

The lights go out, the dance beat of the track begins and learners sit back to enjoy the product of their hard work.

The subjects of the video are impressed: “I’m so pleased with it, it really is wicked,” says Boistrus, aka Matt Arnold.

“Working with learners at the college was a great experience – they knew exactly what they wanted to do,” he adds. 

Learners studying Creative courses at the college get to work on real life project briefs as part of their course, and production of the video contributed towards the assessment of the learners involved.

Learner Amanda-Jane Fisher helped create the storyboard for the video production and also had the chance to direct filming on location.

She said: “Filming the video was a very full-on experience but also incredibly enjoyable. It was fantastic to be able to put some of the skills I have learnt at the college into practice.”

During the filming and production process learners were fully supported by lecturers at the college, who have years of experience working in the creative industries.

Click here to view the video for Think You’re The One by Boistrus and Miss Morgan on YouTube.