Brand new for 2026! Kick-start your creative future with a hands-on Art and Design course that gives you the space to explore, experiment and refine your creative voice. In your first year, you’ll work across a wide range of disciplines, from fine art, drawing and illustration to graphic design and moving image, building strong foundations in both creative thinking and technical skill.
As you progress, you’ll begin to specialise, shaping your practice around your interests and career ambitions. Through industry-informed briefs, reflective practice and real-world projects, you’ll develop a confident, professional portfolio and the skills to progress into higher education or straight into the creative industries.
What you’ll learn
Course Breakdown
As an Art and Design student, you’ll explore a wide range of creative disciplines while developing the skills and confidence to shape your own creative direction. Through hands-on workshops, studio projects and reflective practice, you’ll learn how ideas are researched, developed and resolved across different media.
You’ll respond to creative briefs, experiment with materials and techniques, and build strong presentation and written communication skills alongside your practical work. Industry engagement is woven throughout the course, helping you understand how creative practice translates into real-world contexts.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a well-developed portfolio that reflects your strengths, interests and ambitions.
Equipment
Art studio and making space Graphics tablets Drawing facilities Photography studio Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) DSLR and mirrorless cameras Studio lighting kits Bookbinding tools
Studio Fee
The £150 Studio Fee is a one-off payment that covers both years of the course and covers extra costs that help to enrich the student programme, such as software licenses, online services, maintenance and use of equipment and to fund or subsidise additional trips and opportunities. In addition, it also includes an external hard drive, hard drive case, personal SD card for storage of captured film and photography, a Boomsatsuma ‘crew’ t-shirt, and full Adobe Creative Cloud license.
Year 1
The Creative Process Build strong creative foundations by learning how ideas are generated, tested and refined. You’ll experiment across multiple media while developing reflective skills through writing, critiques and creative journals.
Developing Creative Practice Develop technical skills across a wide range of creative disciplines, helping you identify your strengths and interests. Through hands-on workshops, you’ll explore everything from illustration and graphic design to film, animation and fine art.
Responding to a Set Brief
Work to a professional creative brief to plan, develop and produce a final resolved outcome. This unit brings together your learning from the year and culminates in a professionally presented project and exhibition.
Year 2
Researching a Specialist Industry Practice Explore specialist creative industries and identify your personal direction. Through industry exposure, research and practitioner-led sessions, you’ll begin to shape your creative identity and future progression.
Specialist Technical Skills Development Refine advanced technical skills within your chosen discipline. You’ll experiment with specialist materials and processes while building a focused portfolio linked to professional and ethical design contexts.
Final Major Project Plan and deliver a self-directed final project from proposal to exhibition. You’ll research, prototype and produce a final concept that showcases your creative voice and prepares you for industry or higher education.
What Our Students Say
Hear from the people living it – what it is like, how it feels and why it matters
“Studying Film and Television at Boomsatsuma gave me invaluable hands-on experience and industry insight, helping me build practical skills and confidence. Thanks to Simon and Scott for their support and connecting me with Films at 59—an incredible opportunity!”
“I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Boomsatsuma—it gave me strong foundations, industry-relevant skills, and a portfolio I still use today. The supportive environment truly set me up for success in and out of university.”
“Boomsatsuma offers excellent industry opportunities and supportive staff who helped me grow and progress into further education. The course and leaders encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new creative approaches.”
what makes us different
Why Study Art and Design at Boomsatsuma?
Industry Connections
Learn from tutors with real industry experience and access a network of creative professionals through talks, projects and events.
Real-World Projects
Work on live briefs including illustration, fine art and graphic design projects for real clients – building a portfolio that reflects professional practice.
Public Showcase
Exhibit your work publicly, gaining experience presenting your ideas to audiences and industry professionals.
Where can this course take you?
Graduates of Art and Design progress into creative careers across design studios, fashion and costume departments, illustration, fine art practice, digital media and creative agencies.
You may also choose to continue into higher education, developing your practice further through specialist degree pathways in art, design and creative industries.
How is this course connected to industry?
You’ll gain real-world insight through:
Industry masterclasses
Live creative briefs
Studio visits, exhibitions and industry trips
These experiences help you understand how creative careers really work, and how to position yourself within them.
Don’t miss this opportunity – come and see for yourself
Our Open Days are a fantastic chance to meet your tutors, your fellow students and see exactly what life will be like at Boomsatsuma.
Our Art and Design course Open Day is on Tuesday 10th February 2026.
All courses provide you with a Level 3 Extended Diploma worth up to 168 points. When you’ve completed the course, you’ll be awarded an overall grade of Distinction*, Distinction, Merit or Pass.
There are no exams for these courses. Instead you’ll be continually assessed through coursework.
You’ll need to be on track for at least five GCSE grades 4-9, two of which must be Maths and English. Alternatively you could be working towards a BTEC Level 2 Diploma and on track for a Merit or Distinction. We don’t offer level 2 courses but can recommend courses that you could do before studying at level 3 with us.
We’d also like to see your creative practice through a portfolio– this could be a sketchbook, photography, digital work, or anything else that shows how you think, make and experiment creatively.
At interview, we’ll want to see your creative practice through a portfolio– this could be a sketchbook, photography, digital work, or anything else that shows how you think, make and experiment creatively.
Absolutely! The Level 3 Extended Diploma award has equivalent UCAS points to A Levels, and the qualification is recognised by universities in the UK. Different courses have different requirements though, so we recommend that you check the entry requirements of the university course that you’re interested in.
Boomsatsuma College are responsible for over 500 learners in 10 centres and we have our own robust quality assurance procedures. We work in partnership with the Cabot Learning Foundation (CLF), one of the largest academy chains in the South West, who monitor our standards. Our students are enrolled as CLF students.
