Higher Certificate in Art and Design

Purpose

The purpose of the Higher Certificate in Art and Design is to provide graduates with the knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in the field of visual art and design or in a related field. This qualification will assist learners in gaining professional and technical competencies which will contribute towards being responsible creative design practitioners, who understand the difference and application between freedom of expression and professional communication within the visual field of Design.

The qualification aims to provide a bridge into the industry; to develop professional design practice across the various industries that require designers, and to cultivate professional junior designers who can enter the workforce and grow exponentially due to the holistic approach of the course. This will ensure an elevation of the standards of designers in general, and the overall image of the profession. The qualification will offer 4 definite streams for relevant design career opportunities: Graphic Design, Digital Design, 3D, and Photography. The core modules will be facilitated to all learners and are therefore compulsory, whereas the other modules will be optional, depending on the stream chosen.

Within each of the streams, the core modules prepare the learners with the professional aspects of being a designer in today's day and age, as the learners are expected to implement learned concepts into briefs that replicate real-world projects.

Modules that are concerned with specific streams ensure that the learners are then prepared for the world of work within that career, by providing the extra relevant information required within that field of design.

Above all, learners will be prepared to not only be employable but also to be able to run their own freelance business with the skills learned, thereby making them able to contribute to the economic growth of the country at large.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Demonstrate theoretical knowledge of the history of art direction and graphic design, the various theories of the brand communication industry, its disciplines and associated media and production theory.
• Utilize a variety of media, tools and techniques to express design ideas and communicate information visually.
• Schedule and manage a simple design project.

Rationale

There are many graphic designers in the world; many of whom are self-taught due to financial restrictions. This leads to an entry-level designer who is not equipped with all the necessary competencies to develop further and prove themselves early on in their career. The qualification aims to provide a solid foundation for learners in this situation by providing the necessary skills within a one-year period that will allow the learner access to proper and professional employment but also allow the learner to pursue their studies further at a later stage when they are financially stable.

Furthermore, in 2017, research suggests that 802 630 part-time and full-time candidates sat for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, and only 38.24% had achieved admission to the bachelor's degree. Those who do not have the bachelor's degree admission requirements need to be given access to lifelong learning for holistic personal development, which this qualification will provide. This will ultimately allow learners to articulate into the degree programme or the world of work if they so choose.

This qualification will assist learners in gaining professional and technical competencies which will contribute towards being responsible creative Design Practitioners, who understand the difference and application between freedom of expression and professional communication within the visual field of Design.

The qualification aims to provide a bridge into the industry; to develop professional design practice across the various industries that require designers, and to cultivate professional junior designers who can enter the workforce and grow exponentially due to the holistic approach of the course. This will ensure an elevation of the standards of designers in general, and the overall image of the profession.

The qualification will offer 4 definite streams for relevant design career opportunities, namely, Graphic Design, Digital Design, 3D and Photography. These core modules form the foundation of all design careers and will be provided through facilitated and experiential learning to all learners. They are therefore compulsory, whereas the other modules will be optional, depending on the stream chosen.

The qualification embeds throughout the programme, the development of key skills, attributes and strengths required by 21st century employers.

Finally, the qualification has been designed with the national priorities as stated in the National Plan for Higher Education (Ministry of Education, 2001) in mind. These include:

• Producing learners who can contribute to economic growth,
• Achieving equity through increased participation and encouraging diversity,
• Providing people with indispensable high-level skills,
• Being the dominant producer of new knowledge,
• Providing opportunities for social mobility.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which applies to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advanced standing within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption from modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher certificate studies.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 without endorsement.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 75 Credits

• Professional Development, 15 Credits.
• Contextual Studies, 15 Credits.
• Individual Project (Pearson-set, 15 Credits.
• Techniques and Processes, 15 Credits.
• Design Software, 15 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 5, 30 Credits (select two modules from the following options)

• 3D Practices, 15 Credits.
• Computer-aided Design, 15 Credits.
• Lighting for Photography, 15 Credits.
• Photographic Practices, 15 Credits.
• Typography, 15 Credits.
• Graphic Design Practices, 15 Credits.
• Screen-Based Practices, 15 Credits.
• Digital Design Practices, 15 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 5, 15 Credits (select one module from the following options)

• Packaging Design, 15 Credits.
• Printmaking, 15 Credits.
• Visual merchandising, 15 Credits.
• Communication in Art and Design, 15 Credits.
• Visual Narratives (Storyboards), 15 Credits.
• Principles of Life-drawing, 15 Credits.

Exit Level Outcomes

1. Demonstrate theoretical knowledge of the history of art direction and graphic design, the various theories of the brand communication industry, its disciplines and associated media and production theory.
2. Utilize a variety of media, tools and techniques to express design ideas and communicate information visually.
3. Schedule and manage a simple design project.
4. Use various software packages to produce graphic design executions.
5. Generate advertising in various formats for various media, for advertising campaigns.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain how symbols, illustration, advertising, and typography developed.
• Identify and compare the study of different important periods that launched new eras.
• Describe and evaluate the seven brand communication disciplines, how technology has changed design and advertising and possible developments in the future of design technology.
• Describe the roles, responsibilities, and functions in a creative studio.
• Describe the components of a creative brief and show knowledge of their order, definitions, and functions.
• Illustrate knowledge of the components of the media and their functions and uses.
• Explore and discuss the colour systems, sizes, formats, and paper types used in art direction and graphic design.
• Assess the various types of printing and the pre-production requirements.
• Describe the various formats and sizes of print media.
• Illustrate knowledge of fonts and font families, types, history, and software.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Employ a wide range of drawing techniques to produce observational drawings, create images and express concepts.
• Use a variety of media to represent 2- and 3-dimensional design concepts such as painting, pen, ink, digital techniques, and Marquette.
• Use different types of visualization methods such as graphs, diagrams models, and collages to communicate information visually.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Adhere to the milestones/deadlines in a project's lifespan such as briefing, research, ideation, presentation, feedback, and final presentation.
• Show steady and regular progress in the completion of design solutions.
• Apply appropriate use of resources such as teaching material, recommended references, the library, and expert advice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Apply knowledge and skills in computer operation and maintenance for use in graphic design.
• Illustrate understanding and knowledge of Mac operating systems and associated software, freeware, stock vector and photographic and font libraries.
• Apply competence in an efficient system of file naming, storage and archiving.
• Create various or different file formats.
• Illustrate aptitude in the fundamentals of digital design and production methods and systems using the relevant design software packages.
• Digitally design and produce ideas and designs.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Apply knowledge and understanding of typography in advertising.
• Apply knowledge and use of various illustrative techniques, in rendering advertising ideas.
• Use the principles of layout design to create visual concepts which engage an audience.
• Render ideas as advertising for different media using the principles of different disciplines.
• Use concepts, visual, communication and rendering skills to present advertising ideas and finished executions.
• Create advertising campaigns.