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Art & Design
Artists and designers spin their creative magic all around us, from priceless paintings to the latest websites. Find out more about jobs and careers in art and design.
🎨 What’s art and design?
Art and design is all about creative expression – artists share ideas through paintings and sculptures, while designers use their skills for practical stuff like making cool brochures, jewellery, or furniture, mixing art with problem-solving.
Need more info? Ask an Apprentice
Considering an apprenticeship in this area of work? Or just unsure about uni? Our Ask an Apprentice community is made for you! Be mentored and chat with real apprentices, get application tips, and ask all your burning questions through our new platform.
What jobs can I do?
Animator
Animators bring stories to life using techniques like 3D graphics, 2D drawings, or stop-motion for film, TV and games.
Art auctioneer?
Art auctioneers sell art to competitive bidders and appraise artwork for authenticity and value, helping collectors build their collections.
Artist
Artists create original works in various media, such as painting, photography, or sculpture, selling or being commissioned for their unique pieces.
Craft designer
Craft designers use traditional skills like pottery, weaving, or silversmithing to create handcrafted products.
Front end designer
Front end designers use coding to create user-friendly and visually appealing websites, apps and digital interfaces.
Gallery and museum curator
Curators select, manage and display collections in museums or galleries, often educating the public through exhibitions.
Graphic designer
Graphic designers create visual content using images, text and graphics for brands, websites, magazines and advertising.
Illustrator
Illustrators use their drawing skills to tell stories or create visuals, from book characters to scientific diagrams.
Interior designer
Interior designers craft functional and aesthetic spaces, like shops, offices or homes, blending style with purpose.
Fashion designer
Fashion designers create new clothing and accessories, blending artistic vision with trends to shape what we wear.
Motion graphic designer
Motion graphic designers combine graphic design with animation for dynamic visuals in TV, films, music videos and online content.
Product designer
Product designers create items that are both beautiful and functional, like tech gadgets or furniture, blending art with engineering.
User experience designer
UX designers improve the usability and enjoyment of digital products like apps or websites, focusing on user satisfaction.
What are the top skills?
🔎 Attention-to-detail
Attention-to-detail lets artists nail every colour, texture and line. It’s the secret to turning creative ideas into polished, eye-catching art that leaves a lasting impression.
🖌️ Creativity
Creativity fuels fresh ideas, helping artists and designers express concepts, solve problems and develop standout visuals.
🧐 Problem-solving
Problem-solving helps designers and artists find innovative ways to overcome challenges in their projects, from design tweaks to technical adjustments.
🚀 Self-motivation
Self-motivation drives you to keep creating, exploring new techniques and staying resilient through challenges.
1️⃣ Independent working
Independent working allows you to develop your ideas and manage projects from concept to completion, a key part of many creative roles.
How can I start a career in art and design?
📜 What A-levels should I take?
Choose subjects like fine art, graphic design, or photography and aim for strong grades in English and maths for more opportunities.
🖼️ What's a portfolio and do I need one?
A portfolio showcases your best creative work, helping potential employers or clients see your skills, style and potential. You will develop one in A-level art and design – you can combine this with any other work you create and put your portfolio online to show off your skills.
🛠️ What apprenticeships can I do?
You can do apprenticeships in animation, photography, craft design, visual effects and even museum curation through degree apprenticeships.
🎓 Is uni an option?
Yes, you can study art and design degrees, often after a foundation course. Many students choose specialist arts colleges for a focused experience.
👷🏽♀️ Could I do a vocational qualification at college?
Absolutely! BTECs or NVQs in art and design provide hands-on experience and prepare you for various creative roles.
⭐ How can I stand out?
Join art clubs, enter competitions, build a strong portfolio and learn industry software like Photoshop and Illustrator.
What qualifications can I get?
What degree options do I have?
Study fields like fine art, graphic design, fashion, interior design, or art history. Specialist colleges offer diverse creative courses.
What qualifications can I get through an apprenticeship?
Gain diplomas, certificates, or even degree-level qualifications while working in fields like design, photography, or heritage.
5 fun facts you didn’t know
Art is going digital!
Brighton’s annual immersive art festival, Brighton Digital Festival, merges digital creativity with live art, showcasing interactive installations and virtual art experiences for thousands of attendees.
Is Banksy from Bristol?
The anonymous street artist Banksy, known for thought-provoking graffiti, is believed to be from Bristol. His pieces can increase a wall’s value by thousands!
London is home to 200 galleries!
London hosts over 200 galleries and is a global art hotspot, attracting top creatives from around the world and driving new trends in fashion, design and digital art.
The past is the future!
The UK’s craft scene is booming, with traditional skills like pottery and weaving making a huge comeback, blending old-school techniques with fresh, modern twists.
You can go to a VR art gallery
In 2020, the UK opened its first virtual reality art gallery, offering immersive, 360-degree tours of exhibitions – bringing the art experience straight to your screen.
Need more info? Ask an Apprentice
Considering an apprenticeship in this area of work? Or just unsure about uni? Our Ask an Apprentice community is made for you! Be mentored and chat with real apprentices, get application tips, and ask all your burning questions through our new platform.
