Course overview
Applied Design Practice (Concept Art) Level 3 National Diploma City of Bristol CollegeConcept Art Design is one of four specialist pathways within our Applied Design programme.
All students begin with a shared foundation in design principles, creative processes, and industry-standard software before choosing a specialist pathway. Concept Art Design sits within the programme’s 2D design strand, alongside Graphic Design, with opportunities to develop skills in digital illustration, visual development, character design, and world-building.
You will cover the core principles of design and learn how to apply the creative process across a range of media and project outcomes using industry-standard Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Through practical projects, you’ll develop skills in research, idea generation, visual communication, and presentation, building a strong foundation in contemporary design practice.
These transferable skills will then be developed and applied within Concept Art Design, where you will explore how artists and designers create visual ideas for games, film, animation, and other creative industries. Through drawing, digital painting, visual storytelling, and design development, you’ll learn how to create characters, environments, props, and worlds that communicate narrative, mood, and function. Focusing on creativity, imagination, and visual problem-solving, you’ll develop the skills needed to take an idea from initial concept through to a resolved and professionally presented concept art outcome.
Dates and applications
Please hover over the ‘i’ button to find out more about course fees and applications.
| Course Code | Dates | Days | Hours per week | Start Time | Location | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC-ARTL3-05X/FC01 | 07/09/2026 - 03/07/2027 | Tues, Weds & Thurs | 17.91 | 09:15 | College Green Centre |
This course costs £. If you are aged 16-18 and looking to study full time; you will not pay any tuition fees. If you are aged 19 or over, you may also be eligible to study for free. Please contact us to discuss your options or visit our Financial Support page.
|
Apply |
Additional information
Who is this course for?
For creative individuals who love storytelling, illustration, animation, and visual development, digitally.
What you'll learn
You will develop a broad understanding of applied design before specialising in Concept Art Design.
You will learn how to:
- Apply the creative design process from initial research through to final outcomes
- Generate, develop and present original visual ideas
- Use Adobe Creative Cloud and digital tools to support illustration and design development
- Explore digital illustration, visual development, character design and world-building
- Create characters, environments, props and visual concepts for games, film and animation
- Develop drawing, digital painting and visual storytelling skills
- Understand how concept art communicates narrative, mood, function and atmosphere
- Respond creatively to design briefs and industry-style projects
- Refine your work through experimentation, feedback and professional presentation
- Build a portfolio of work to support progression into higher study, employment or the creative industries
Course entry requirements
5 x GCSEs at grade 4 or above, or a Level 2 equivalent in a relevant subject. You will have gained either English and/or Maths at GCSE Level 4 or above, or Level 2 Functional Skills in English and/or Maths.
We are firmly committed to finding the right course for you to ensure you can flourish.
Talk to us today if you have any concerns about the application process – we’re here to help take you to the next level.
How is the course delivered and assessed?
All assessment is through coursework – there are no exams.
Future career and study opportunities
Take the next step into Higher Education or begin your creative journey in animation, games, or visual media.
Additional costs
We provide the basics, but you may need to purchase additional art/digital materials from our on-site art shop.
Students from low-income households can apply to the Learner Support Fund for help with these costs.
