Foundation in Graphic Design and Illustration - Level 6
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 6
- Start Date
- 24 Aug 2026
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 Year (August to June)
Are you a visual person? Do you love design, drawing and coming up with ideas? Foundation in Graphic Design and Illustration offers an exciting introduction to the creative industries and helps you discover where your strengths and interests lie. Creative ideas are at the heart of everything you'll do, from exploring how ideas grow from initial sketches to finished designs to sketchbook development, digital software, typography and graphic design. Through a range of engaging briefs you'll learn the full design process, from concept to outcome, building confidence, practical skills and a strong creative foundation.
If you’re passionate about art and design, this could be the perfect start to further study and a creative industries career.
What will I learn?
During the Foundation Graphic Design and Illustration course, you'll develop a broad and exciting range of creative skills designed to help you thrive in the creative industries. You’ll explore typography, children’s book illustration, digital imaging, packaging, magazine design, photography, screen printing and illustration, gaining hands-on experience across both traditional and digital media.
This dynamic, year-long course provides an excellent foundation for your creative journey, preparing you to progress confidently onto HNC/D Graphic Design or HND Illustration. With expert support, industry-relevant projects, and access to inspiring facilities, Glasgow Clyde College is the ideal place to build your portfolio, grow your confidence and take the next step towards a creative career.
Course content:
- Label and packaging design
Explore branding through tactile forms, transforming ideas into compelling packages that communicate stories, values and emotional connections effectively and confidently. - Sketchbook development
Use sketchbooks as creative laboratories, nurturing observation, experimentation and reflection while ideas confidently evolve from raw thoughts into refined concepts. - Software skills
Build confidence across industry-standard software, translating imagination into professional digital outcomes through practice, curiosity, adaptability and problem-solving with precision and purpose. - Children’s book illustration
Develop narrative illustration skills, crafting playful characters and worlds that spark curiosity, empathy and imagination for young readers everywhere. - Typography
An essential skill for both graphic designers and illustrators. Explore typography as a visual voice, balancing form and function to enhance readability, mood, hierarchy and meaningful communication across diverse contexts. - Illustration
Strengthen illustrative practice through experimentation, storytelling and technique, developing a confident personal style rooted in observation and creativity through daily practice. - Magazine design
Design editorial layouts with clarity and rhythm, combining imagery, typography and structure to engage readers and communicate content beautifully and effectively. - Digital media
Engage with digital media processes, creating dynamic content while understanding platforms, audiences, interaction and contemporary visual culture trends, ethics and impact. - Photography: Digital imaging (TBC)
Develop digital photography skills, mastering composition, lighting and editing to capture expressive images with clarity and intention, consistently, creatively and professionally. - Corporate identity
Explore corporate identity systems, shaping cohesive visual languages that express brand values, consistency and strategic communication across multiple touchpoints globally. - Design project
Complete an independent design project, integrating research, creativity and execution to deliver throughtful solutions with professional confidence, vision, clarity and impact.
For examples of our student work, and our blog, visit:
HND Illustration Instagram
Entry requirements (minimum)
Route One:
- Two National 5 qualifications, which must include English and Art/Graphic Communication; or
- Two Intermediate 2 or Credit Level Standard Grades, which must include English and Art/Graphic Communication
- A personal statement (on the application) is key to supporting a successful application.
Route Two:
Where there are no formal entry qualifications, you'll be required to present examples of your own creative work as part of the interview process.
A personal statement is mandatory to support a successful application/interview for route 2 applicants.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
You will become familiar with the basics of Graphic Design and Illustration and the application of appropriate software and terminology by the end of this course, essential skills for progression in industry.
Jobs and further study
Successful Foundation in Graphic Design and Illustration - Level 6 students can progress to:
Take a look at the course progression map for graphic design and illustration courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
You'll receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you'll either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you'll be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you'll not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you'll be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date.
