Art and Design features in many aspects of our everyday lives, from the advertising posters we see on our streets to the special effects we see in films. Almost everything we see or touch has been designed to be visually attractive including mobile phones, clothes, cars, buildings and websites.
The skills that you develop in Art and Design are useful in many different careers, such as architecture: interior design, fashion and textiles, graphics, web design and photography.
Career Pathways
To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:
Hairdressing, Beauty and Wellbeing
Information, Culture and Heritage
Entry is at the discretion of the school or college but you would normally have achieved one of the following:
Art and Design is a practical, hands-on subject that develops your creativity and imagination, and your artistic skills. You will learn how to use a range of art and design materials and techniques. And, you will learn the skills involved in planning, producing and presenting art and design work. You will also find out how artists and designers work, and how factors like their environment and culture have an impact on their work.
The course has two compulsory units, plus an added value unit that assesses your practical skills.
Art and Design: Expressive Activity (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
develop an understanding of the factors that influence and inspire artists’ work
consider how artists use art materials, techniques and/or technology in your work
research and develop your personal thoughts and ideas in 2D and/or 3D formats in response to given stimuli
produce observational drawings and studies and develop your expressive ideas and compositions
experiment with and use art materials, techniques and/or technology in creative and expressive ways.
Art and Design: Design Activity (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
Added Value Unit: Art and Design Practical Activity (6 SCQF credit points) - this is not mandatory for the session 2022-23
In this unit you will produce a:
Note: Both of these units may be taken with a Scottish Context option, which contributes towards the Scottish Studies Award.
Your work will be assessed by your teacher on an ongoing basis throughout the course. Items of work might include:
You must pass all the units including the practical unit to gain the course qualification.
If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):