Cleveland College of Art Design
Cleveland College of Art & Design FdA in Commercial Photography was created to respond to the requirements of local and national industry, and was developed through research and consultation with our industry partners including industrial and freelance image makers, and relevant industrial and commercial sources such as the Association of Photographers (AoP), and the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP).
Industry Focus
The course has a strong industry focus as research carried out whilst developing the foundation degree indicated a need to develop creative practitioners with an understanding of current photography practice, who also have the business skills required to pursue their own enterprises and lifestyle satisfaction. They needed to be able to identify, develop and market imagery and photography (as a service) to a range of clients, in support of the national and regional development of the creative industries which is the focus on this course.
Richard Whitehead, Pathway Leader for FdA Commercial Photography said "The world of professional photography is dynamic, challenging and difficult to break into. At CCAD we offer the best opportunity for aspiring commercial photographers to develop the necessary skills to enter this demanding and rewarding business. Our resources and knowledge base is to current industry standards. The emphasis on professionalism in combination with academic rigour allows students to achieve their creative potential, while acquiring transferable skills that allow an easier transition into the demands of the photographic industry."
Vocational focus
The vocational focus of the FdA Commercial Photography programme provides learners with the skills and knowledge relevant to potential employment as well as the needs of employers. Areas covered include a range of generic skills such as problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills, in addition to specialist image construction, technical, practical and ITC skills, and also in addition to the ability to practice effectively at a professional level which is crucial to be successfully working in the sector.
Ensuring the content remains up to date with current practice
To ensure the course content remains relevant to the sector there is an Industrial Liaison Group (ILG) that meets twice a year to provide valuable feedback for both academic staff and students regarding the currency, relevance and quality of work produced at each Level, as well as individual contributions to curriculum content. The ILG group are made up of photo imaging professionals from the region and nationally.
Live Project Briefs and Employer Engagement
Employers are also regularly consulted on the course design and 'live' project briefs set by real companies under the Work Related Industry Module. Students are expected to work to the briefs and complete the assignment in a professional manner, working to industry conditions and deadlines. At various stages throughout the assignment, the industry link is asked to give formative feedback on students' work, but is not involved in the summative assessment of the work. In the past companies we have worked with are Hartlepool Enterprise Centre and Northern Creative, Digitalab in Newcastle and RGB in Middlesbrough.
Skillset supports Cleveland College of Art & Design's Foundation Degree in Commercial Photography.
This course is successfully aligned to Skillset's demanding Photo Imaging Foundation Degree Framework and was developed with input from employers and freelancers working in the sector.
Read more about one student's experience of this course in our case study.