An Art or Design degree is an opportunity to channel your creative flair by exploring a range of media techniques to refine your practice. 

Career options

From book covers and bedside lamps to the apps on our phones and art on the walls, we experience art and design every day. One of the benefits of studying a degree in Art or Design is that you’re not pigeonholed to one specific job; an Art or Design degree will teach you skills that are relevant for multiple industries so you can follow a career path that is truly fulfilling for a lifetime. 

Some Art graduates establish successful careers as professional artists, selling their work in galleries or taking paid commissions.

Other graduates choose to work in the arts sector as curators or gallery managers, while some choose to share their creative skills by working in education.  

A degree in a Design subject also offers multiple industries to work in. Sectors such as advertising, branding, publishing, product design and interior design all require people with strong and adaptable creative skills. 

Job opportunities

Our Art and Design degrees prepare graduates for a broad range of careers in the creative industries. You could become a: 

  • Professional Artist 
  • Freelance Illustrator 
  • Graphic Designer 
  • Product Designer 
  • Interior Designer
  • Curator 
  • Gallery Manager 
  • Art Consultant 
  • Animator 
  • Printmaker 
  • Art Critic 
  • Copywriter 
  • Architectural Assistant 
  • Architectural Technician 
  • Teacher 

Graduates in the spotlight

Our Art and Design graduates have gone on to carve successful careers in the following roles: 

  • Freelance Illustrator for Vogue, Lego and National Geographic 
  • Designer at the Telegraph 
  • Junior Art Director at Cravens 
  • Copywriter at Google 
  • Senior Creative at The&Partnership 
  • Furniture and Lighting Designer at Tom Raffield 
  • Production Assistant at Theatre Peckham 
  • Interior Designer at Sybarite Architects 
  • Development Engineer at Heathcoat Fabrics 
  • Senior Designer at Empire Design 
Rachael Saunders art work
Rachael Saunders WOI entry 3

Rachael Saunders, Patterned Panoramic of Krka National Park, Croatia

Falmouth graduates shortlisted for AOI World Illustration Awards 2022

20 September 2022

Four Falmouth University graduates have been shortlisted by the Association of Illustrators at the 2...

Falmouth graduates shortlisted for AOI World Illustration Awards 2022
A young woman with dark hair standing next to a framed artwork of a woman drinking a glass of wine in a pool
Jordan Amy Lee at Una

Graduate is inaugural artist in residence at Una St Ives

06 July 2022

Illustration BA(Hons) alumni Jordan Amy Lee has been named as the inaugural artist in residence...

Graduate is inaugural artist in residence at Una St Ives
Figure covered in flowers and gold chains with just eyes showing through.
Hew Locke, detail of a Congo Man

Alumnus Hew Locke is selected for The Met's Facade Commission

03 May 2022

Esteemed Falmouth alumnus Hew Locke has been announced as an artist for The Met Museum’s 2022 Faca...

Alumnus Hew Locke is selected for The Met's Facade Commission
Illustration by Sophie Melissa depicting five people of different races
Sophie Melissa Illustration

Drawing inspiration from Illustration graduate Sophie Melissa

17 February 2022

Creating content for Vogue, Liberty London, Penguin, Harper Collins, Hardie Grant, WIRED and...

Drawing inspiration from Illustration graduate Sophie Melissa
Megan Leech designing
Megan Leech

Textiles graduate lands role at cutting-edge fabrics company

11 January 2022

BA(Hons) Textile Design graduate Megan Leech has landed a job as a Development Engineer with renowne...

Textiles graduate lands role at cutting-edge fabrics company
Rosie photographs her winning design
Rosie Southerden New

Textile Design graduate wins Oppo Lens of Inspiration Challenge

23 December 2021

BA(Hons) Textile Design graduate Rosie Southerden has won the Oppo Lens of Inspiration challenge. Th...

Textile Design graduate wins Oppo Lens of Inspiration Challenge
Portrait of Hana Omori, Tanya Cruz and Isabel Ramos
Keiken Image

Fine Art graduates awarded €100,000 prize from Chanel

16 December 2021

Artist collective Keiken, made up of three Fine Art graduates, has been awarded the Chanel Next Priz...

Fine Art graduates awarded €100,000 prize from Chanel
Max's shoe is held up by a robot arm
Robot Shoe 1

Innovative graduate creates robotically recycled footwear

09 December 2021

Sustainable Product Design BA(Hons) graduate Max Ashwell has created a pair of shoes that ...

Innovative graduate creates robotically recycled footwear
No Time To Die
No Time To Die

No Time To Design: in conversation with Tom Brooks

28 October 2021

The Falmouth graduate has designed the logo for the latest instalment of the James Bond series. T...

No Time To Design: in conversation with Tom Brooks
Trinitycollabboazkoha 002
Trinitycollabboazkoha 002

Graduates pool their skills to design positive community change

28 October 2021

A team of Interior Design graduates are helping to transform a disused pub into a community space in...

Graduates pool their skills to design positive community change

Postgraduate study

Art and Design graduates could go on to study a postgraduate degree to further develop their skills or enhance their career. From fine art and illustration to UX design and game art, a master’s degree is an opportunity to specialise in a particular area and develop a deeper understanding of the subject. 

Explore more
Interior design students looking at cardboard model

Knowledge and skills

A degree in an Art or Design subject gives you a platform to broaden your creative horizons by experimenting with a range of media and tools.  

Through lectures and workshop-based teaching, our students develop knowledge and skills in areas such as printmaking, bookbinding, life drawing, colour theory, typography, storyboarding, graphic layout and studio photography. 

Our academic and technical staff are on hand to support students with digital prototyping technologies such as 3D printing, 3D scanning and CAD software as well as training in CNC milling and laser cutting. Students can also experiment with hands-on making through joinery, casting and metal fabrication – our professional-standard facilities really do make the difference when it comes to a hands-on art or design specialism. 

Illustration student drawing
Illustration studios

Transferable skills

As well as these specialist skills, students develop a range of transferable skills that are desirable to many employers. These include: 

  • Ability to work towards live self-directed and/or client-led briefs 
  • Leadership skills through project management and collaborative outputs 
  • Creating innovative solutions to problem solving and a willingness to take creative risks 
  • Strong research, observational and analytical skills 
  • Verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and pitching 
  • Interpersonal skills through critiques, peer reviews and group tutorials 
  • Entrepreneurial skills in marketing your work and building professional networks 

Career support

Our Art and Design degrees mirror a real-life studio setting, providing an environment where students can experiment alongside their peers and build those ever-important networks. Students have the opportunity to seek national and international placements, exhibit their work at public exhibitions, work on live briefs set by industry partners and connect with some of the sector's most influential figures through our guest speaker programme 

When you study at Falmouth, you also have access to our dedicated employability service, RealWORKs. We offer weekly career workshops and events, support with practice interviews and advice on writing your CV or even going freelance. 

By the time our students graduate, they have their own professional identity and portfolio to start bringing their business ideas to life. 

Our Art and Design courses

Student stood in front of paintings, smiling and holding paintbrush
Fine Art - 2023

Fine Art BA(Hons)

This highly-respected course aims to support the development of your practice as it evolves over the...

Fine Art BA(Hons)
A fold out book of drawings on a shelf
Drawing - 2023

Drawing BA(Hons)

Become a rigorous and innovative critical thinker and practitioner. Build your skills, expertise and...

Drawing BA(Hons)
Student making a a house out of cardboard
Illustration - 2023

Illustration BA(Hons)

Become adept at problem solving and creating your visual language on this Illustration course, renow...

Illustration BA(Hons)
Student looking at laptop and drawing
Illustration Online - 2023

Illustration BA(Hons) (Online)

Discover your unique illustrative voice. 

Illustration BA(Hons) (Online)
Book cover design with 'The Night Manager' title and letter press letters
Graphic Design - 2023 crop

Graphic Design BA(Hons)

With an emphasis on design thinking and crafting big ideas beautifully, this Graphic Design degree i...

Graphic Design BA(Hons)
Model carrying cork bodyboard on beach
Sustainable Product Design - 2023

Sustainable Product Design BA(Hons)

Become a conscientious and innovative product designer with the professional practice skills to make...

Sustainable Product Design BA(Hons)
Design of lounge area on the deck of a super yacht, wood, cream and grey colour scheme.
Carmen Downing_Yacht design

Interior Design BA(Hons)

Delve into the world of built spaces, interior environments and the people who inhabit them. Through...

Interior Design BA(Hons)
Two figures walking with coffee cups through digital interior
Interior design Online - 2023

Interior Design BA(Hons) (Online)

Test the bounds of what's possible to achieve in interior spaces and develop the entrepreneurial kno...

Interior Design BA(Hons) (Online)
Samples of textiles in different colours
Textile Design - 2023

Textile Design BA(Hons)

On our textile design degree, you’ll be part of a vibrant, supportive community of multidisciplina...

Textile Design BA(Hons)
eastern inspired building model
Architecture - 2023

Architecture BA(Hons)

Learn through making on this RIBA and ARB accredited course. Working on live briefs in a studio envi...

Architecture BA(Hons)
Blue print detailed building drawing
ADT - 2023

Architectural Design & Technology BSc(Hons)

Learn to integrate design, construction technology, building engineering and construction management...

Architectural Design & Technology BSc(Hons)
Interior Architecture design - an open side view of a multi-storey building showing all interior elements
Interior Architecture Lead_23 Prospectus

Interior Architecture BA(Hons)

Uncover the impact and potential of the spaces in which we work, rest and play, on this future-focus...

Interior Architecture BA(Hons)
Visual Communication student drawing on a tablet
BA(Hons) Visual Communication (Online)

Visual Communication BA(Hons) (Online)

Get ahead in the vibrant, ever-evolving field of visual communications with this exciting online cou...

Visual Communication BA(Hons) (Online)
Students standing at a wall full of ideas written on paper
Creative Advertising - 2023

Creative Advertising BA(Hons)

Pitching, hustling, scribbling, protesting, researching, writing, experimenting, crafting and – mo...

Creative Advertising BA(Hons)
Illustration students in busy studio at desks drawing.
Illustration students working in a classroom
Illustration students

Integrated Foundation Year BA/BSc(Hons)

Explore your creativity and expand your professional skills by entering the creative industries on a...

Integrated Foundation Year BA/BSc(Hons)

Get in touch

Any questions? 

If you have any questions about undergraduate study at Falmouth, get in touch with our Future Studies team.  

T: +44(0) 1326 254350 
E: futurestudies@falmouth.ac.uk 

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