Art and Design courses can lead to a variety of careers, including in fashion, graphic design, interior design and industrial design. Vocational Art and Design courses focus on preparing students for employment, and therefore courses often include assistance in creating a portfolio of work, industry placements and exhibitions.
Students have the choice of studying at a TAFE, at a specialist private college such as Billy Blue, or through distance education.
Short Courses
Short courses in art and design are available from TAFE institutions, Registered Training Organisations (RTO) and community centres across Australia. Courses are often part-time and held in the evening and may include a practical element or focus on theory, such as an Art History course.
Some courses include trips to museums and galleries, either here in Australia, or abroad, as with RMIT's Footsteps of the Impressionists: A Study Tour.
While many short courses are aimed at amateur artists or designers, students can also undertake Statements of Attainment courses, which are single or multiple units of a longer, certified course. Units can count as credit toward the longer award course.
Certificate and Diploma Level Courses
Certificate courses in art and design range from Certificate I to Certificate IV under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Courses last around a year full-time, or longer if undertaken part-time or online. Diplomas and Certificates are available in Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Aboriginal and Torres Straits Arts, and other subjects.
Design courses include interior design, digital design and graphic design.
Vocational Art and Design course providers
Art and Design courses are available at TAFE institutions across the country. However, there are also a number of art and design schools offering vocational courses.
Commercial Arts Training College
Billy Blue College of Design
Australian Institute of Creative Design