Creative Media Practice (Digital Design and Marketing) - Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 1st September 2026
End date: 2nd June 2028
Information Event: Yes

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

Course Content

This course is the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice. The Level 3 Digital Design & Marketing pathway offers a comprehensive grounding in UX/UI design, digital product development, graphic design principles, and social media marketing. Delivered by experienced staff and informed by current industry requirements, the programme supports learners in developing practical and technical skills relevant to modern digital workflows. Successful completion provides a direct progression route to the Level 5 HND in Web Design.

What You Will Learn.

• UX/UI Design and Digital Product Design.
• Graphic Design Fundamentals.
• Digital Marketing and Social Media.
• Web Design HTML/CSS (Mobile First Development).
• 3D prototyping and production.

UX/UI Design and Digital Product Design 
You will learn how to plan and create digital interfaces using user-centred design approaches. This includes developing wireframes, prototypes, and visual layouts for web and mobile products, smart visual displays and devices, supported by industry standard design software.

Graphic Design Fundamentals 
The course introduces learners to the key principles of visual communication and provides opportunities to produce digital graphics, branding assets, and design materials that support both product design and content for digital marketing.

Digital Marketing and Social Media
You will explore how organisations use digital platforms to communicate with audiences, and you will develop practical skills in creating, scheduling, and evaluating content for social media campaigns.

Introduction to Web Design
A structured introduction to core web technologies, giving you the confidence to build simple web pages and understand how design choices translate into functioning online layouts. This prepares learners for further study at Level 5.

3D Design and Prototyping for Marketing
You will gain experience in producing simple 3D models and prototyping of physical products and small promotional items, helping you understand how physical and digital assets can work together within a marketing context.

If you are accepted onto this course without a Grade C or above in Maths and/or English you will be required to complete the relevant Essential Skills qualification. This will be a compulsory part of your timetable.  

This course is subject to the College’s Fitness to Practise and Study Policy.

 

Course Aims

This Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice aims to develop learners' capabilities in UX/UI and digital product design, strengthening their understanding of visual communication and contemporary design workflows. The programme enables students to build practical digital marketing skills relevant to industry practice, while also introducing foundational web design skills to support future progression into higher-level study. Through an emphasis on research, prototyping, and iterative design, learners are encouraged to develop creative, analytical, and technical competencies using professional software such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma. The course is designed to prepare students for direct progression into the Level 5 HND in Web Design, as well as a range of digital and creative apprenticeships or further specialist pathways within the sector.

Assessment Methods

Students will be assessed through project-based learning. There are no exams.

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on or before 1 July in the year of proposed entry to the course and have at least 4 GCSE's at Grade C or above or other relevant qualifications.

Upon completion, you can progress to: Level 5 HND in Web Design (directly aligned to this course) or other Higher-level creative and digital courses, Junior Digital marketing roles, Junior UX/UI designer roles, Junior content creator roles and Junior Graphic design roles.