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

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 1st September 2025
End date: 4th June 2027
Information Event: Yes

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

Year 1

In your first year, you will build a strong foundation in the core skills required for digital design, branding, and marketing communications. You will explore how creative ideas are developed into effective visual and digital outcomes, learning the principles of graphic design, visual communication, branding, and audience engagement. 

You will gain hands-on experience designing digital assets for a range of platforms, including social media, web, and print-based marketing. This includes creating logos, posters, social media graphics, promotional content, and basic motion graphics. Alongside design skills, you will also learn the fundamentals of marketing strategy, including understanding target audiences, brand identity, and campaign planning. 

You will work with industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and other digital content tools, developing confidence in both creative design decisions and technical workflows. Professional practice, including project planning, client briefs, and production planning, is embedded throughout the year. 

Year 2 

In your second year, you will develop your digital design and marketing practice further through a series of focused, professionally aligned projects. You will refine your visual design skills, explore advanced branding and campaign development, and gain a deeper understanding of digital marketing channels, content strategy, and audience behaviour. 

You will work in small creative teams, mirroring real-world studio and agency environments. Projects place strong emphasis on collaboration, communication, time management, and responding to client-style briefs. You will also develop skills in presenting and pitching ideas, analysing campaign performance, and adapting designs based on feedback and data. 

Throughout the year, you will build a substantial digital portfolio showcasing your strengths across design and marketing. This culminates in the Final Major Project, where you will independently plan and produce a major piece of work. This could include a full branding package, digital marketing campaign, social media strategy, or cross-platform promotional project. The Final Major Project allows you to specialise, take creative ownership, and produce a professional-quality outcome that demonstrates your readiness for progression. 

Course Content

This course is the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice. Units may include: 

• Digital graphic design principles 
• Branding and visual identity 
• Digital marketing and promotional campaigns 
• Social media content creation and strategy 
• Typography, layout, and visual communication 
• Motion graphics and basic animation 
• Image editing and digital asset production 
• Research, audience profiling, and consumer behaviour 
• Project planning and production management 
• Client briefs and professional practice 
• Pitching ideas and presenting creative concepts 

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

The course aims to develop students’ creative, technical, and professional skills in digital design and marketing, preparing them for progression into employment within creative agencies, marketing teams, freelance design roles, or onto related university courses in graphic design, digital marketing, visual communication, or creative media. 

Special Features

Students benefit from teaching delivered by experienced creative practitioners with current industry experience. The course provides access to professional software, specialist facilities, and live-style project briefs. Students also have opportunities to engage with industry guests, workshops, and real-world creative scenarios, ensuring learning remains practical, current, and aligned with industry expectations. 

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.

Our students often progress to Higher Education with degree courses in Web/Graphic Design or Animation being popular choices. By the end of the course you will have the necessary skills to either work in the Interactive Media industry and/or progress to University. You will also have a solid understanding of the wider environment, as well as having acquired research, managerial and other professional skills. Students that successfully complete the Extended Diploma to the required standard will also be eligible to apply to NRC’s higher education Creative Media programmes.