Credit Points: 45
Study Time: 450 Hours

Professional Project draws together your practical and professional knowledge of digital media and provides the opportunity to plan and develop the solution to a live or simulated professional brief. The brief will reflect industry standards and the area(s) of practice in which you would like to concentrate professionally after completion of the course. The unit requires you to consider all logistical and organisational aspects of the brief and to define your proposed solution in a Learning Agreement.

Your Professional Project is the culmination of your creative and practical work on the course. You have an opportunity to develop and produce the practical work required to the highest professional standard. This will be evidenced in the form of professional quality work, displayed in an appropriate way for employment or progression to further study. The work will also be displayed in the end-of-course exhibition. The Project thus not only draws together your creative and practical knowledge and skills, but also presents your best possible work to a public and professional audience.

Through consolidation of the learning achieved through the unit and critical reflection, students will have the opportunity to analyse and evaluate all aspects of their work and achievements from the final professional project unit.

Outline syllabus
(An indicative guide to the content covered by this unit.)

• Managing and responding to professional briefs 
• Project planning and management 
• Costing and invoicing 
• Completing the Learning Agreement 
• Developing and producing creative and practical work identified in a learning agreement
• Documentation of the development of the major project, from initial ideas to completion, including creative and logistical problems confronted and overcome
• Critical reflection on the major project, with appraisal of learning outcomes

Method of delivery
Tutorials; research; independent study; studio practice; presentation.

Aims

A1 To develop your creativity and your knowledge and understanding of professional practice
A2 To develop and produce a professional standard of creative work in response to a 'live' or simulated brief
A3 To prepare you for employment, freelance work or further study
A4 To develop your understanding of costing and invoicing in preparation for business
A5 To encourage students to see critical reflection as a key element of creative thinking and practice

Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Demonstrate a professional standard of creativity and practical ability, including: 

• Work that is technically comparable to that made within a specified genre
• Work that shows an awareness of contemporary trends, styles and subject matter, within commercial contexts 
• Work that shows a high degree of creativity and aesthetic judgement

LO2 Respond appropriately to the demands of a professional/self initiated brief, including:

• Appropriate creative outcomes to industry/work related briefs

LO3 Demonstrate readiness for employment, freelance work or further study with confidence in the level of your creative, practical and professional knowledge and skills

LO4 Demonstrate understanding of relevant costing and invoicing procedures, including: 

• The various costing and pricing scales and structures within relevant commercial contexts
• Timescales for payment 
• Legal requirements, copyright and syndication rights
• VAT, National Insurance etc.

LO5 Reflect critically upon work and to use this as a springboard for the further development of ideas and creative practice

Reference material

This will vary according to the needs of individual students. You will define reference material through negotiation with staff and list it in your Learning Agreement.