Credit Points: 45
Study Time: 450 Hours

Your Professional Project is the culmination of your creative and practical work on the course. It draws together your practical and professional knowledge of your specific area of interest and provides the opportunity to plan and develop the solution to a 'live' or simulated professional brief. The unit requires you to consider all logistical and organisational aspects of the brief and to define your proposed solution in a Learning Agreement.

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 would 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.

Outline syllabus

• Managing and responding to professional briefs 
• Project planning and management Costing and invoicing 
• Completing the Learning Agreement
• Development and production of creative and practical work identified in a learning agreement 

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

Aims

A1 To consolidate your creativity and practical skills.
A2 To provide the opportunity to plan your response to a 'live' or simulated professional brief.
A3 To develop and produce a professional standard of creative work in response to a 'live' or simulated brief.
A4 To prepare you for employment, freelance work or further study.
A5 To develop your understanding of costing and invoicing in preparation for business.

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 Demonstrate a professional ability to plan your time and your work, including:

• Project time planning. 
• Working successfully with others in the production of creative outcomes.

LO3 Respond appropriately to the demands of a professional/self initiated brief, including: 

• Appropriate creative outcomes to industry/work related briefs.

LO4 Demonstrate readiness for employment, freelance work or further study with confidence in the level of your creative, practical and professional knowledge and skills.

LO5 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

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.