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Your pathway

Media & Design

Your Pathway

Media & Design

Wherever your passion lies in media, Access Creative College offers an exceptional platform for your creative aspirations. Our courses breathe new life into your professional future, providing you with the skills and experience necessary for success. Dive into our hands-on courses that cover a spectrum of production skills across film, photography, graphic design, illustration, animation, and digital design.

Upon course completion, a myriad of progression routes await you, from pursuing a degree to freelancing or securing a role in the industry. Access Creative College equips you with state-of-the-art professional-grade equipment and taps into decades of industry knowledge from experienced tutors, guiding you seamlessly toward your career goals. Connect with a national network of creative minds at Access Creative College for collaboration, networking, and support. Benefit from dedicated media labs filled with industry-standard software and cutting-edge equipment, including green screens.

Access Creative College’s bespoke career advice through our Professional Development careers service, and enhance your professional knowledge through masterclasses, visits and enrichment activities. Explore partnerships with leading media companies, providing opportunities to learn from the best and build networks that propel your name to new heights. Your path to success in the dynamic world of digital media starts here at Access Creative College.

Discover where your Media & Design course can take you.

Careers in Media & Design

Wherever your passion lies in media, Access Creative College offers an exceptional platform for your creative aspirations. Our courses breathe new life into your professional future, providing you with the skills and experience necessary for success. Dive into our hands-on courses that cover a spectrum of production skills across film, photography, graphic design, illustration, animation, and digital design.

Upon course completion, a myriad of progression routes await you, from pursuing a degree to freelancing or securing a role in the industry. Access Creative College equips you with state-of-the-art professional-grade equipment and taps into decades of industry knowledge from experienced tutors, guiding you seamlessly toward your career goals. Connect with a national network of creative minds at Access Creative College for collaboration, networking, and support. Benefit from dedicated media labs filled with industry-standard software and cutting-edge equipment, including green screens.

Access Creative College’s bespoke career advice through our Professional Development careers service, and enhance your professional knowledge through masterclasses, visits and enrichment activities. Explore partnerships with leading media companies, providing opportunities to learn from the best and build networks that propel your name to new heights. Your path to success in the dynamic world of digital media starts here at Access Creative College.

Discover where your Media & Design course can take you.

Careers in Media & Design

Alumni

Over the last 30 years, ACC has had lots of incredible talent walk through our doors. Check out a small selection here.

Andy Burgess

Andy is an Internet filmmaker and an Access Creative College alumnus. He found an audience on Snapchat and Instagram stories in 2017 whilst living in New York, and quickly became one of the most recognised creators on the platform, earning a 2018 Shorty Award finalist for ‘Snapchatter of the Year’. Now based in East London, Andy’s focus has moved to YouTube, where he creates visually beautiful explainer videos that capture communities and cultures around the world that pique his curiosity, sharing their stories with his audience.

Max Miechowski

Max Miechowski is an award-winning documentary and portrait photographer and an Access Creative College alumnus. He started at our Lincoln campus on our Level 3 Music Performance course, but has transitioned to photography since leaving us.

His work, which has been exhibited internationally, has earned him a wide range of editorial and commercial commissions, working with clients such as Airbnb and The Guardian. He has worked with a wide range of photographic equipment and uses different techniques and approaches to cater for different briefs and clients.

Amie Crabtree

Fred Foulkes, a Norfolk local, has always harboured a deep love for drawing and art. His journey with Access Creative College began, fueled by a pre-existing passion for photography and design. However, as time progressed, his passion for design quickly surpassed that for photography, and he hasn't looked back since. The initial wonders of design were introduced to him by his brother, and this passion was further nurtured by the dedicated lecturers at Access Creative College.

Fred completed his education at Access Creative Collegeand went on to study at Norwich University of the Arts (NUA).

Ellie Howard

Since leaving Access, Amie has been focused on wildlife photography, which has taken her all over the world. She also loves photographing the incredible British wildlife, both local to the Norfolk countryside and further afield in Scotland and Wales. Alongside her photography work, she is a Trainee Internal Account Manager at Wex Photo Video and is working on her first photography book, titled ‘Street Cats’.

Kia Claire

Kia Claire did his first exhibition in London with Sighted Magazine.
The A List

Student Work

Rainy Bedroom (Media)
Cowboy Duel (Media)
Taylan Harris - Journey Into movement (Media)
Darian Kessler - Journey Into Movement (Media)
Superbad at Dancing (Media)
Motion Graphics - Chloe Green (Media)
Motion Graphics - Peace Ajayi (Media)
Poster Jess Covell (Media)
Graphic Design - Callum Laney (Media)
Graphic Design - Cassie Muskett (Media)
Graphic Design - Fred Foulkes (Media)
Graphic Design - Meg Porter (Media)
Graphic Design - Peace Ajayi (Media)
Girl with a Pearl Earring (Media)
The Scribs X Vice Beats 'All I Can Say' Music Video (Media)
All I Can Say FT. Vice beat (Media)
Patagonia Poster (Media)
Ascent - Ben Martin (Media)
Aliya - Apartment Block (Media)
Soto - Architecture (Media)
OVEREXPOSED - Alex (Media)
Tone - Sruti (Media)

Get yourself prepared

useful links

Here you’ll discover resources to help you prepare for your upcoming course and beyond!

GIMP

  • PC/Mac/Linux

SUMO PAINT

  • Online Drawing and Painting App

PHOTOPEA

  • Online Photo and Design Editing

PIXLR

  • Online Photo and Design Editing

KRITA

  • PC/Mac/Linux/Android
  • Open Source
  • A Full-Featured Drawing/Painting App Alternative to Photoshop

FIREALPACA

  • PC/Mac
  • Similar to Medibang but has 2 Unique Features: Onion Skin for Animation and 3D Perspective Layers

MEDIBANG

  • PC/Mac/Linux/Android
  • Manga Vomic Features
  • Customisable Brushes
  • Collaborative Features
  • Save to Cloud

PHOTOMOSH

  • Browser
  • Distort Images, Videos or Webcam Using Creative Effects.

GRAVIT DESIGNER

  • PC/Mac/Linux/Android/Chromebook
  • A Full-Featured Vector Graphic Design App Alternative to Illustrator

VECTR

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

BOXY SVG

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

VECTOR MAGIC

  • Convert JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF Bitmap Images to True SVG, EPS, and PDF Vector Images

SKETCHPAD

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

VECTEEZY

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

INKSCAPE

  • PC/Mac/Linux/
  • A Free Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

SVG EDIT

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

SCULPTRIS

  • PC/Mac
  • Easy to Use
  • 3D Modelling

BLENDER

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source
  • 3D Modelling, Animation, Games & Visual Effects

MAGIC POSER

  • Browser/Android/IOS
  • Manipulate 3D Models to Customise Poses For Reference

FREECAD

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open-Source Parametric 3D Modeller.

PISKEL

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Easy to Use
  • Create Pixel Art and Animated Sprites

PIXLY

  • Android/IOS
  • Easy to Use
  • Create Pixel Art and Animated Sprites

MONKEYJAM

  • PC Only
  • StopMotion Animation Program
  • Capture Images from Camera into Frames

THE WICK EDITOR

  • Browser
  • Easy to Use
  • Open-Source Tool for Creating Games, Animations

FLIPANIM

  • Browser
  • Easy to Use
  • Create Flipbook Animations Online

OPENTOONZ

  • PC Only
  • 2D Animation
  • Developed and Used by Studio Ghibli

PENCIL2D

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • An Easy, Intuitive Tool to Make 2D Hand-Drawn Animations.

ENVE

  • PC/Linux
  • Free 2D Animation Editing Software

MARQ

  • Browser
  • A Full-Featured Page Design App Alternative to InDesign

SCRIBUS

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Scribus is an Open Source Page Layout Program

CANVA

  • Browser
  • Put Together Brochures, Images, Documents and Social Media Posts.

ADOBE EXPRESS

  • Browser
  • Available With Your College Login.

OLIVE

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source Film Editing Software

KAPWING

  • Browser
  • Video Editing Platform. Fast, Intuitive, Collaborative

KDNLIVE

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Free and Open Source Video Editor

ADOBE EXPRESS

  • Browser
  • Available with Your College Login.

SHOTCUT

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source Film Editing Software

OPENSHOT

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source Film Editing Software

NATRON

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source VFX & Film Editing Software

OBS

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Free Video Screen Recording and Streaming Software

AUDACITY

  • Audio Editing and Recording App

ARDOUR

  • Linux, macOS and Windows Record, Edit, and Mix

WAVEFORM

  • Linux, macOS and Windows
  • Fully Featured, Completely Unlimited Free DAW

LMMS

  • Linux, macOS and Windows
  • Fully-Featured, Completely Unlimited Free DAW

Get yourself prepared

Useful Links 

Here you’ll discover resources to help you prepare for your upcoming course and beyond!

GIMP

  • PC/Mac/Linux

SUMO PAINT

  • Online Drawing and Painting App

PHOTOPEA

  • Online Photo and Design Editing

PIXLR

  • Online Photo and Design Editing

KRITA

  • PC/Mac/Linux/Android
  • Open Source
  • A Full-Featured Drawing/Painting App Alternative to Photoshop

FIREALPACA

  • PC/Mac
  • Similar to Medibang but has 2 Unique Features: Onion Skin for Animation and 3D Perspective Layers

MEDIBANG

  • PC/Mac/Linux/Android
  • Manga Vomic Features
  • Customisable Brushes
  • Collaborative Features
  • Save to Cloud

PHOTOMOSH

  • Browser
  • Distort Images, Videos or Webcam Using Creative Effects.

GRAVIT DESIGNER

  • PC/Mac/Linux/Android/Chromebook
  • A Full-Featured Vector Graphic Design App Alternative to Illustrator

VECTR

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

BOXY SVG

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

VECTOR MAGIC

  • Convert JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF Bitmap Images to True SVG, EPS, and PDF Vector Images

SKETCHPAD

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

VECTEEZY

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

INKSCAPE

  • PC/Mac/Linux/
  • A Free Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

SVG EDIT

  • Browser
  • A Simple Vector Graphic Alternative to Illustrator

SCULPTRIS

  • PC/Mac
  • Easy to Use
  • 3D Modelling

BLENDER

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source
  • 3D Modelling, Animation, Games & Visual Effects

MAGIC POSER

  • Browser/Android/IOS
  • Manipulate 3D Models to Customise Poses For Reference

FREECAD

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open-Source Parametric 3D Modeller.

PISKEL

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Easy to Use
  • Create Pixel Art and Animated Sprites

PIXLY

  • Android/IOS
  • Easy to Use
  • Create Pixel Art and Animated Sprites

MONKEYJAM

  • PC Only
  • StopMotion Animation Program
  • Capture Images from Camera into Frames

THE WICK EDITOR

  • Browser
  • Easy to Use
  • Open-Source Tool for Creating Games, Animations

FLIPANIM

  • Browser
  • Easy to Use
  • Create Flipbook Animations Online

OPENTOONZ

  • PC Only
  • 2D Animation
  • Developed and Used by Studio Ghibli

PENCIL2D

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • An Easy, Intuitive Tool to Make 2D Hand-Drawn Animations.

ENVE

  • PC/Linux
  • Free 2D Animation Editing Software

MARQ

  • Browser
  • A Full-Featured Page Design App Alternative to InDesign

SCRIBUS

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Scribus is an Open Source Page Layout Program

CANVA

  • Browser
  • Put Together Brochures, Images, Documents and Social Media Posts.

ADOBE EXPRESS

  • Browser
  • Available With Your College Login.

OLIVE

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source Film Editing Software

KAPWING

  • Browser
  • Video Editing Platform. Fast, Intuitive, Collaborative

KDNLIVE

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Free and Open Source Video Editor

ADOBE EXPRESS

  • Browser
  • Available with Your College Login.

SHOTCUT

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source Film Editing Software

OPENSHOT

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source Film Editing Software

NATRON

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Open Source VFX & Film Editing Software

OBS

  • PC/Mac/Linux
  • Free Video Screen Recording and Streaming Software

AUDACITY

  • Audio Editing and Recording App

ARDOUR

  • Linux, macOS and Windows Record, Edit, and Mix

WAVEFORM

  • Linux, macOS and Windows
  • Fully Featured, Completely Unlimited Free DAW

LMMS

  • Linux, macOS and Windows
  • Fully-Featured, Completely Unlimited Free DAW

Featured Article

Building an audience using social media

Read now

Careers in Media & Design

Film & Video

Producer

Producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production. They select the script, coordinate writing, direct, and edit/arrange the film.

Screenwriter

A screenwriter writes content for visual media such as film. They write screenplays for feature films, short films, television, commercials, and video games. They create the dialogue, the characters and the storyline of a script.

Film Director

Film directors control the film’s artistic and dramatic aspects and visualise the screenplay (or script), while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision.

Runner

Runners provide the opportunity to gain vital experience and knowledge of the production process, offering valuable networking opportunities, and are often seen as the first step on the ladder for people aspiring to roles

Camera Operator

Television camera operators work with digital electronic film cameras and produce required shots by combining the use of complex technology with creative visual skills.

Sound Design

Sound designers are responsible for obtaining all sound effects, whether recorded or live for a specific production. They are also responsible for setting up the sound playback equipment and must make sure the board operator is properly trained. Sound design is an artistic component of the production.

Casting Director

A casting director finds the stars to bring the characters in a film or TV production to life. They are hired by the production company to match actors to roles.

Locations Manager

Location managers handle the creative side of finding appropriate locations, but they also handle the logistics needed to make that location work.

Costume Designer

A costume designer creates the outfits worn in movies, television shows, or theatre productions. You need to be creative, meticulous, and able to work under stress and deadlines to consider a career as a costume designer.

Film Marketing

A marketing manager in the film industry helps develop marketing campaigns for movies to try to reach out to new markets of consumers for particular films. Marketing managers usually oversee marketing staff members and need to work closely with other departments, such as advertising and public relations.

Photographer

Commercial and industrial photographers take pictures of various subjects, including buildings, models, merchandise, artefacts, and landscapes.

Product Photography

Product photography is a form of commercial photography and has the goal of presenting a product in the best possible representation.

Event Photography

Independent photography is a form of photography the aim of presenting a non-mainstream product in the best possible photographic representation. Event photographers capture special moments at weddings, anniversaries, parties, and shows.

Nature Photography

Wildlife photography is about capturing a split second, when the light and the animal behaviour come together to create an emotional picture.

Fashion Photography

Fashion photographers take photographs of the latest clothes, accessories, hairstyles and make-up.

Forensic Photography

Forensic photography is an essential technique used in the field of forensic odontology that plays an important role in crime investigations.

Graphic Designer

A graphic designer works to bring all kinds of communication alive. Graphic designers produce designs that get their clients’ messages across with high visual impact.

Web Designer

Web designers create the look, layout, and features of a website. The job involves understanding both graphic design and computer programming. Once a website is created, a designer helps with maintenance and additions to the website.

Interior Designer

The interior designers are tasked with designing, implementing and refurbishing interior spaces.

Product Designer

Product designers design most things we use in our day-to-day lives, from tables and utensils to clocks and PCs, as well as specialist products like medical, electronics, or telecommunications equipment.

Fashion Designer

A fashion designer designs and assists with the production of clothing, shoes and accessories, identifies trends, and selects styles, fabrics, colours, prints and trims for a collection.

Architect

An architect creates designs for new construction projects, alterations and redevelopments.

VFX Designer

VFX designers use software to create animations and special effects. Typically, they work on movies, television shows, or video games.

Animator

Animators create figures with personality by making them move in ways that show their character and emotion.

Modelling Artist

Modelling artists create characters, plants, animals and other various models on a computer in 3D.

VFX Editor

VFX editors work as a link between the film or TV production team, which shoots the live-action footage, and the VFX studio that does the visual effects. VFX editors can be employed by a VFX studio or directly by the film or TV production company.

Compositor

Compositors create the final image of a frame, shot or VFX sequence.

Media/Design Teacher

Media/design teachers share their wisdom and knowledge in their particular field and facilitate the learning and skill development of students, helping guide their future paths.

Blogger/Vlogger

Vloggers in media are often known as video bloggers, and create short online films on a variety of subjects. They may work for a video blog site or provide independent content on paid channels.

Film Distribution

Distribution companies are made up of many departments or individuals who work in unison to acquire and deliver films to an audience.