Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication – Jewellery Pathway

This two-year programme at Plumpton College offers a specialist jewellery-making pathway within the UAL Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication. It is designed for students who want to develop both their technical jewellery-making skills and their creative design practice in preparation for progression into higher education, employment, or self-employment in the creative industries.

This specialist jewellery pathway is ideal for students who want to explore the full creative process — from research and design, to making and marketing original jewellery pieces. You’ll develop fine jewellery bench skills alongside broader art and design thinking, supported by expert tutors and access to a dedicated jewellery workshop.

Modules

The programme runs over two years:

• Year 1: UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice
• Year 2: UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice

What You'll Learn

Across both years, you will explore a broad range of skills and concepts, including:

• Researching historical and contemporary jewellery design and cultural influences
• Drawing and modelling designs, including technical drawings and prototypes
• Creating finished pieces using core jewellery-making techniques:
• Sawing, soldering, filing, texturing, polishing, casting, and stone setting, etc.
• Working with precious and semi-precious metals
• Documenting your creative process in sketchbooks and digital portfolios
• Planning how to market and scale your ideas into a creative business

You’ll also benefit from individual feedback, practical demonstrations, and collaborative critiques — all designed to help you grow as a confident, independent maker.

Each year follows the same assessment structure:

• Two portfolio-based jewellery briefs, marked pass/fail
• One Final Major Project (FMP), graded fail, pass, merit, or distinction

These projects are designed to both mimic industry briefs and foster personal creativity, technical skill, and professional practice, preparing you for progression to university, further training, or employment in the creative industries

You must be aged 16 or over and have:

• At least 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9–4 (A*–C), including English and Maths
• Ideally a GCSE in Art, Design Technology, or Graphics
• Candidates who have completed the 14+ jewellery making programme will be considered

We also welcome applicants with alternative qualifications or relevant experience. Enthusiasm for making, curiosity, and a strong work ethic are key.