With its stimulating atmosphere, our Creative and Design department is an exciting place for you to mark your mark on the creative industries.
Creative and Design
Full time courses
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Our Creative and Design pathways
Art and Design
Focus on the importance of creative development through a range of artistic mediums.
Hone your skills on projects involving drawing, illustration, painting, sculpture, 3D Design and more.
Media
Discover how to captivate an audience through film, television, games design, journalism and creative writing.
Demonstrate your practical skills whilst working on actual media products that can be used for your portfolio and future career.
Photography
Specialise in the medium of Photography and learn a range of analogue and digital skills.
Studies take place using our professional industry-standard equipment, including photographic studios, darkroom and digital imaging software.
Creative students showcase their work at very own art gallery
2 July 2025
Students from our Creative and Design courses have come together to display their artwork at the end of year show.
Learn from practising artists
Our creative courses allow flexibility for learners to develop their individuality and confidence, providing a comprehensive foundation in a range of creative and design disciplines.
Our students are taught by highly qualified tutors, many of whom are practising artists.
Paul Hodge, our Programme Director for Art, has exhibited his work widely across the UK, most notably in ‘Figure’ at Burghley Sculpture Park, ‘Art in the Dockyard’, Chatham and ‘The London Group Centenary Exhibition’.
Curate your own exhibitions
You will contribute to End of Year Shows, displaying your work in public areas such as the Ashford Designer Outlet.
We even work with local charities to auction off student artwork and raise money for good causes.
All of these projects help you build key transferrable skills such as management, teamwork and communication.
Media students got a sneak peek behind the scenes at Maidstone studios with UCA
19 February 2024
Media students visit UCA Maidstone TV Studios
“College has really helped push me towards where I want to be, I’m excited to take on a new challenge at the Fashion Retail Academy.
“College really helps you build confidence, and I’m grateful for that. I’d tell students to just take things as they come. Don’t overthink things and allow yourself to enjoy the course.”
Belle
Level 3 Photography
“I had a hard time at school, so I came to College and realised that Photography was the thing that I really wanted to do.
“College has really helped me to come out of my shell and find out what I want to do in life. I am more talkative now and it has helped me to make friends.”
Jake
Level 3 Photography
“The course is really good so far and we’ve been making lots of films.
“My favourite parts are learning all about cinematography and making music to go alongside our films. It’s been on my mind to make my own feature film and this course is giving me the passion to do this in the future.”
Charlie
Level 3 Creative Media
Adult Courses
We offer part-time and short courses throughout the year in a range of Creative and Design areas.
These will help you develop skills that can be used to start a new hobby or even enter the industry at a beginner level.
Our specialist facilities
Darkroom
Discover the world of traditional film development with our specialist Darkroom, equipped with everything you need to learn and perfect the art of analogue photography.
From developing your negatives to creating stunning prints, our hands-on approach ensures that you can unleash your creativity and bring your visions to life on our Photography courses.
Production Studio
Gain first-hand experience in media by using our professional-grade gear including tripods, lighting rigs and reflectors empowering you to bring your creative vision to life with precision and professionalism.
Whether you’re filming a scene, conducting interviews, or experimenting with special effects, our studio provides the perfect environment for hands-on learning and experimentation.
Create work for real clients
Alexander and Miles, two of our Media students, created a promotional film for the Hop Exhibition at Brook Rural Museum.
The exhibition was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the two were invited to attend the official opening.
By developing their initial concept and producing the video, they’ve both gained valuable experience.
Photography student wins prestigious Peter Roberts Bursary award
5 October 2023
An EKC Ashford College student has won a prestigious national bursary for his outstanding work ethic and creative talent.
How you apply for a course at EKC Ashford College
Step 1 – Find a subject you’re interested in
Explore our courses online and see the wide range of academic opportunities that are available to you.
Step 2 – Apply
Apply through our online application system for the department you are choosing.
Step 3 – Come to an applicant day
Come along to EKC Ashford College to meet our team, explore our facilities and see which course is right for you.
Career prospects
Example:
Artists
£
£42,640
Annual pay
Annual pay is per year, based on full-time employment and on the South East region.
Role description
Artists create artistic works using appropriate techniques, materials and media; design artwork and illustrations; and restore damaged pieces of art.
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Life as a Creative and Design student
Take part in big projects
Media students are bringing children’s stories to life, thanks to Indigo Productions. 🎥
As part of their Children’s TV assignment, they first visited East Stour Primary School to understand the target audience, before stepping foot into studio spaces.
Raise money for good causes
As part of our Community Week, during which students inspire change and benefit our local communities, Art students held an exhibition/sale of their work, to raise funds for the charity Dads Unlimited. The sale was a huge success, with over £160 being raised for the worthy cause.
Work with local businesses
Every Christmas, students work alongside Emergency Exit Arts and Made in Ashford to craft captivating pieces for the town’s ‘Festival of the Baubles’.
Explore your progression options
Media students got a sneak peek behind the scenes at Maidstone Studios, thanks to University for the Creative Arts.
This allowed them to see what opportunities await them post College.
Network with artists
EKC Ashford College students recently interviewed Curtis Hylton, the artist behind two key Ashford murals.
In addition to networking, they learned more about videoing and using professional sound equipment.
Join engaging workshops
Cyanotype prints were created by our students in a session delivered by ‘The Darkroom at Beach Creative’.
Workshops like this take place throughout the year, building specialist skills.
Gain unique work experience
Media students worked with Elwick Virtual Recreation to create a series of promo videos for their business.
Exciting opportunities like this give students the chance to get their work out into the real world.
Developing Photography Film in the Darkroom: A Simple Guide for Beginners
17 July 2025
Ever wondered how small film negatives become large-scale prints? We’ve condensed the process into 10 simple steps to understand.
We’re part of six community-based colleges
