Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
Who is this course suitable for?
This course is designed as a training program for those working (or who wish to work) professionally in the lighting and electrical industry, and there is a strong focus throughout the course on applying your knowledge practically to produce real results and benefits for your clients. This is not a “hobby course”, although some students in the past have enrolled out of a desire to learn to design lighting schemes for their own home.
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What previous knowledge or experience must I have?
If you already had these skills then you wouldn’t need to learn them from us, so there is no pre-requisite for this course except a genuine interest in the subject and obviously an ability to read and write clearly. All of our course materials are prepared to the highest standards and are written in language that is easy to understand and free from unnecessary jargon; if you have a genuine interest and desire to learn, then we will provide you with the best means to achieve that goal. We don’t believe in excluding people, and we offer excellent training and qualifications to anyone who is willing to make the commitment that a course of this nature requires.
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What career options are available?
This course is ideal for anyone who wishes to enhance their knowledge in lighting, and it will give students a good overview of the lighting industry as a whole. It would be of particular benefit to anyone working in the following areas:
- Interior Designers and Architects
- Sales advisors in lighting showrooms and department stores
- Electrical wholesalers and distributors
- Electricians, small building contractors and site supervisors
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Will this course sufficiently prepare me to work as a Professional Lighting Designer?
This course is designed to teach you about the different lighting effects and how to achieve them, and to communicate your ideas professionally through plans and specifications. It is a very thorough course, and covers all the main aspects of lighting design. However, the majority of qualified “Lighting Designers” have completed full-time degree courses in the subject and it would be unrealistic to expect the same level of knowledge from a certificate course.
As a certificate course, this will give you a very strong foundation and introduction to the lighting industry as a whole. The course assignments will help you to learn fundamental lighting design skills, and even more importantly, you will understand how to apply those skills in practical ways with your clients. From the very beginning of the course you will receive feedback and you will learn from experience what works and what doesn’t. There is no better way for you to learn the course material, and to build your confidence at the same time. Furthermore, the feedback you receive from your tutor throughout the course will confirm your strengths and weaknesses, encouraging you to achieve your best work and to continually improve your ability so that you can advance your career in the industry.
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Will my qualification be recognised?
Limperts Academy of Design is an Awarding Body, and all of our courses have been carefully structured to meet both national and international standards in education and the design industry. All of our courses have been developed by a dedicated team of Professional Designers/ Consultants, Industry Experts and Training Consultants, so you can be sure that your course is both up to date and relevant. The high standard of work that our students produce is earning us a strong reputation in this industry. The most important tool for any Fashion Stylist is their portfolio, as that shows clients exactly what you can do and will help you to secure work. By the time you have completed this course, you will have built up a portfolio of work and business tools to help you get started in the industry, which will also act as a clear testament to your ability and your professionalism.
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Is there an exam?
This subject is not like traditional academic subjects, and examinations of the conventional kind are not appropriate for testing these types of skills and knowledge. On completion of all course assignments, you will be given a Final Project that incorporates everything you will have learned throughout the course into one complete assignment. The project question will be a typical job requirement or client brief, and this should give you the confidence to actually begin working in the industry afterwards and it will be an important part of your portfolio work. You will be asked to complete the project within a set time frame, which is usually about 1 month, and you must pass both the coursework AND the Final Project in order to receive the Certificate in Fashion Styling. Certificates are graded Pass, Merit or Distinction as appropriate, and the final grade awarded will be based on the results of your coursework and your Final Project.
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What happens if I fail?
Each course assignment is returned to you with detailed feedback to tell you exactly what you what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can continually improve your work to meet the standards required by the industry. If any of your course assignments are below standard, they will be returned to you by your tutor and you will be asked to re-do the assignment, taking on board the tutor’s comments and feedback. This doesn’t happen to most students, but regardless, it’s all part of the learning process and after all that is what this course is all about!
By the time you have completed the coursework, you should know what is expected in the Final Project, and the grades you have been receiving on your coursework will give you a strong indication of the final grade you are likely to receive. Having got to this point successfully, it is very unlikely that you will fail to achieve the standard required on the Final Project. In the event that your project does fail, you will be given the opportunity to re-submit once for a nominal fee.
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How long does it take to complete an assignment?
The “average” time spent on each assignment is between 10 and 12 hours. This is a professional qualification and clearly it requires commitment to achieve what is required. However, this is a creative and enjoyable subject , and “study” in the conventional sense does not apply to these assignments. All the coursework is very practical and while students will admit that it takes commitment, they all stress the enjoyment factor and sense of pride and achievement in their work.
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Are there any additional costs not included within the course fee?
Our course fees represent excellent value for money, and everything is included in the price, we stress that there are no hidden costs. All of our course manuals have been specifically written for each program, they are very thorough and contain all the information needed to complete the course. Additional reading lists are provided to students who wish to conduct further research but it should be re-iterated that the course materials have been specifically created to be the best guide available and the manuals provided take the place of any “essential reading” list.
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Who will be my tutor?
All our tutors are practising designers and professionals who are actively working in the industry, who teach on a part-time basis. When you send in your first assignment, you will receive details of the tutor who has been assigned to you.
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How do I contact my tutor?
Anytime you want to contact your tutor directly, just contact us at Limperts Academy of Design by phone, fax or e-mail, and we will forward the request to them immediately. Because all our tutors are actively working in the industry, they spend a limited amount of time in our offices and may not be here when you call. Your tutor will always get back to you within 24 hours, and 90% of the time you will probably receive a response within one hour.
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Why should I choose Home Study?
With Home Study you can choose to study at a time and pace to suit you. The advantages of home study include:
- You can work at a pace to suit your schedule
- You never miss a class or lecture
- You will save wasted travel time, that can be spent on coursework
- Start dates are once a month, so you can begin anytime and don’t have to wait for the academic year
- Not least, there is a considerable saving in choosing the Home Study method as the tuition costs and facility overheads are greatly reduced
There are many support tools in place to encourage you as a home study student, and our Home Study students consistently produce a high standard of work. The course materials are all extremely clear and easy to understand, and the feedback you receive from your tutor is invaluable in helping you achieve your goals.
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