Art and Design Foundation

Art, Media and Design teaching is focused around two modules AA3001 Projects and AA3002 Techniques. These modules are taught through brief-set project and technical workshops to engage students in self-initiated projects and learning through practical projects. There is an emphasis on a thorough engagement with materials, forms and processes to extend practical skills as well as intellectual skills, such as observation, analysis, discrimination, discernment, innovation and creativity.

The sequenced structure of the course carefully manages increasing demands, promotes flexibility and encourages questioning, curiosity and independence. It is designed to support individual responses, initiatives and lines of enquiry towards a methodical, ethical and professional rigor. It encourages personal research, exploration and development as a means to bring individual interests, styles and specializations to the creative practices of specific subject areas, ie imagination and experimentation as well as intellectual enquiry and professional responsibility.

The 1st term starts with a broad range of short studio and workshop projects in visual imagery and practical making. These introduce and develop skills and techniques that are common across all the extended degree routes. These are followed in the 2nd term by short projects that have a more subject-specific structure and input. Students can begin to specialize or they can explore different creative practices further. The specialisms in the 2nd term may cover: - spatial and orthogonal drawing, inhabitation, materials, process, modelling, structure, scale, surface, texture and light for architecture and interior design students - observational drawing, creative drawing, conceptual modeling, practical making, performance, colour, collage, curating and exhibiting, for art and design students - pattern design and cutting; making, styling and creative direction; recycling, embellishment and customization; craft, bespoke and couture fashion; woven, constructed and printed textiles; fashion drawing and photography for fashion and textiles students.

The individual final projects in the 3rd term are more closely aligned to the BA at the School that the student intends to progress to for further study. The shared Foundation curriculum includes observational, technical, and creative drawing techniques; 2D and 3D composition; framing, sequence/series, narrative; studio skills; workshop skills.