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 (Stage 1) 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 (Stage 2) by short projects that have a more subject-specific structure and input. The individual final projects in the 3rd term (Stage 3) are more close aligned to the BA at the School that the student intend to progress to for further study.