Three Dimensional Design (Ceramics or Glass or Metalwork & Jewellery) – (B.A.)

Contents

Syllabus (11/12*)

Year 1

You are introduced to the different approaches of design and craft practice through interdisciplinary and specialist learning groups, individual practice and exposure to historical and contemporary makers and objects. Visiting lecturers, gallery and museum visits will be a contributory element to this part of the course.

* Visual and material research - introduces the nature and management of self reflective practice. It concentrates on establishing the central role that visual research plays in the formulation of all subsequent developments.
* Analysis and design development - you learn to use drawing to discover the essential constituent characteristics contained within the subject matter. Emphasis is placed on the development of appropriate drawing and mark-making processes to these characteristics.
* Design discourse 1: historical and critical contexts - introduces design discourse as a framework by which changes in design practice might be better understood. With a focus on design history since the time of the Industrial Revolution, the unit will detail a number of contexts in order to examine the possible relationships between form and meaning.
* Form and function - you explore issues of form and function and examine interpretations within different cultures and contexts. Through seminar presentations you are introduced to problem solving methods and approaches.
* Applied design - you produce and make work for a specified individual. Students will be introduced to technology and processes related to CAD/CAM and Rapid Prototyping and required to incorporate their use within the production of the artifact.
* Design discourse 2: object analysis - this unit gives an account of the variety of contexts by which design might be better understood. Taking as its starting point the belief that objects and images need to be studied both specifically and in relation to their social, cultural and economic environments, the unit offers a series of contextual and practical research tools that will allow for detailed and involved analysis to be applied to the evaluation of designed objects.

Year 2

During this stage of the course emphasis is placed on the practical skills and experiences essential for professional practice. Its main focus is the development of a flexible approach within your working method, when responding to set applications and professional practice related experiences. You gain experiences of the differing approaches to problem solving, enabling you to locate and evaluate appropriate methods and group tutorials and seminars across 3D Design assists you in defining the your own working method and the range of skills and knowledge to support your design activity.

* Specialist studies 1: concept and production development - comprises of projects that give set applications (these may include elements associated with scale, theme, cost restriction, and batch production) to which you can test and flex their personal working method and language.
* External brief - you are set a project brief and requirements set by an external party either as a live brief, a simulated live brief, a competition or a commission. The originator of the brief (client), where possible, will participate in the delivery, assessment and feedback for the unit.
* Craft in context - addresses a number of theories and dialogues with regard to craft practice and its history, and examines the changing values attached to the hand made object.
* Exhibiting and curating - gives you experience of exhibiting, curatorial writing and promotion.
* Specialist studies 2: personal and professional practice - combines experimentation and creative risk taking to produce individual, exciting and innovative work with time management and effective working procedures required for professional practice.
* The uses of things: design, consumption and identity - focuses on a number of contemporary contexts in order to examine the variety of meanings and identities that can be constructed within what has come to be defined as a consumer society, with the emergence of a range of design professions at its core.

Year 3

You have the opportunity to demonstrate your capacity for sustained independent study and developing high quality work that reflects innovation and critical judgement. With tutorial guidance you devise and work to structured study and production plans which require you to devise a clear personal objectives and define the outcomes.

* Specialist studies 3: preparing for independent practice - forms a single, self directed, planned and controlled activity, pulling together all the facets of practice identified through earlier study. In this way it acts as a preparation for entry into the professional world and enables you to bridge your personal working method with the requirement of maintaining a self sustaining professional practice.
* Business studies - introduces business administration and management skills with an emphasis on the relationship with the production of practical work.
* Dissertation - a sustained period of self directed research, and provides students with the opportunity to further develop personal interests related to the historical, theoretical and critical concerns previously encountered.
* Specialist studies 4: independent practice - a period of independent practice to produce crafts artifacts.
* Presentation, progression and promotion - offers first hand experience of the industry's requirements, expectations, modes of operation, commercial considerations, and promotional approaches. It also illustrates the range of markets that can be targeted within the creative industries.

* Please note the syllabus content is for the academic year indicated and is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change.