THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : Access

Undergraduate Course: Access Art and Design 1 (AACE07005)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryAccess Art and Design 1 is an intensive and stimulating course that will enable students to develop and refine their skills towards artistic maturity, creating an individually-tailored portfolio for entry to the wide variety of degree programmes in art and design. With drawing as its foundation, the course aims to empower students with the confidence, passion and commitment to pursue their chosen pathway, whilst preparing students for progression to successful study of Access Art and Design 2. The course is project-driven with practical workshops that enable students to expand upon basic skills to experiment with materials, digital engagement and 2d/3d ideas relating to the students' expanding knowledge of contemporary art/design and cultural issues.
Course description 1) Academic Description

This course is offered as part of the Access Programme (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences). The Access Programme aims to prepare students for undergraduate study by introducing them to a range of essential skills and encouraging them to employ these skills in a confident and flexible way.

Semester 1 courses are designed to foster those skills which are broadly transferable within their respective disciplinary areas and are designed to prepare students for progression to semester 2.

This semester 1 course will provide a supportive, stimulating and creative environment in which students will be steered towards creating strong portfolios suitable for entry to the wide variety of art and design degree programmes (for example, Art, Intermedia Art, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Fine Art, Animation, Fashion, Film & Television, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Jewellery & Silversmithing, Performance Costume, Product Design, Textiles, etc.).

The core focus of Access Art and Design 1 is in skills development and portfolio progression, to enable each student to evidence their artistic ability and potential in their chosen degree pathways. Students will therefore be encouraged to identify their potential degree pathways at an early stage of the course so that their learning can be tailored effectively and constructively towards individual outcomes and tailored portfolios. In line with portfolio assessment criteria, four key areas will be blended into the learning journey: enquiry and visual research; idea development and material/technical exploration; critical judgement, reflection and resolution; and contextual awareness.

The course will include core skills-development workshops in a range of drawing and 2d/3d skills and techniques, visual recording, mixed-media experimentation and confidence building, digital engagement, and portfolio presentation along with enrichment activities to support progression. Work will be focused around a themed project/ live brief ("the vessel"), enabling students to engage with, and demonstrate independent creative exploration into a wide variety of social issues (for example, consumerism, the body, migration and social mobility) which will underpin their creative output and skills development.


2) Outline Content

The course is designed around portfolio requirements for entry to degree courses in the creative arts. Access Art and Design 1 will therefore provide the student with the skills and knowledge required to create and submit digital portfolios for entry assessment to degree study.

The course is inclusive by its very design, and each of the twelve practical studio sessions will be launched with short seminars introducing a range of contemporary art and design issues, providing a wide variety of role models for students. Current debates in contemporary culture will inspire and stimulate the students' work and provide greater depth to portfolios. Evidence of drawing enquiry and visual research is a core requirement of all art and design degrees, so both primary observational and experimental 2d and 3d drawing will form the first component of the portfolio development, through observation and photography in journals, sketchbooks and developing mixed-media work, along with emotive exploration. Students will be directed towards specific degree course preparation and additional digital training if this is required for progression. Thereafter the course is project-based, encouraging students to develop interest in ideas and engage with themes relating to their practical work, undertaking independent research and practice-led enquiry.

The 'Vessel' project/live brief will enable students to provide evidence of the conceptual framework and stimulus required for entry to all degree programmes. Each student will identify their chosen pathway and develop an individually tailored portfolio, supported through individual and group tutorials and 'crits'. Students will be encouraged to be reflective thinkers and engage with digital learning, though expansion of creative ideas between classes and weekly submission of individual digital portfolios.

3) Student Learning Experience

'Students will typically learn through weekly studio-based and site- specific practical enquiry in a creative and supportive environment. Learning will be supported by short seminars of contemporary art/ design and cultural issues, in order to strengthen theoretical engagement with their practice. The seminars will take place weekly before each practical session. Whilst the course is structured towards the broad needs for all programmes of continued study, students will be encouraged to be reflective learners, and to work towards their chosen pathways through independent research, and journal and portfolio development.

Students will submit a number of formative pieces of work linked to the learning outcomes for the course, largely in the form of physical and digital portfolios, along with one short presentation to prepare the student for the journey ahead.

Constructive feedback (both verbal and written) will be provided by the course tutor. Students will be encouraged to consider feedback and to respond to this in future work.

No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon participation, coursework and response to feedback.

In addition to support and feedback at course level, all students on the Access Programme will engage via an online learning journal, where they will be prompted to reflect on their learning experience, feedback and progress and will receive personalised guidance and support from their Personal Tutor.

Students will also participate in a range of cultural and social engagement activities which are intended to complement their studies, increase cultural capital, encourage engagement with peers and communities, and build a sense of belonging.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  10
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 38, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 60 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Five formative assignments linked to the learning outcomes for the course and focused on supporting and steering portfolios for entry to degree courses. The course will be pass/fail. No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon attendance, participation, responding to feedback and submission of coursework.

1. Portfolio progression 1 - introduction (in person)
2. Portfolio progression 2 - development (in person)
3. Student project/live brief visual presentations to the group, demonstrating practical work in progress and proposed direction for resolved work
4. Portfolio refinement 1 (digital assessment only, in preparation for submission of mini-portfolios to selected degree courses)
5. Portfolio refinement 2 (digital assessment only, in preparation for submission of mini-portfolios to selected degree courses)

No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon participation, coursework and response to feedback.

Students will be deemed to have passed the course if they satisfy the necessary criteria (which will be provided in advance) in line with the course learning outcomes.

Students who do not satisfy the necessary criteria will be offered the opportunity to resit in accordance with taught assessment regulations.
Feedback Students will receive informal ongoing peer and tutor feedback in class, as well as verbal and written tutor feedback in response to assignments and group crits.

Students will also be prompted to reflect on feedback via the online learning journal and will be provided with personalised guidance and support from their Personal Tutor.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Articulate the focus of their developing portfolios in relation to their individual chosen degree pathways, through research and enquiry;
  2. Demonstrate an engagement with contemporary art/design and cultural trends through regular attendance, and participation in seminars and workshops;
  3. Demonstrate a developing visual awareness and an integrated approach to visual enquiry through visual recording skills in portfolio and journals/sketchbook experimentation;
  4. Show critical awareness in considering feedback and responding to this in subsequent work;
Reading List
This is an indicative reading list. A full reading list will be provided via Leganto prior to the course start.

- Essential
Bergstrom, B., 2008. Essentials of Visual Communication. London: Lawrence King Pub.
Rothman, J., 2011. Drawn in: A Peak into the Inspiring Sketchbooks of 44 Fine Artists, Illustrators, Graphic Designers and Cartoonists. Beverly, MA: Quarry Books.
White, K., 2014. 101 Things to Learn in Art School, Cambridge MA: MIT Press.

- Recommended
Manco, T., 2014. Big Art Small Art. London: Thames & Hudson.
Madoff, S. H., 2009. Art School (Propositions for the 21st Century). Massachusetts: MIT Press
Perrella, L., 2004. Artists Journals and Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages. Gloucester, Mass.: Quarry Books.
Storey, J., 2014. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: an Introduction. London: Taylor and Francis Group.
Vesters, C., 2009. Now is the Time: Art & Theory in the 21st Century. Rotterdam: NAI.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Employability awareness will be enhanced through the development of skills on the Access Programme. The holistic nature of the skills included in the programme design will enhance students' readiness to develop both graduate attributes and the social and cultural capital that will enable them to make the most of their undergraduate studies. Those with alternative exit routes will be able to draw on the skills inculcated in the Access Programme for future employment or study.
KeywordsArt,Design,Intermedia,Painting,Photography,Sculpture,Fine Art,Animation,Fashion,Film,Television
Contacts
Course organiserMr James Mooney
Tel: (0131 6)51 6079
Email: james.mooney@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information