THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Undergraduate Course: Graphic Design 4a: Research and Practice (DESI10087)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits40 ECTS Credits20
SummaryThis course provides students with a variety of projects and criteria in order to consolidate their graphic design portfolio. Projects will differ in content, time frame, parameters, expectation, and skills required. As such, the course will allow students to navigate a path that adheres to their vision. Alongside some shorter live briefs there will be an extended period for self-generated independent project work.
Course description This course allows students to work on a range of practical projects with varying time frames throughout the academic year reflecting the process a graphic designer undertakes when faced with creative problems to solve. Students will undertake a deep exploration of themes related to each project undertaken. Its expected research will be analysed and questioned and communicated in a visual record throughout a project's lifespan.

The nature of the projects is wide-ranging and will change year upon year to keep abreast of contemporary themes, technology and trends. Typically these might be experimental, typographic, client-led live work and an extended period of self-generated independent project work.

Projects are devised to ensure that innovation and conceptual rigour are at the heart of the problem-solving process. Whilst maintaining and embracing experimentation and risk students are expected to produce highly resolved and detailed solutions which are communicated convincingly to a specified audience.

This Course will comprise multiple tasks and projects, leading to a final, summatively assessed submission of a body of work. The indicative structure of the course is outlined on Learn.


Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Approx. £150. Minimal costs related to visits plus materials students may wish to purchase to facilitate their practice such as printing, paper, props etc.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  25
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 400 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 4, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 34, External Visit Hours 8, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4, Formative Assessment Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 340 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Summative Assessment
At the end of the Course you will submit the following:

Body of research work related to 4 projects -

Typically this will be documented daily in sketchbook/blog format. The final research however will be uploaded to LEARN and presented as a 3-4 minute long film per project.

4 completed project solutions presented in a pdf assessment document (5-10 pages per project).

Formative Assessment -
For this course you will produce:

Body of research work related to 2 projects. Typically this will be documented daily in sketchbook/blog format (15-20 pages per project).
2 completed project solutions. Presented in a pdf assessment document (3-5 pages per project).



Feedback Formative Feedback
Mid-way through the Course in Exam Week 1, Semester 1 you will be given written and verbal feedback plus indicative grades.

Summative Feedback
At the end of the Course you will be given summative grades.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Use a variety of methods to demonstrate a rigorous investigation of research themes.
  2. Initiate and develop original creative concepts demonstrating appropriate iteration.
  3. Resolve outcomes to a detailed professional graphic design standard.
Reading List
Lupton, E. Design, Writing, Research: Writing on Graphic Design
Skolos, N and Wedell, T. Graphic Design Process: From Problem to Solution
Johnson, M. Problem Solved: A Primer in Design and Communication
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Critical understanding of principal theories and concepts.
Professional insights, interpretations and solutions to problems and issues.
The exercise of autonomy and initiative in professional/equivalent activities.
KeywordsGraphic Design,Research,Practice,Studio,Professional,Resolved,Projects
Contacts
Course organiserMs Zoe Patterson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5720
Email: z.patterson@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Sophie O'Shea
Tel: (0131 6)51 5448
Email: soshea@ed.ac.uk
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