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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Postgraduate Course: The Business of Craft (DESI11098)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
Summary'The Business of Craft' will aim to introduce you to the unspoken tools of craft/design practice focusing on areas such as identifying craft value and skills, building brand awareness and positioning, Gallery/Commission/Agent relationships, business planning, marketing, entrepreneurship, accountancy and the use of online promotional & e-commence tools. These themes will be delivered in collaboration with leading creative industry partners; which will provide a unique course that informs and discusses the tools of the trade required to create and launch a sustainable creative practice. You will be able to apply new and existing business models to your specified discipline and communicate ideas to a professional standard. The aim is to empower you with practical business tools to setup a sustainable creative design practice.
Course description Making something beautiful is not enough these days; the 2012 Creative Scotland report 'Craft in an Age of Change' highlighted that, on average, administration (planning, marketing, selling, communication etc) out weighed the percentage of time making by 65%/35%. The Business of Craft aims to expose you to the practical aspects of how to setup, promote, market, sell, communicate, fund, employ and sustain a contemporary design and craft practice. In collaboration with leading creative industry partners, the course looks to provide you with a deeper knowledge of discipline specific business related skills and tools, as well as training in writing a business plan. Encouraging you to think broadly about the implications of running a craft and design business and the way that this relates to your discipline and your future professional practice. The course will train you in business planning and allow you to undertake a personal business planning project related to your professional practice, within a critical environment driven by staff and peer review. Group seminars will be held after certain lectures to further discuss key issues of the themed lectures. This course is aimed at students who make tangible works rather than those working in the service design sector; students from other disciplines however will be considered upon application to the course.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students from disciplines beyond Art & Design should contact the Course Organiser before enrolling to confirm suitability.
Additional Costs Small travel costs for course related activities and field trips.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. EXPLORE Evidence a high level of critical awareness of existing contemporary creative business models through application within your specified discipline
  2. ANALYSE Critically analyse a range of textual and non-textual discourses concerning craft & design business start up, professional development, entrepreneurship & innovation against existing business models.
  3. DEMONSTRATE Demonstrate the ability to write, talk and visualise a craft & design business plan and to demonstrate an understanding of the web of social networks & industry partners that supports craft & design business.
  4. COMMUNICATE Communicate and exchange ideas in oral and written formats.
Reading List
Airey D. Pigneur Y. (2012) Work for Money, Design for Love. New Riders.
Granet K. (1956) The business of design: balancing creativity and profitability, Princeton Architectural Press
Jacobsen, M. (2013). The Business of Creativity: an expert guide to starting and growing a business in the creative sector. Hampshire, UK: Harriman House Ltd.
Liedtka, J. and Ogilvie, T. (2011). Designing for Growth: a design thinking toolkit for managers. New York, Chichester West Sussex: Columbia University Press.
Nesta. (2013). Launch Your Own Successful Creative Business. London: Nesta.
Martin, R (2009) The design of business, Harvard Business School Press.
Osterwalder A. (2010) Business Model generation: A Handbook of Visionaries, Game Changers and Challengers. John Wiley & Sons.
Shell D. (2016) A Field guide to freelancer finances. Barr Printers, Glenrothes.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Generic cognitive and subject specific skills.
Communication skills: ability to integrate the key concepts & relate them to their own future business models.
Professional skills: Design and deliver a craft/design business plan.
Transferable skills: autonomy, accountability, engaging and working with others/key stakeholders.
KeywordsCraft,Design,Business,Marketing,Branding,Innovation,Creativity,Entrepreneurship
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jessamy Kelly
Tel: (0131 6)51 5816
Email: Jessamy.Kelly@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Jane Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5713
Email: jane.thomson@ed.ac.uk
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