THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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: Creative Book Works (DESI08061)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course introduces and fosters skills in designing printed multiples and publishing outcomes independently. The course explores the theory and practice of self-publishing small editions, in doing so examining the history of zines, independent presses and artist's books with a particular focus on their relationship to the broader field of Design. Please note this is not a Creative Writing course, the main focus is the design of the book.
Course description This course guides students through an investigation of the theory and practice of independent creative publishing. Through developing practical projects students will form a personal creative manifesto for their published works. In producing a written statement students will learn to articulate these ideas to an audience and make clear statements and persuasive arguments about their practice.

In this course students will investigate a variety of unusual book forms, zines and printed materials within Design. They will develop skills in printmaking, digital processes and the production of multiples. Students will then explore the different ways they can independently publish their work, meaning to literally present it to the public. This includes guerrilla publishing, exhibitions, library collections and directly meeting their audience. The course includes a number of visits to collections, for example ECA Artist's Book collection, National Library of Scotland collections and the National Gallery of Scotland collections.

Working initially in groups then independently students will test out their ideas quickly on audiences, and learn about the demands of producing multiple editions whilst forming a clear understanding of their own creative processes. Students are encouraged to play and work experimentally, take risks and not be confined to the existing parameters of publishing or the gallery. Students will learn in community with peers and staff, both collaborating on a book and in the development of personal projects through dialogue about work and exchanging of skills.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is only available to students on the Illustration Degree Programme in the School of Design.
Additional Costs Materials and print costs estimated at £70.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 3, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 12, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 22, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4, Formative Assessment Hours 3, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 150 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Summative assessment

At the end of the course students will present 3 summatively assessed submissions: two book or zine designs and one illustrated written manifesto. Each of the three submissions is worth 33.3% of the overall final course grades.

Project 1
A physical sketchbook or 3-4 page PDF showing early experimentation with ideas as well as material and process development. The document should include critical analysis of contextual research. It should be a collated and organized set of research and development that is clearly labelled, including documentation of completed book projects.

Project 2
A physical sketchbook or 5-6 page PDF showing evidence and documentation of research themes, storyboarding of ideas as well as material and process development. The work should clearly show the design process through evaluation and critical analysis. It should be a collated and organized set of research and development that is clearly labelled, including documentation of completed book projects.

Manifesto
A 500-word illustrated PDF or printed book form communicating the research themes and ideas behind the book projects undertaken on the course, as well as any other relevant examples.

Further details for each project can be found in the project brief.

Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes:

The two book or zine designs will be assessed against Learning Outcomes 1 and 2. The illustrated written manifesto will be assessed against Learning Outcome 3 only. All Learning Outcomes are equally weighted.



Feedback Verbal feedback will be given regularly throughout the course in the form of individual tutorials and peer review in small groups.

Formative feedback

Written feedback will be given following a submission in Week 6.

Students will be required to submit sketchbook or 3-4 page PDF documenting Project 1. This should demonstrate an exploration of a number of books forms, analysis of contextual research and a resolved book or zine design.

Written feedback and grades will be provided.

Summative assessment

Summative assessment will assess a portfolio of studio projects against Learning Outcomes 1 and 2.
A written manifesto will be assessed against Learning Outcome 3. Written feedback and grades will be given.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Recognise the theoretical and practical contexts for independent creative publishing.
  2. Playfully challenge the book form in the planning and composition of a set of publications that clearly communicate to an audience.
  3. Synthesize a body of research, development and resolved works to identify and communicate a personal creative manifesto.
Reading List
S. Bodman, CREATING ARTIST'S BOOKS, A & C Black Publishers Ltd, 2005

C. Williamson, LOW-TECH PRINT, Laurence King Publishing, 2013

J. New, DRAWING FROM LIFE: THE JOURNAL AS ART, Princeton Architectural Press, 2005

S. Bodman, THE BLUE NOTEBOOK: JOURNAL FOR ARTIST'S BOOKS, Impact Press Publications (Ongoing Periodical)

J. O'Reilly, VAROOM, AOI (Ongoing Periodical)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills On completion of this course students will have the following range of skills:

Research and enquiry:
Be able to think critically
Have a range of approaches to independent research
Be able to join up and make use of knowledge from other fields

Personal and intellectual autonomy:
Be reflective practitioners
Be independent learners

Personal effectiveness:
The ability to plan, organise and manage their time

Communication:
Communicate verbally through presentations and the explanation of ideas.
Communicate in written form both formally and through sketchbooks.
Have interpersonal skills that allow peer review which is sensitive and useful.
KeywordsVisual communication,Printmaking,Publication,Narrative,Drawing,Writing
Contacts
Course organiserMs Lucy Roscoe
Tel: (0131 6)51 5732
Email: L.Roscoe@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Rhiordan Langan-Fortune
Tel: (0131 6)51 5926
Email: rhiordan.langanfortune@ed.ac.uk
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