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: Drawing and Design Thinking (DESI08125)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course has project introductions and lectures 1-2pm on Tuesdays though this can also be watched at other times. There are online seminar workshop times that are required to be attended at the times indicated.

Through a series of practical projects and lectures the course explores a range of drawing and design themes. The course focuses on improving your drawing and exploring the value of drawing in the contemporary design process; reflecting on the histories of design and art to inform this practice. A range of practical projects develop your skills in design thinking, creative problem solving, making and testing prototypes as well as story telling and disseminating your work.

The course does not require prior drawing experience but does expect a self motivation to explore and experiment with drawing methods and apply these to your design processes and creative thinking.
Course description Projects in weeks 1 and 2 are focused on building up confidence in drawing. On this course drawing is explored as:
1) a device to develop concepts and communicate the design process;
2) a way to research, observe and tell stories;
3) an expressive tool to illustrate ideas and emotions.

In weeks 3 to 7 specific objects and Edinburgh environments are analysed and reflected on and a collaborative speculative design process is used to create new design fictions to interrogate social, economic and environmental issues. You are asked to explore a range of methods to research and develop the parameters of your design question or problem. You create and test prototypes of your designs and considering the function, form and users of your design. Critical design objects and stories are developed that speculate on future products, systems and services.

The visual and text based documentation of research is evidenced on the course through blogging, sketchbooks and prototypes. Final outcomes of the projects which can include video and models create an expanding portfolio through the semester. This portfolio, alongside the verbal and text based support of it, becomes the evidence for assessment of the learning outcomes of this course.

The final 4 weeks ask you to develop a self directed project inspired by the experiences and interests
developed through the previous projects. This encourages the self motivation and inspirational thinking at the centre of design disciplines.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs A range of art materials (Sketchbook, paper, drawing/painting equipment), digital printing and bus travel for fieldwork. About £40 in total
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  100
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 5, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 18, Fieldwork Hours 3, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 163 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The final assessment is based 100% on a final submitted 18-22 page pdf. All course project research, development and resolution is documented throughout the course. It is edited and reflected on in the heavily illustrated and annotated pdf. A portfolio of at least 8 selected drawings is also included in the pdf.

All submitted course work is assessed to each of the 3 Learning Outcomes which are equally weighted.
Feedback Feedback is regularly communicated through the course. This takes a number forms, verbally through group and individual meetings where work and ideas are discussed with both peers and tutor. There is also a specific mid semester formative feedback point when work from Gesture and Mark as well as Interrogating the Artefact is submitted.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate experimentation and fundamental understanding of drawing using a range of techniques and materials.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of Design process in researching, testing and developing ideas to find creative solutions.
  3. Communicate effectively considering the dissemination of design artefacts.
Reading List
Bruce. Sterling, 2005. Shaping things. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. ; London.
Dunne, A., 2013. Speculative everything design, fiction, and social dreaming. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts ; London, England.
Garner, S.W., 2008. Writing on drawing: essays on drawing practice and research, Readings in art and design education. Intellect, Bristol.
Goldschmidt, G., 2014. Linkography: unfolding the design process, Design thinking, design theory. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ingold, T., 2007. Lines: A Brief History, New Ed edition. ed. Routledge, London ; New York.
Julier, G., 2013. The Culture of Design, 3rd Revised edition edition. ed. Sage Publications Ltd, Los Angeles.
Pipes, A., 2007. Drawing for designers. Laurence King, London.
Sparke, P., 2010. The Genius of Design, 01 edition. ed. Quadrille Publishing Ltd, London. Kantor, J., Zabel, I., Dexter, E., 2005. Vitamin D: New Perspectives in Drawing, First Edition edition. ed. Phaidon Press.
Treib, M., 2008. Drawing/thinking : confronting an electronic age. Routledge, London ; New York.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Research and Enquiry:
be able to identify, define and analyse problems and identify or create processes to solve them
recognise the importance of reflecting on their learning experiences and be aware of their own learning style
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
be open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking
be creative and imaginative thinkers
be intellectually curious and able to sustain intellectual interest
be able to respond effectively to unfamiliar problems in unfamiliar contexts

Communication:
make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding
use communication as a tool for collaborating and relating to others
further their own learning through effective use of the full range of communication approaches

Personal Effectiveness:
appreciate and use talents constructively
be responsive to their changing surroundings, being both flexible and proactive
have the confidence to make decisions based on their understandings and their personal and intellectual autonomy
be able to work effectively with others, capitalising on their different thinking, experience and skills
Keywordsdesign,drawing,creative,thinking
Contacts
Course organiserMr Harvey Dingwall
Tel: (0131 6)51 5726
Email: h.dingwall@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Rhiordan Langan-Fortune
Tel: (0131 6)51 5926
Email: rhiordan.langanfortune@ed.ac.uk
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