Undergraduate Course: Foundation in Art and Design Practices (FNDN07010)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The core emphasis of this course is to develop the beginnings of a broad set of research, reflective and practical skills within an art and design practice. You will develop an understanding of the value of drawing and the use of the sketchbook as a foundation in exploring ideas for the artist or designer, whilst exploring and developing a range of creative approaches and the beginnings of a personal visual voice and vocabulary. |
| Course description |
The course will provide a supportive and creative environment, introducing core skill activities through sequential classes and directed study projects in 2D and 3D making, creating links and flow between projects, processes, and disciplines through individual and collaborative projects of varying length, each with distinct activities, emphases and challenges.
Workshops will focus on thematic projects with an emphasis on four key areas:
Research: Visual enquiry, research and contextual awareness.
Practice: Making, through exploring ideas, materials and techniques.
Reflection: Critical judgement and analysis through keeping a learning journal and engaging in group critiques.
Resolution: An awareness of the value of selecting and editing work for presentation.
Specifically designed group seminars will accompany the practical activities and workshops, aimed at developing and building confidence in the use of the studio, as well as critical and personal reflecting along with visually documenting work.
Evidence of drawing enquiry and visual research is a core requirement of all art, design and architecture degrees, so both primary, observational and experimental 2D and 3D work will form the main components.
Thematic projects will underpin and run throughout the course. Field and research trips to galleries and museums, to experience looking, learning, and working from primary source material will feed a creative and cultural engagement and exploration. You will be introduced to critical analysis of art images and media, contextualised through your practical project work and reflective Learning Journals.
Throughout the course you will engage in tailored workshop sessions to develop a basic understanding of what it means to be a practitioner, embedding the beginning of a studio practice. These include:
Reflection: How to use and keep a learning journal.
The Studio: How to use and organise independent study time in the studio.
The Critique: The value and purpose of the group critiques, note taking and presenting.
Documenting: How to record and document work.
You will typically learn through weekly studio-based practical enquiry in an inclusive learning environment. Independent studio time will be allocated throughout the course with instructional exercises and reflective prompts supporting you to get the most from this time.
Learning will be supported by tutorials where you will be introduced to a range of contemporary art, design, artists and topics throughout each project to strengthen theoretical engagement within your practice.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 90 |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 26,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 26,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
144 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Each student will keep a Learning Journal throughout the course and shared with the course teaching colleagues.
Formative Assessment will occur around the mid-point of the course. Each student will undertake a short verbal presentation, based on their practical work, through the form of a group critique. This will be followed up by written supportive feed-forward given to the students via their Learning Journal and based on the Learning Outcomes of the course, indicating areas to be addressed.
Summative Assessment - occurs at least one week after the last taught class.
Assessed will occur via the submission of:
A Learning Journal (Indicative time spent: 25%)
A personal narrative as evidenced in the Portfolio of practical work. This will include reflections of idea development; media exploration; contextual research; and critical analysis of the work, supported by illustrations, contextual referencing and photographs of work.
A Portfolio of practical work (Indicative time spent: 75%)
A presentation of practical art/design works. This will include visual research comprised of sketchbooks, preparatory studies and resolved work.
The Learning Journal and Portfolio are to be presented in combination. The submission should include work undertaken within the class as well as directed and independent study out with class time.
The combined Learning Journal and Portfolio submission will be assessed together as one submission and against the four learning outcomes for this course. These are equally weighted at 25%, and each will be given a percentage grade. To pass, students must achieve a minimum combined mark of 40% of the overall submission.
Students who do not meet this requirement will be offered the opportunity to resit in accordance with taught assessment regulations. |
| Feedback |
Students will receive informal ongoing peer and teacher feedback in class, as well as verbal and written teacher feedback in response to assignments and group critiques through their Learning Journal. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Research and Ideas - Evidence and record observations, ideas, experiences and insights in a variety of ways through the use of the sketchbook
- Context and Reflection - Demonstrate a personal reflective voice through a personally written narrative of practical work supported by a contextual awareness
- Practical Skills and Techniques - Demonstrate a practical knowledge in working with a range of media and techniques through experimentation, recognise the qualities of materials
- Selection and Presentation - Demonstrate judgement in selecting, editing and presenting a body of work, underpinned by the personal research
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Reading List
Recommended Reading:
Bergstrom, B. (2008) Essentials of Visual Communication. London: Lawrence King Pub.
Davidson, M. (2011) Contemporary Drawing ¿ Key Concepts and Techniques Watson-Guptill Publications, New York
Manco, T. (2012) Raw + Material = Art: Found, Scavenged and Upcycled Thames & Hudson
Manco, T. (2014) Big Art Small Art. London: Thames & Hudson.
Maslen, M. (2011) Drawing Project: an exploration of the language of drawing, London: Black Dog Publishing
New, J. (2005) Drawing From Life: The Journal As Art Princeton Architectural Press.
Williamson, C. (2013) Low-Tech Print: Contemporary Hand-Made Printing Laurence King Publishing. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Employability awareness will be enhanced through the development of skills. The holistic nature of the skills included in the programme 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. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Liz MacDougall
Tel:
Email: emacdou3@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr James Cooper
Tel: (0131 6)50 4400
Email: jcooper6@ed.ac.uk |
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