Undergraduate Course: Creative Book Works (DESI08061)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This 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.
This Course requires additional costs to be met by the Student.
Materials: Students will be expected to fund the purchase of general art and design materials, such as sketchbooks, paper and pens. Course Organisers will support you in meeting intended learning outcomes while keeping material costs to a minimum, but students will be expected to fund optional material costs as necessary for their own project work.
Printing: Students are expected to fund occasional printing of [A4/A1 printing, booklet binding¿etc].
To fully participate in this course students are recommended to budget a minimum of £25. |
| Additional Costs | This Course requires additional costs to be met by the Student.
Materials: Students will be expected to fund the purchase of general art and design materials, such as sketchbooks, paper and pens. Course Organisers will support you in meeting intended learning outcomes while keeping material costs to a minimum, but students will be expected to fund optional material costs as necessary for their own project work.
Printing: Students are expected to fund occasional printing of [A4/A1 printing, booklet binding¿etc].
To fully participate in this course students are recommended to budget a minimum of £25. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, 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 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 18,
Fieldwork Hours 4,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
159 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
SUMMATIVE Assessment(s)
Portfolio submission (100%) submitted at the end of the course and evidencing all Learning Outcomes.
Learning Outcomes are weighted as LO1: 33%, LO2: 33%, LO3: 34%
All Learning Outcomes must be passed to pass the course.
SUMMATIVE Assessment details
The final assessment is based 100% on a portfolio made up as 18-22 page pdf. All projects listed on LEARN should be presented, including their research, development and resolved illustrations clearly documented and annotated with any links to online research.
Resit info
The resubmission assessment is the same as the original submission for this course. |
| Feedback |
FORMATIVE
Formative feedback will be offered throughout the course and in a variety of formats, including written and/or orally at formative submission point(s), tutorials, and other activities.
SUMMATIVE
Final course grades and written feedback will be provided at the end of the course. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Playfully challenge the book form in the planning and composition of a set of publications that clearly communicate to an audience.
- Recognise the theoretical and practical contexts for independent creative publishing.
- 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.
|
| Keywords | Visual communication,Printmaking,Publication,Narrative,Drawing,Writing |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Lucy Roscoe
Tel: (0131 6)51 5732
Email: L.Roscoe@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Linsey McEwan
Tel: (01316) 515448
Email: lmcewan2@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage