FdA Art and Design
Higher Education at The College is actively promoting Foundation Degrees to Industry. As these are vocational courses it is important for us to work in partnership with interested employers who can offer short-term student placements, sit on our advisory panels, or guest speak at a lecture. This continually serves to update the quality of the courses we can bring to our students and help to produce graduates with skills recognised and needed by industry.
______________________________________________________________________________
Skills for the Professional Workplace
The FdA in Applied Art & Design develops students who make well-designed objects using such materials as metals, ceramics or glass, or a combination of these.
- The programme establishes an understanding of a range of processes, materials, creative styles, techniques and practices through practical production and supporting investigative units.
- It encourages a creative approach and the application of visual communication through the designed object.
- An understanding of the link between traditional and contemporary practice will have a direct effect on the programme content and experience.
- Personal development plans are integrated within the programme to inform the learning process and direct the programme activities, including portfolio development.
______________________________________________________________________________
Work Placement
What makes a Foundation Degree distinctive to an employer is the vocational element of the course. Students are required to undertake a period of work placement within a relevant business to inform their classroom tuition with real industry experience. This also allows employers to feed into our curriculum the skills they feel future employees of their Industry should have. If you feel your company could offer a worthwhile 6 week placement, relevant to an Applied Art and Design student, please let us know.
Find out how to get involved.
Getting Involved 
Many local companies have been involved in advising us on the design of our Foundation Degrees and help us to keep course content up-to-date and industry relevant. We are always appreciative of new companies giving a short amount of their time to assist us in this design process, or sending a professional to talk to our students.
Find out how to get involved.
______________________________________________________________________________
Students' Work
Course Units Include:
Visual Studies
Learning to record visual research, using various systems, materials and formats.
Material Skills
Introduction to the properties of materials and appropriate techniques for working with them.
Surface Treatments
Introduction to a range of surface treatments applicable to ceramics, glass and metal.
Multiple Production
Practical exploration of the purpose and potential of using moulds to produce objects.
Contextual Studies
Introduction to design theories drawn from historical contexts and their influence on design and craft production.
Business and Professional Practice
This unit provides an understanding of how a business is established and run, through an examination of key documentation. Students look at marketing, goal setting, time and project management and the importance of effective meetings.
______________________________________________________________________________
FdA Applied Art & Design Student Page
____________________________________________________________________
2nd Year Student Exhibition - Bournemouth University Spring 2008
View more of 2008's student work at the Applied Arts Website
