GA Specialist Practice & Research 2b (Dalian)

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• confidently use a range of appropriate technical workshop skills to realise your ideas;
• advance your creative use of a range of working methodologies with enhanced production values
• select and apply an increasingly sophisticated use of techniques appropriate to the resolution of your work;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• ways of evidencing sustained critical engagement and experimentation to develop your ideas.
• key technical and craft skills to underpin specialist practice that will support the contextualization of your ideas and influence the development of your work;
• how to apply knowledge gained from a range of sources to support individual outcomes through self-analysis and evaluation;
• professional skills appropriate to contemporary design and production;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate increasing confidence in visually communicating decision making processes;
• refer to an appropriate critical context;
• develop and manage a project through a resolved final outcome;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• realise your ideas through self-selected techniques and processes appropriate to your programme of study
• develop experimental interpretations of your own practice and that of others within your subject.
• research and consider some of the concepts and methods in relation to your practice;

This module marks the next steps in in the development of your independent learning. You will find suitable materials and working methods to realise your ideas and complete appropriate technical tasks. This module is a stepping stone to develop and experiment before the self-directed study expected in Part 3.

Your developing knowledge of the context of your ideas will be augmented by group discussions, which focus on issues specific to international and local contemporary practice. You will be encouraged to experiment with a range of design methods and techniques and through workshops, to further apply your practical knowledge in the development of your ideas in terms of design and the implementation of design ideas in practical design outcomes.

In this module, you will be able to explore self-direction within your project. Elements of the projects you will work on will be “live” briefs: i.e. they will be in partnership with professional design companies or practitioners or will reflect the “real-life” conditions of professional graphic arts and graphic design and production work.

You will assemble a portfolio of work that demonstrates the development of your ideas and which contains pieces of work that, in your opinion, best exemplify your chosen project.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• technical demonstrations
• lectures
• practical workshops
• tutorials
• critiques

Learning activities include

• technical demonstrations
• seminars
• workshop-based learning
• peer group learning
• critiques

Relationship between the teaching, learning and assessment methods and the planned learning outcomes

In this module learning and teaching activities focus on helping you to explore and investigate your ideas through studio-based or related activities. Group discussions led by practitioners and technical demonstrations/workshops will increase your knowledge of contemporary design and help you develop confidence in the selection and use of practical design and making skills. The module will boost your ability to adopt an increasingly informed and skilled individual approach to the realisation of a project.

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Harvard citing and referencing support including citethemright online resource.

The Academic Skills Library page for study skills support.

Blackboard.

Study Skills Workshops.

Academic Integrity support.

Textbooks

Dabner, D., & Stewart, S. (n.d.). (2014). Graphic design school: A foundation course for graphic designers working in print, moving image and digital media. Thames and Hudson Ltd.

Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A social critique of the Judgement of Taste. Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.

Brereton, R. (2011). Cut & Paste 21st Century Collage. London: Laurence King.

Clarke, M. (2007). Verbalising the Visual, Translating art & design into words. London: AVA Publishing.

Collins, T. (2014). 100 ways to create a great ad. London: Laurence King.

Eskilson, S. (2007). Graphic design: A new history. London: Laurence King.

Gray, C & Malins, J. (2004). Visualizing Research: A guide to the research Process in Art and Design. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing.

Barry, P. (2012). The advertising concept book: Think now, design later: A complete guide to creative ideas, strategies and campaigns. London: Thames & Hudson.

Bono, E. (1990). Lateral thinking: A textbook of creativity. London: Penguin.

Gallo, M., & Quintavalle, A (2001). The poster in history. New York: W.W. Norton.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.