Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

Course detail

The Foundation Diploma is taught at its own dedicated site on Wilson Road, Camberwell. You will have a year of creative exploration ahead of you, where you’ll learn which art or design specialism is right for you.

When applying to the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design you must choose from two modes of study:

This mode is best if you are unsure which pathway you wish to choose and want a broad range of experience to help you decide your future direction.

You will be introduced to the Art, Communication and Design pathways, before choosing one specialist option.

This mode is best if you are very confident in your future direction. This mode allows you to apply directly to one of the pathways.

The specialist mode pathways to choose from are:

• Art
• Communication
• Design - Design for Theatre, Screen and Performance
• Design - 3D Spatial Design

You will be introduced to the specialist options within your chosen pathway.

• Art - Drawing and Conceptual Practice, Painting, Photography and Time-Based Media, Sculpture
• Communication - Animation and Film, Graphic Design, Illustration
• Design - Design for Theatre, Screen and Performance
• Design - 3D, Product and Spatial Design

Please note: We may offer you a place on the course, but in a different mode to the one you requested on your application form.

The Foundation Diploma at Camberwell does not have a Fashion and Textiles pathway. If you are interested in Fashion and Textiles you should apply to the Foundation Diploma at Central Saint Martins.

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The course is divided into 3 parts:Part 1: Learning Skills and Content

An introduction through lectures, seminars, studio projects, gallery and museum visits.

All students then get to decide on one specialist option and are given the tools to help them:

• Understand how to work at BA level
• Work independently and with confidence
• Understand, adapt and safely use practical methods and skills for creative production
• Solve complex problems through the application of art and design
• Take responsibility for their research, planning and time-management
• Effectively present themselves and their work to different audiences
• Develop a portfolio for BA application

The diploma finishes with a personal project proposal that requires students produce a body of work for their final assessment, which will also become part of the college's end of year exhibitions.

Monday 3 September - Friday 14 December 2018

Wednesday 2 January - Friday 29 March 2019

Monday 15 April - Friday 24 May 2019

The Foundation Diploma has its' own dedicated workshops. They include 3D, printmaking, digital media and photography.

View images of the Camberwell Foundation facilties.

Art

The art pathway has four specialist options:

Drawing is no longer thought of as just a research activity, or preparation for another medium. It is developing it’s own diverse identity within fine art. Artists using drawing as their primary art practice create individual works, books, film, animation, sound, installations and objects. In this specialist option, the idea comes first and then the appropriate means of expressing that idea is found.

What students can expect:

• A series of open-ended projects that reflect current ideas that artists are engaged with
• Weekly seminars based on readings, encouraging you to engage with critical theory and contemporary issues surrounding art
• A program of lectures and exhibition visits
• To collaborate with the sculpture group on an exhibition. This will help you begin to learn how to curate a show, hang work and write a press release

This specialist option is about exploring the subject through the medium of paint. It also takes into account the expanded field of painting, ensuring the subject is looked at in response to new developments.

What students can expect:

• Regular presentations, talks, gallery visits and studio crits
• Materials and methods workshops
• Projects that are underpinned with historical content and allow you to use mixed media
• To gain a stronger contextual understanding of your work

The photography and time based media specialist option covers a broad range of approaches to making art. These include analogue and digital photography, animation, installation, moving image, performance, projection, sound and video.

What students can expect:

• Projects that are concept based allowing for individual interpretation and outcome
• To be encouraged to explore the photographic process
• To be able to experiment with a range of cameras and projectors
• To work with old and new technologies
• A program of lectures and exhibition visits
• To learn new skills and build on existing ones such as - cyanotype, how to process and develop in a darkroom, introduction to video and editing, photo polymer etching, screen-printing and working in a digital darkroom

The sculpture specialist option is practical, theoretical, diverse and conceptual. Artists making sculpture use a wide variety of materials and processes. Sculptors are involved with object making, installation, interactive art, socially engaged practice, kinetic work, sound, film, performance, exploring site and presentation.

What students can expect:

• To be taught processes such as casting, mold-making and wood construction
• To be able to use the open access 3D workshop
• Projects that reflect current ideas artists are engaged with
• Projects that encourage you to think about the big ideas that sculpture deals with - the object, space, site, installation and audience
• A program of lectures and exhibition visits
• To be encouraged to develop ways of working that allow you to express your ideas as an artist
• To collaborate with the drawing and conceptual practice group on an exhibition. This will help you begin to learn how to curate a show, hang work and write a press release

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Communication

The communication pathway has three specialist options:

This specialist option focuses on visual communication through sequential images, animation and moving image. It also engages with narrative and documentary filmmaking.

What students can expect:

• To look at narrative structures and visual devices to develop the art of storytelling
• Projects that encourage you to create your own stories as well as unique interpretations of other peoples’ texts
• To focus on all areas of the preproduction process including - scripts and treatments, character development and casting, storyboarding, environment and set design
• To learn about - the importance of storyboarding, how to communicate effectively to an audience, the ‘rules of cinema’ and gain an understanding of film language
• To be introduced to production techniques and methods - the animatic, stop motion and 2D animation, live action, video editing, compositing and sound design
• To have projects supported by workshops, presentations, tutorials, group discussions, technical demonstrations and contextual references

A desire to communicate is central to graphic design. The focus is on generating new ideas and developing innovative and effective ways of visually.

What students can expect:

• Projects structured around the fundamental concerns of graphic design - problem solving, use of language, organisation of information, narrative structures and understanding an audience
• Projects that are designed to encourage exploration, research and discovery
• An approach to working that reflects the contemporary breadth of practice in the professional design world
• To engage with a wide variety of approaches such as animation, drawing, film, photography, printmaking, 3D and typography
• Studio discussions and presentations that aim encourage enquiry and curiosity beyond the world of design

Illustration focuses on the visual communication of ideas through image making and use of text.

What students can expect:

• To use drawing on a daily basis to research, develop and record individual ideas
• A wide range of projects designed to allow you to work in a variety of different media, both 2D and 3D, which reflect the breadth of practice in the professional world
• Projects that help you look at ways of exploring ideas, storytelling and constructing images

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Design for Theatre, Screen and Performance

Covers a wide range of subjects including - costume design and making, creating immersive theatre and live performance, film production design, make-up and prosthetics, performance art, prop making, puppetry, technical effects and theatre design.

What students can expect:

• To be introduced to methods of working with narrative, creating characters, exploring spatial, lighting and sound design
• To work both independently and collaboratively
• To be able to use our open access 3D workshop and performance spaces across the university
• To be taught making skills
• Regular lectures and talks from industry professionals
• Trips to galleries and theatres

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3D, Product and Spatial Design

Covers architecture, design craft, fashion accessories, footwear, furniture design, industrial design, interior design, jewellery, product and spatial design.

What students can expect:

• To be able to use our open access 3D workshop
• To learn new skills and build on existing ones through workshops and open exchange with tutors
• To be expected to use design sheets and model making to present ideas
• To take part in discussion groups

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Staff

• Claire McCormack - Programme Director
• Nicola Fitchett - Design Pathway Leader

• Frank Owusu - Communication Pathway Leader
• Laurence Noga - Art Pathway Leader

Specialist Option Leaders

• David Batchelor - Painting
• Anna Boggon - Photography and Time-Based Media
• Noel Bramley - Illustration
• Wendy Carlton Dewhirst - Graphic Design

• Joseph Child - Film and Animation
• Gary Campbell - Theatre, Screen and Performance
• Nikki Plews - 3D Product Spatial
• Kate Terry - Sculpture