Foundation Diploma

Art & Design Foundation Diploma

COURSE AIMS
The course is designed to prepare students for advanced courses in Art & Design (i.e. Degree or HND). The Foundation course offers students the opportunity to explore their own creative talents and make educated and informed decisions about their career options. Students will have advice from Art & Design specialists on the best places to study a UK degree in art & Design. They will also be able to build up an expansive portfolio of work to take to their degree interview. The course will also help to understand the wide range of technical language associated with art & design subjects and expand necessary research and academic skills. The first stage of the course is an exploratory programme designed to increase students†visual understanding across a range of media. In the second stage students will select projects that reflect their area of future specialism. This selection usually takes place at the beginning of the spring term. The options available reflect the broad categories of study available in higher education. All students also receive an integrated programme of cultural and theoretical studies, which supports practical studio work.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Applications from those studying at A2 level or AVCE Advanced are welcome. We also encourage applications from mature students with relevant experience. All suitable applicants are offered an interview. Students must display a genuine interest in and a high level of commitment to Art & Design. Motivation, enthusiasm and passion for study are essential. Students need good academic, drawing and observational skills, and the ability to think creatively.

HOW WILL I STUDY?
We use a variety of learning and teaching methods. Most learning is in a studio in one to one, or group situations. Projects are introduced with a briefing and there are lots of opportunities for questions. Work in progress and final presentations are often discussed at crit , which are a key learning experience in Art & Design. In addition there will be tutorials, seminars and more formal lectures.

WHAT FACILITIES WILL I USE?
The design faculty has modern well-equipped studios for art, ceramics, graphics, textiles, printmaking, photography and a multimedia 3D workshop. You will work in the areas most appropriate to your study. Additional to this the Foundation Course has its own dedicated studio, allowing all students to have their own workspace.

WHERE NEXT?
The Foundation course at Gateway College has an excellent reputation, with over 95% of all students successfully obtaining their first choice when applying to Higher Education.

COURSE CONTENT
9 units structure the Foundation Studies programme. The delivery of these 9 units divides naturally into 3 main stages: Exploratory Pathway Confirmatory The first stage of the programme provides the basis for development of work later in the programme. It introduces students to: A broad based approach to art & design across a number of contexts through short projects. The language and skills necessary to explore all study areas. An awareness of the range of specialist areas available. This stage combines awareness of the importance of drawing in the creative process with the need to experiment with a variety of media. The units are characterised by breadth of research, recording and observation of information, and the importance of personal responses.

ASSESSMENT
Assessment is continuous and is based on the presentation of project work, and takes place on completion of each major stage of the course. There are 3 major assessment points during the foundation year. The assessment programme has 3 main functions: To ensure quality and quantity of valid work. To provide a diagnostic function. To provide evaluative feedback on the delivery of the curriculum. At each assessment point, students are required to produce evidence of all course work, self-initiated work and notebooks. An external examiner moderates the final major assessment.

To organise a course visit, or for further information please contact:
Deborah Lovegrove (Foundation Course Co-ordinator).

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