Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

http://www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/docs/FndDiplomainArtandDesign_FAQs.pdf

Level: Study mode: Duration: Start date: Application: Course Director:
FE Level 4 Full-time One year over 30 weeks September Directly through College’s Further Education Office David Sowerby
Course description
The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course offers you the opportunity to explore a wide range of art- and design-based activities to prepare you for progression onto Higher Education art and design courses. It will help you improve your skills and offer you new experiences, both practical and theoretical, to help you make informed choices for your future direction.
The course is College-wide and draws on the expertise of a range of different subject specialisms across the College. These include graphic design, interior and spatial design, film, animation and video, photography, 3D design, surface design, book arts and many more. Unlike some other Foundation courses, LCC's is specifically focused towards design and media and this is reflected in the curriculum. Students who apply should have a clear idea of their prospective progression aspirations and be able to discuss these at interview
There are three main stages: Part 1 allows you to experiment with a variety of materials, media and ideas, encouraging you to develop research skills through practical assignments and projects.
Course structure
Part 2 will build on the techniques and skills introduced in Part 1 and integrate these through further exploration and problem-solving activities. Part 3 enables you to initiate your own research. You will propose and undertake a project which reflects your skills, abilities and interests, as well as your future career or progression route.
The course is supported by lectures that aim to increase your awareness and understanding of the visual arts. From these you will produce a number of written pieces of work during your period of study with us.
During the year you will also have a unique opportunity to enrich your studies to complement your future career aims at the same time as developing a personalised portfolio of work.
FAQs
How do I apply?
Contact LCC’s Further Education Office, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6BS for an application form. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7524 8548. Email: ftfe@lcc.arts.ac.uk or download an application form from the LCC website: http://www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/docs/2007-2008_app_form.pdf
Is there a deadline for applications?
At LCC we continue to accept applications until we have the right balance of students on the course. However the course is very popular and fills up very quickly, so early application is recommended.
What are the standard admission requirements?
One A level (or equivalent) plus three GCSEs (A–C) plus a portfolio of work, or relevant professional experience, or exceptional aptitude or interest.
Do I need to produce a portfolio? If so, what should it contain?
Yes. All candidates called for interview are required to submit a portfolio of creative work. Ideally your portfolio will contain a range of recent work. This work should be generated by you whilst following an A level programme or perhaps an NVQ Advanced Art and Design vocational course or similar. You may be a mature student returning to education.
We look very closely at your sketchbook activity, searching for indications that you are able to work independently and have a keen personal interest in the subject. So think about how you organise your sketchbooks. Ask yourself a number of questions. Are they visually interesting? Have you used and experimented with a range of media and mark-making techniques to express your ideas? What does your work say about you, rather than the course you have been following?
There should be evidence that you have researched the work of other artists, designers and creative practitioners and that your research skills are well developed. Look at the work generated by contemporary artists, film makers, photographers and designers etc. and be aware of current exhibitions that are taking place (include references to these in your sketchbooks).
The course at LCC is interested in people who have a wide creative base, who are capable and enthusiastic about creating their own work. We are looking for people with an enquiring mind and a desire to engage in creative problem solving. Does your portfolio reflect this ethos? Have you explored an extensive range of image and ideas generation possibilities? Does it include examples of photography, typography or printmaking for instance? If not, it should!
In essence ... We are looking for interesting and interested people who are prepared to challenge expected norms, to explore ideas, take risks and be creative and inventive. Remember that this is a very popular and successful course, which attracts students from all over the world who are interested in developing their understanding in a variety of creative disciplines. We are looking for dedicated, hard working and highly motivated individuals. We offer places to people, not portfolios, so find a way of putting yourself in there!
Will I need to attend an interview?
Yes. It is highly recommended that you do so. However we will consider work submitted on CD from potential students who would find it difficult to visit the College for interview.
Are the requirements different for international students and EU students from outside the UK?
Students from overseas should contact Vicky Gavulic in the International Office. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7514 8138. Email: v.gavulic@lcc.arts.ac.uk
How long is the course?
30 weeks.
When does the course start and finish? When are the vacation periods?
The course starts in early September and ends in early June, with breaks at Christmas and Easter (Specific dates vary from year to year).
How much time would I be expected to spend in college?
This is a full-time course and you can expect to spend between four and five days in college. This will vary term by term.
Where is the course taught?
At LCC, Elephant and Castle.
What kind of projects does the course involve?
We look for students who are highly motivated with an excellent work ethic. You will be working on projects that are designed to enhance your understanding of design and communication in all its associated specialist areas including graphic design, design for advertising and illustration, interior and spatial design, moving image, photography and surface design etc.
The work you will be engaged in will include design, research and sketchbook work. This student-centred period of study is about exploration, investigation, risk taking and engaging in new experiences. This is not an easy course, but it is very rewarding.
How will the work be assessed?
Assessment is a key part of the learning process. This is a very demanding course and you will soon get used to working to deadlines. You will be expected to complete a number of assignments per term and each must be completed by a set date. These are continuously assessed and you will be invited in at the end of each term to submit all of your work for assessment.
At this stage you will receive a grade together with both written and verbal feedback that will help you to make continued progress on the course.
What are the facilities like?
The LCC campus is well-equipped with a large library and information centre with open access computer facilities, an advice and information centre, exhibition galleries, lecture theatres, studios, laboratories, teaching areas, a shop, refectory,
If your first language is not English you must demonstrate your competence in
English to IELTS level 5 or an equivalent level of achievement.
coffee bar and student bar. There is also an Enterprise Centre for Creative Arts, which provides information, events and advice on becoming self-employed in the creative industries.
What equipment would I be expected to have?
You will need the basic standard equipment demanded by any creative art and design course. This should be continually added to and enhanced as you progress through the course and will probably be influenced by your creative interests and pathway choice.
Would I be expected to have any prior knowledge of particular software or any other technical skills? Each student arrives with some prior knowledge across a variety of software packages. These packages are considered to be creative tools with which each individual will continue to enhance their skills, as and when the creative outcomes demand. Students have access to a comprehensive range of IT resources. High level IT skills are not a pre-requisite of the course.
What kind of people should I expect to meet on the course?
We have students who apply from all over the world to join this course, from countries such as America, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and from all over Europe and the British Isles. The mix ensures a very vibrant, lively and positive learning experience. You could be one of them.
Who teaches on the course?
David Sowerby is a principal lecturer at the University of the Arts London. He originally trained at the Central School of Art and Design and is now Head of Foundation Studies at LCC. He has over 25 years of experience in the creative industries and education, and has managed a highly successful Foundation course team at LCC for the past eight years.
Leigh Clarke is a key tutor and has curated an exhibition at Contemporary Art Projects in Shoreditch. The exhibition can be viewed at: www.commentart.com/exhibitions/Oh_Deborah! His work was also at the Frieze Art Fair with Bob and Roberta Smith at the Resonance FM booth and he took part in the Art Car Boot Fair on 8 July 2007, selling spoof Hackney Gazette posters on the P.I.E stall. For further details view www.artcarbootfair.com
Other tutors include Felipe Alçada, Salvatore Arancio, Ian Barraclough, Andrew Craig, Matthew Boyle, Bea Denton, Graham Diprose, Elizabeth Doherty, Tim Donaghy, Lynda Doyle, Stephen A Hall, Stephen P Hall, Danny Holliday, Melodie Holliday, Veronica Hendry, Katrina Koall, Ellie Land, Greg Messiah, Howard Milrose, Ima Abasi Okon and Chisato Tamabayashi.
What are the distinctive features of the course?
This is a very intensive, professional, creative, exceptionally well-directed and supported period of study. Each group tutor is not only an experienced educator but also an active practitioner in one or more of the course’s disciplines. It’s tough but rewarding. The course is very demanding and intensive, providing opportunities across a range of creative disciplines. Personal exploration and experimentation are expected and encouraged. This is a course dedicated to the support and development of creative individuals, not simply the learning and development of skills.
What do students do when they leave?
The Foundation Diploma is more than a qualification; it provides you with the experience, confidence and opportunity to apply direct to all leading art colleges. Most students progress to BA (Hons) Degree courses, Foundation Degrees or other higher level qualifications. Others look for work in the art and design sector.
Former students, on occasions, return to support the course, having gone on to complete their MA studies. Some students complete the course successfully before going on to study non-art related subjects. The world is your oyster.
What do former students say about the course?
Paul Tisdell
Why did you choose Foundation Studies at LCC?
I knew that I wanted to specialise in graphic design from the beginning of my studies, so I was attracted to the Foundation course at LCC. It was more focused on my area of interest, rather than being a general art and design foundation which most colleges provide. Did you enjoy the course, and if so in what way? I really enjoyed my time on foundation. It is a time to experiment and explore what it is about design that interests you. You are encouraged to work through your visual and conceptual ideas using a very broad range of techniques, which stands you in very good stead for work on your BA and beyond. What did you do after the course? I went straight onto the BA in Typo/Graphic design at LCC, after becoming interested in typography on foundation. I then went onto the MA Communication Art & Design course at the Royal College of Art Do you feel Foundation Studies helped prepare you for this next step? Absolutely. Foundation was a time to explore your interests, make mistakes and learn from them. The year goes very fast and you work at a rapid pace, so you learn so much about your work and yourself very quickly. If you are working now, what is your job? I have set up my own graphic design company with some friends from the RCA who graduated with me in 2007. We are called Europa.
Jack Hardie (www.jhardie.com) Why did you choose Foundation Studies at LCC? I was planning a radical career change and the LCC course gave me what I needed. Did you enjoy the course, and if so in what way? Brilliant, like opening a window in my head and letting the light in. What did you do after the course (ie degree course, work etc)? BSc Interactive Design at LCC — graduated with first class honours. Do you feel Foundation Studies helped prepare you for this next step? Absolutely vital, before I started Foundation I had a lot (30 years) of work experience but I knew next to nothing about design. I couldn't have contemplated starting out on a degree course without the Foundation studies. If you are working now, what is your job? Freelance designer.
How much does it cost? Are there any additional fees?
For information about fees visit the LCC website at www.lcc.arts.ac.uk or call the Further Education Office on +44 (0) 20 7514 8548.
Where can I get more information?
Contact: LCC’s Further Education Office. Tel: +44 (0)20 7514 8548. Email: ftfe@lcc.arts.ac.uk or visit the website at www.lcc.arts.ac.uk.