Art & Design Foundation factsheet

Section 2: Art and Design Foundation at Kings

Exceptionally small classes

• There are only 8 to 12 students per class at Kings.
• This means plenty of one-to-one contact with your teacher.

Wide range of subject specialisms to broaden your skills and experience

• Architecture
• Animation
• Fashion
• Film
• Fine Art
• Illustration
• Interior Design
• Product Design

Section 3: Course structure

Term 1 – Learning skills and context

The first part in the creative journey, this is where students will start to raise questions about Art & Design that they will spend the year answering: inspiration will come from personal experiences, reading around topics, use of different materials and primary research through off-site and gallery visits.

Unit 1: Art & Design Research Methods

Objective: To enable students to develop a research method which demonstrates contextual awareness, ability to interpret and evaluate information and that can be applied effectively.

Unit 2: Ideas and Development

Objective: To enable students to develop ideas within the context of Art & Design using a broad range of approaches appropriately and effectively.

Unit 3: Materials and Methods

Objective: To enable students to develop the application of materials and methods to explore and solve creative solutions, safely and effectively

Unit 4: Evaluation and Reflection

Objective: To enable students to develop planning, recording, analytical, reflective and to evaluate skills which support their own learning. CSS IELTS and presentation input, interviews and how to present work

Term 2 – Development and Progression

At this stage, students have built a wide understanding of the areas of Art & Design, and the elements they are more interested in developing: from here, students begin to decide the area they will focus on in their degree level studies. Students will work with a dedicated tutor, depending on the area of art they chose to specialise in. Students’ portfolios and research will take many different forms depending on their chosen specialty: this can be in sketch books, written word, 3D and 2D designs.

Unit 5: Integrated Art & Design

Objective: To enable students to fully integrate research, ideas and methods within the context of a chosen art or design subject effectively.

Unit 6: Preparation for Progression in Art & Design

Objective: To enable students to develop skills with which they can make best use of appropriate progression opportunities. CSS IELTS and Assignment input.

Term 3 – Proposal and Realisation

The final term is the culmination of students’ research, initial ideas, design and development. This is showcased through the cross-college public fashion show that students design and run.

Unit 7: Project Proposal and Realisation of Final Major Project culminating in a public exhibition.

Objective: To enable students to take responsibility for their own learning by demonstrating their achievement in proposing and realising a project which integrates contextual perspective, research, problem solving, planning and organisation, evaluation and reflection, and practical, technical and presentation skills.

Working to briefs, students will produce both two-dimensional and three-dimensional work part of which will reflect their specialist subject area. CSS IELTS and Listening, note-taking skills and reading and vocabulary.

Regular presentations All students on the Art & Design Foundation take part in weekly presentations and peer evaluation. These presentations ensure students are fully prepared for interviews that the more competitive universities and courses will require students to complete for admission.

Section 4: Course content

Term 1

Units 1/2 – Core skills

All students are introduced to the core skills vital to the successful pursuit of any specialist pathway The approach, techniques and skills introduced at the start of the course enable students to make informed choices about what to focus on both for the rest of the course, and potentially for their intended degree.

These units cover:

• Different ways of recording and developing ideas to improve critical thinking and research skills.
• Introduction to 2D skills to develop a variety of drawing approaches, print making, collage,photography, painting, Photoshop, In Design.
• Introduction to 3D skills, casting, mixed media structures, and an experimental approach to different materials.
• The design process.
• Working to a brief, managing their time.
• Regular presentations to reflect on work as it develops and a joint formal presentation with CSS which is focused on analytical and evaluative skills.

Once a specialism (elective pathway) is chosen students receive UCAS support from an art specialist to research and prepare personal statements for university courses in their chosen area.

Units 3/4 – Working in elective pathway

Students focus on one of the following chosen specialisms (elective pathways):

• Fine art
• Fashion design
• Architecture
• Textile design
• Interior design
• Animation
• Games design
• Product design

Term 2

Units 5/6 – Projects in the student’s elective pathway and portfolio work

All students continue to develop their projects in their elective pathway refining skills and work for hard and E portfolios ahead of UCAS applications.

Term 3

Unit 7 – Final Major Project

All students design their own final major project in their elective pathway, which culminates in a public exhibition of their work.