Our BA (Hons) Art and Design course is a highly flexible interdisciplinary degree that encourages you to identify your own individual practices, apply them to a range of real world contexts and facilitate creative responses to a range of issues.

After an initial diagnostic period, critical approaches and design methodologies will help your personal development through, external facing ‘live’ projects, collaborative working with both university and other professional organisations, diverse workshop facilities, and a team of academic and technical staff.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS COURSE?

This degree covers interdisciplinary approaches to practice in contemporary art, design and craft.

You will work on studio, live and collaborative projects to develop your own independent practice, whether your interest lies in photography, installation, print, digital media, sculpture, illustration, curatorial practice, textiles, drawing, sound, graphic design, public art or three-dimensional design. Working closely with academic and technical staff, you will develop new skills and approaches to projects which help you gain confidence, helping you to uncover your own strengths and interests.

At all levels, contemporary and historical contexts modules are clearly aligned with core practical modules to develop the integration of theory and practice and develop the way critical studies are embedded within the degree.

Your personal development is enhanced by regular talks and workshops from visiting experts from a range of backgrounds – such as artists, designers, curators, craftspeople, entrepreneurs, educators and project managers alongside representatives from regional and national support agencies for the creative industries.   You’ll also receive the support of expert academics, like Stuart Whipps, who has recently exhibited his work in the British Art Show.

You will also be required to engage in an experiential placement in the second year of the programme to develop an understanding your potential role within the relevant professional sector.  This provides an opportunity for you to develop a post-graduation roadmap including a visualisation of their ideal future, analysis of their personal capital, barriers and values and a development timeline to identify future aims and objectives.

Students have previously enjoyed experiences, like responding to the architecture of Dudley Zoological Gardens’ World Heritage Site and in particular the Zoo’s 1930s-listed animal enclosures. 

Our graduates have recently showcased their work at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, MK Gallery, and also presented a collection of design ideas to Associated Architects, earning a £5,000 prize to further present their work in the West Midlands.

You will learn of range of skills which will be key to enhancing your future employability.

Specifically you will learn to:

• • Develop your own practice and how to analyse this in relation to future employment options.
  • Identify the relationship of theory to practice and how this can be used to develop your own individual identity.
  • Negotiate, plan exhibit and present to a professional standard.
  • Work independently and collaboratively.
  • Be a self-motivated, organised, effective learner.

You will also learn skills in a range of workshop practices in relation to individual development, including photography, casting, woodwork, metalwork, silk screen, etching, 3D printing, laser cutting, and printed and constructed textiles.

Professional practice guidance will teach you a range of skills such as CV writing;  the use of social media and other platforms for self-promotion,  presenting yourself and your work in a professional framework using a range of appropriate communication skills, such as video and various types of presentation software.

PLACEMENTS

All students take up a placement during their second year.  Recent placements include:

• London Fashion Week
• Ikon Gallery
• Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery
• Clusta Design Consultancy
• Flatpack Festival
• ‘Doctors’ (BBC TV show)
• Regional Starbucks stores
• The New Art Gallery Walsall
• Orphans.co.uk
• Story Museum
• Eastside Projects
• REP Workshop
• Municipal Bank
• Lordswood Girls' School