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Art and Design with Creative Technologies is an interdisciplinary course exploring the intersection of art and design. With a versatile experimental studio environment, this course opens conversations to explorations of innovative idea creations whilst students explore their uniquely individual interests. Centred around collaborations, projects reflect industry experiences, where students gain confidence not just in their creative practice but in their everyday lives.听听
This course incorporates creative technologies which consists of using digital technologies in art and design. Advancing digital skills through a range of varied technological approaches. Examples from past projects on the course include using 3D modelling software to redesign a space to present in VR, and incorporating multi-sensory experiences using computer programming and sound to create interactive installations.听听
Why did you choose to study the course?听
When deciding on an undergraduate university course I wanted to choose one that was more general and interdisciplinary. Art and Design were my two areas of interest, both of which I wanted to explore in higher education. When researching the course, the pedagogy discernible from the curriculum and mark schemes available on the course website aligned with my notion of how I wanted to explore the disciplines. Another considerable aspect was that I 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 want to specialise; the idea of going into a specific creative industry was disappointing because I enjoyed a lot of different artistic disciplines and 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 want to limit myself to one.
听What made you choose this course at BCU?听
This course at BCU was distinctive. It was rare that a university course wanted to explore both Art and Design as a combined discipline, as someone who wanted to explore more than what fine art courses would explore it was an ideal course. This idea of limitlessness by the addition of creative technologies broadened the horizon which was very exciting. When researching art and design courses, BCU was the only university that offered it along with creative technologies. Delving further into what creative technologies were, I found it was an emerging field of study in the arts. Through this research, I realised it could enhance my artistic practice and I was intrigued. Due to how the course is structured, even with my lack of prior experience in technology such as coding and VR, I can confidently utilise creative technologies in every project.听听
Art and Design with Creative Technologies
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Why is this course unique, and different to other art courses at BCU?听
The course is taught in the School of Art located on Margaret Street, which is a grade I listed building. Purpose-built for the arts in the Victorian era, it was the UK's first public art school. The course takes place in an open planned studio designed in line with the theory of the course which makes studying here even more inspiring.听听
This course is innovative, free, experimental and playful. Instead of overemphasising success, failure is encouraged to explore new perspectives. The main element of this course is that it focuses on generalising: a lot of people view this as a weakness when you do not study a discipline that is specialised because it feels like you 诲辞苍鈥檛 have a thing you are particularly good at. However, speaking from experience, generalising before specialising opens you up to a lot more ideas that otherwise would not come to mind. Consequently, exposing you to a wider world view to help inform your practice. The course is interdisciplinary. Instead of just teaching artistic practices and techniques it teaches how to learn and apply. We also have equipment available in our studio for the people on the course. This means exploration is free and limitless as equipment is readily accessible for experimentation whenever inspiration hits.
What equipment and technology do students use on the course?
We use an assortment of digital technologies such as the Adobe suite, aftereffects, Photoshop, Illustrator etc. We also use projection mapping software such as TouchDesigner, and MadMapper and 3D modelling software such as SketchUp, and Twinmotion. As well as a variety of physical technologies in physical computing such as Micro:bit, Adafruit, Arduino, and microcontrollers. Other equipment including a drone, VR headset and 3D printer is also available in the studio. All of these are accessible in the studio space dedicated to this course. Additionally, the School of Art offers support from its technicians and has available workshop spaces including, wood, cold metal, sculpture and casting, printing, textile, photography and Audio-Visual workshop.听
How does the course support graduates with employment?听
Throughout the course, there are different opportunities in each module to get different real-world experiences. From creating art workshops for over 65s, to working for a music festival, to designing an escape room; the course offers a range of varied industry experiences. Some students start finding an interest through the experiences in the course, in specific disciplines like toy design, festival design and costume design. Some join artist studios, others go into teaching, and some others go into further education taking on a master鈥檚 course.听听