3D Design: Crafts

• Designing and making in extensive wood, metal, plastics and ceramics workshops
  
  
• Strong course links with galleries and material agencies within the crafts
  
  
• Learning within a larger multi-material 3D design scheme

‘Three years of guidance alongside expert tutoring and a wide range of facilities equipped me with the confidence and knowledge to pursue a career in Crafts. The qualification has been the perfect springboard for my work at the Crafts Council.’

Crafts graduate

The development of the individual designer-maker as a creative, innovative, entrepreneurial professional is key to the aims of this award. You may choose to develop materials singly or in combination, to create one-off, site specific or small batch produced artefacts. You will experience a broad range of ways of working, before developing an individual set of specialised skills that will be used in combination with design problem solving.

This course forms part of the suite of 3D Design awards, comprising: BA(Hons) 3D Design: Crafts, BA(Hons) 3D Design: Interior Products, BA(Hons) 3D Design: Contemporary Jewellery and Fashion Accessories and BA(Hons) 3D Design: Ceramics. All the awards have a common structure that provides the generic core skills and understanding required to be a successful 3D Designer as well as having a distinct curriculum aimed at developing the specialist knowledge required to be successful in your chosen field.

At Level 4 you will focus on basic 3D design skills acquisition. You will explore a range of media including wood, metal, ceramics and plastics in order to confirm your future direction and to broaden your creative experience. In the second half of the year you will specialise and undertake modules specific to the area of the Crafts and Applied Arts.

At Level 5 common core modules focus on developing understanding of different design approaches. Option modules provide an opportunity to develop further Craft specific knowledge and practical skills by following modules in fine metal, ceramics or surface pattern.

At Level 6 you will undertake a negotiated project and follow common professional development modules that equip you with the knowledge needed for careers in design and the creative industries.

Modules are project-based and delivered through a combination of integral studio work, demonstrations, practical workshops, tutorials, critiques, seminars and lectures.

Year 1
• Material Investigation
• Visual Studies
• 3D Designing and Making

In addition, you’ll pick one module from the following option choices: Surface Design for Ceramics or Material Enquiry: Form and Surface. Contextual Studies is compulsory and consist of two modules: Objects and Patterns and Studying 3D Design

Year 2
• Designer Maker 1: Design in Context
• 3D Multiple Production
• Designer Maker 2: Public and Private Commissions

In addition, you’ll pick two modules from the following option choices: Investigating Ceramic Surfaces, The Stitched Surface, Contemporary Body Adornment, Atmospherics: Contemporary Lighting, Metal Fabrications, and Plaster Prototyping for Tableware. Again, there is a compulsory contextual studies module, Art or Design? Interfaces and Exchanges.

Year 3
• 3D Design: Negotiated Project 1: Research and Development
• 3D Design Crafts Negotiated Project 2: Implementation and Production
• Live Briefs and Competitions for the 3D Designer
• Professional Practice and Career Planning for the 3D Designer
• Catalogue Essay Project.

Graduates from the 3D Design suite of awards have set up successful small businesses as designer makers, others have gone on to work in different sectors of the creative industries including education, craft retail management, museum and gallery exhibition work, and community arts.

Students and graduates have gone on to win nationally recognised awards such as The Future of Design Award at New Designers and the Award for Excellence from the Society of Designer Craftsmen, featured in nationally recognised magazines such as Elle Decoration and Craftsman Magazine. Some students have exhibited at high profile shows such as Chelsea Crafts Fair and 100% Design, and have undertaken commissions for Harvey Nichols, Tiger Print, Marks and Spencer and have received business start-up bursaries upon graduation.

New Designers 'Future of Design' - Formica Award

Goldsmiths' Precious Metal Bursary winners

Work featured in 'Crafts Magazine' supplement 05,06 & 08 and Craftsmen Magazine

Graduate commision for Harvey Nichols, London

Graduates have gone on to work for the Crafts Council, Hidden Arts, London and gone to set up workshop as desgner makers e.g. at the Manchester Crafts Centre.

• 3D Design: Ceramics
  
  
• 3D Design: Contemporary Jewellery and Fashion Accessories
  
  
• Surface Pattern Design

Related: Undergraduate degrees from Arts, Media and Design

• BA(Hons) 3D Design awards programme specification (PDF, file size: 113.98KB)

For more information about 3D Design: Crafts (W700) please contact: