Welcome to your Art and Design course

Welcome to University of Staffordshire

We know you're already passionate about your subject, which is why we're excited you've chosen University of Staffordshire as the place to turn possibility into reality.

To give you an insight into what life as an Art and Design student is like, your course leaders have prepared introductions to the course and further activities.

The Art & Design Foundation Course introduces you to the wonderful and varied world of Art and Design! You will have the opportunity to experiment with a range of media and processes, refine existing skills and ultimately, uncover your subject specialism. In addition to all of these creative possibilities, we will introduce you to the academic skills necessary for success at degree level.

On the course we aim to get to know you as an individual and help you reveal your true potential within art and design. We are looking forward to getting to know you!

Course Delivery

We are an on-campus course and are so proud of our fantastic studio and workshop facilities!

Your course will be delivered in a variety of ways:

Studio based workshops, led by academic staff
Tutorials: one-to-one discussions about your work
Technical demonstrations: delivered by our technical team in the workshops
Lectures: delivered on campus
Workshop time: opportunities to experiment in the workshops, under the supervision of the technicians
Group activities: discussions, seminars, group tutorials and peer led activity
Independent study: opportunity to work in the studios at your own pace, on your project work
Field Trips: visits to galleries, museums and sites of historic interest
Online learning: occasional meetings or talks by visiting artists and designers

Semester one activities

The course begins with a series of team projects, which introduce you to the university and help you to get to know the other people on your course. This first module also helps you to choose your pathway, either art or design. We help you to understand the difference between these pathways and support you in making your decision.

Once you have chosen your pathway, you will then get your own studio space in either the Art Foundation studio, or the Design Foundation studio. The remaining projects in semester 1 introduce you to the variety of techniques and processes in the art or design pathways. You will be encouraged to learn, think and work in new ways to help prepare you for future study.

During Welcome Week, we will be hosting an Instagram takeover, by our outgoing Foundation students, who are now progressing onto their chosen degree courses. They will be welcoming you to the course and giving you some top tips on how to get the best out of your time at Staffs!

Check out our Instagram

Summer Project

Memory match Box

Cambridge Dictionary definition of Memory:

noun (ABILITY TO REMEMBER)

The ability to remember information, experiences, and people.

Requirements:

Every year we set a summer project, this year we would like you to produce work using a matchbox as a starting point. You may use any matchbox you wish. Using the theme of Memory Box, create an artwork of your own. This could be a series of drawings, prints, paintings, mixed media work or perhaps using the box as a container, or a work that may extend from the matchbox. You may even choose to create a mini sculpture or installation within/ or extending from the box. Areas such as film and sound may also be explored. The matches themselves may be used if you desire. 

The crucial thing is to be as inventive as possible demonstrating your own strengths and vision. 

The theme of Memory Box should allow you to consider and explore memory. You may wish to record a memory from your summer or from another point in your life. The memory  may be big or small, actual or embellished. This is your creation. Think inside and outside the box!

Please bring this work in with you during the first week of term. All work will be displayed.

Good Luck!

Before you start

Documentaries

The Art & Design Foundation Course as we know it today was inspired by the pioneering art school at the centre of the Bauhaus Movement. In this fun documentary, presented by Jim Moir (AKA Vic Reeves), a group of art and design graduates are introduced to the ground-breaking methods used by teachers at the Bauhaus school, to see how relevant they are still today. Bauhaus Rules with Vic Reeves is a wonderful introduction to the study of Art and Design!

If you have access to Netflix, then Abstract: the Art of Design gives you an insight into artists and designers working in a variety of disciplines.

Books

Contemporary British Women Artists: in their own words by Rebecca Fortnum
21st Century Design: New Design Icons from Mass Market to Avant- Garde by Marcus Fairs
Ways of Seeing by John Berger  
The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher

Websites

https://www.madebyfolk.com/

https://yinkailori.com/

https://www.comicsbeat.com/

https://designmuseum.org

https://www.tate.org.uk/

Exhibitions/Galleries

We are very lucky to have AirSpace Gallery (contemporary art gallery, Hanley) and the British Ceramics Biennial (national contemporary ceramics festival, Spode) on our doorsteps! Sign up to their mailing list to see what exhibitions and activities they are running:

airspacegallery.org

britishceramicsbiennial.com

Materials and equipment

Throughout your study on our awards, you will be required to use a range of mixed media. Here is a list of suggested tools and materials that you may find useful on your progress throughout your studies, whilst some of these items are expensive in terms of initial outlay, they will last you beyond your years at university as long as you look after them and you will need them for level 4 of your degree.

You may already own many of the materials on the list, but if not the art shop on campus stocks an extensive range of art, design and craft materials at extremely competitive prices.

Once you are enrolled, you will also be able to download a range of software or access it on campus such as Adobe Creative Suite.

You need to invest in a toolbox that consists of basic materials to bring with you in your second week at university.

The materials contained in your toolbox should include: 

Scissors
Charcoal (willow)
A range of paint brushes
A4/A3 Sketchbook
Diary or Notebook
Masking Tape
Double sided tape
Pritt Stick
Range of graphite pencils ranging from HB to at least 6B
Fine liner pens
Marker pens
Coloured pencils
Putty rubber
Retractable Cutting knife/ blades
Metal ruler
Cutting mat
Ball of string

Download software

Course Trips

We believe in the power of seeing world class works of art and design face to face – so we will be arranging a series of field trips throughout the course; some local, some further afield.

Zine Project

Our Zine project is on permanent display in the Catalyst Building and further opportunities for our students to contribute to the zine exhibition will take place during the course.

Meet the team

Angela Devoti

Senior Lecturer

Angela is a Design and Visualisation Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Fashion course here at Staffordshire University. She teaches across a variety of modules including Design, Visualisation and History and Theory of Fashion.

Angela's profile

Nigel Turner

Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturer for Automotive & Transport Design, and Product, Furniture, Ceramics, with 20 years’ experience as a luxury designer for Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Viners, Aspreys, and 10 years as a product development manager at Michelin Lifestyle.

Nigel's profile

Michael Safaric Branthwaite

Associate Professor

I am a Contemporary Fine Artist as well as an active researcher in integrated practices. My main area of interest is the use of technology and the digitisation of History and Heritage

Michael's profile

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.