Studying our Art and Design BA (Hons) course will equip you with in-depth knowledge and skills in the world of art and design - ranging from traditional drawing and painting to a new era of digital art. In your first year, you will partake in a digital photography and video unit called Making Images that will teach you to work with lens-based media while also developing good practices and skills in recording your work. Context and Ideas will also introduce you to key theories on art and design as well as its effect on culture and society. You will then apply this theory to practice in our Thinking Through Making unit that aims to encourage you to take creative risks and develop an aesthetic sense through using various technologies, processes and ideas. You will have the freedom to discover your own creative processes through experimentation and as a result, use a range of media to communicate your ideas. As a creative student, you will be exposed to a variety of art and design practices. Within the unit, Art and Design: Exploring Materials and Methods, you will explore, test and experiment with a range of techniques used to produce art based on researching the works of key practitioners in the field. Through working collaboratively in groups and on your own, you will embrace diversity and cultural difference within contemporary arts practice.  

To build on this, the subsequent unit, Art and Design: Developing Materials and Methods, will give you the opportunity to cultivate creative risk by experimenting with creative production methods. This process will help you establish and develop your own studio practice. Another area of project work involves our Collaborative Enterprise unit, where you will collaborate in group settings to apply your knowledge and expertise in a wider professional community. To help you with the research and analytical skills needed for project work, our unit in Context and Meaning will allow you to critically examine a range of texts on art, design and visual culture while placing this theory and practice into global contexts. This will also be helpful in critically evaluating your own creative work. To add to this, our unit in Developing Professional Practice will teach you to incorporate independence and professionalism in the presentation of your creative portfolio or exhibitions. 

In your final year, you will further deepen your insight on contemporary art and design practices, in our Critical and Creative Contexts unit that will allow you to explore issues and critical debates in the field. This will be particularly useful for your Final Major Project in Art and Design. This research-based project is a brilliant opportunity for you to showcase a body of work in line with your creative interests at public exhibitions. Our career-focused units in Creative Futures will provide you with the relevant skills and knowledge for your career in a professional creative role. Whether you aspire to become a freelance artist or designer, or to pursue further study, this unit will support you in developing a career that suits your ambitions and interests. Furthermore, you will be encouraged to participate in live projects, competition briefs and other group work while developing your ability to professionally present and market yourself and your portfolio using online media tools.