To meet the demands of the increasingly diverse art and design industries, UCOL’s Bachelor of Design and Arts degree includes majors in visual arts, design media and textile/fashion design to give you the competitive edge in these exciting fields.

 

Learn from the best in the field and gain practical skills through intern projects, drawing, art/design labs, history, theory and professional practice. Majors

All students in the Bachelor of Design and Arts programme will choose a major area of study which could include:

• Visual Arts: Painting, sculpture, photography, glass, digital arts
• Design Media: Typography & print, animation, video, web
• Textile/Fashion Design: Fabric printing, garment construction, textile art, fashion photography

 

This programme consist of 360 credits and has majors in Visual Arts, Design Media, or Textile/Fashion Design. The courses includes;

Your studies will depend upon your choice of major - Design Media,Textiles/Fashion Design, Visual Arts.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES-YEAR ONE

Visual Language (15 Credits)
Become familiar with the language of art and design. Formal art/design elements will be considered along-side key theoretical ideas, which inform contemporary practices of visual and oral culture. Students will be required to evaluate and critique visual culture, research theoretical texts and apply their research to the writing of an academic essay and oral presentation.

Art/Design Lab 1 (15 Credits)
Be introduced to a hands-on approach to creative design process and problem solving. It focuses on research and exploration and the development of a conceptually driven and personalised visual language. The course aims to familiarise students with the process of responding to a given brief. 

Art/Design Lab 2 (15 Credits)
Extend conceptual and practice-based design processes. Student knowledge of art/design problem solving will be extended through research processes and exploration of the formal elements of art/design. Students will continue to work towards the development of a personalised visual language.

Design Practical (15 Credits)
Learn to use a range of processes and technologies to produce art and design works.

Art/Design History (15 Credits)
An introduction to the significance of art, design and fashion throughout history and in relation to differing cultural and social structures, including local indigenous culture.

Drawing (15 Credits)
Develop perceptual and technical drawing skills and knowledge about historical and contemporary trends in drawing, including specific aspects relating to Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Whanganui region. It introduces applied research methods to enable the development and expression of personal concepts through the application of tools, techniques and processes suited to artists and designers.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES-YEAR TWO

Art/Design Contemporary (15 Credits)
Further develop your knowledge of art/design history, tracing the development of art and design and its relationship to the historical context of its production, through to contemporary art and design production.

Art/Design Theory (15 Credits)
Further your knowledge gained in Visual Language and Arts/Design History 1 of various academic and philosophical perspectives related to cultural production. The course also aims to promote critical and analytical skills to evaluate theoretical structures which underpin creative practices.

 

ELECTIVE COURSES - YEAR TWO

Digital Photography 1 (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Learn to utilise the functions, operations and applications of digital photography equipment and software to create photographic images for use in the production of a range of art and design projects.

Illustration 1 (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Learn to adopt a conceptual problem solving approach to illustration and its relationship to art and design with emphasis on conceptual problem solving and matching form to content. Students’ knowledge will be developed so that they may critically analyse and critique historic and contemporary illustration.

3D Modelling (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Build 3D models and develop technical skills and various conceptual approaches to form and content using a range of 3D modelling software.

Moving Image (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Gain the knowledge and skills required to produce art and design works using moving image and sound mediums. Learn to apply your knowledge and skills to creating and editing moving image productions.

Glass Studio (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Use the concepts and technical applications of studio glass equipment and processes to create a range of art or design projects.

Printmaking (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Use the concepts and technical applications of printmaking equipment and processes for use in the production of a range of arts or design projects.

Textile and Fibre (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Use the concepts and technical applications of a range of textile and fibre methods. Students will be introduced to traditional and contemporary textile and fibre techniques for use in the production of a range of art and design projects.

Computer Aided Drafting (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Explore CAD drafting techniques using appropriate software and devices in the resolution art/design projects. 

Object (15 Credits) (Elective course)
Develop concepts and utilise a range of technical applications, equipment, and processes to create contemporary three-dimensional art/design objects.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES-YEAR THREE

Internship (15 Credits)
Learn the skills and experience to undertake an industry oriented art or design project where creative methodology is used to create an original solution that addresses the needs of the project client.

Research Methods (15 Credits)
Build on the learning undertaken in year one and two theory and studio papers with knowledge of the chief principles, concepts and methods of research as they are applied in the field of art and design. Key research skills will be developed in order to prepare students for the possibility of postgraduate research.

Professional Practice (15 Credits)
Develop your understanding and analysis of professional practices related to a range of art/design activities. The course allows students to reflect on and extend their commercial understanding through the investigation of art/design related business practices and marketing applications