L4 Foundation Diploma in Creative Arts

L4 Foundation Diploma in Creative Arts

Unit 1: Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice

Start date: Wednesday 15th September 2021

Submission deadline: Thursday 10th November 2021

Teachers:
Wednesday
George Bull (Photography)
Simon Welfare (Art, textiles and graphics)
Thursday
Lillian Newman (Photography and Textiles)
George Bull (Photography)
Sarah Wilson (Moving image and stop motion)

Unit 1: Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice

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 L4 Foundation Diploma in Creative Arts

In this unit, you will undertake a diagnostic investigation into visual language and creative practices. This
exploratory investigation allows you to become familiar with and experiment within a range of creative
disciplines (art, design, craft and media) as part of your journey to, or reinforcement of, specialism in Unit 3 or
4.

Throughout the unit, you will develop your visual language, research methods, contextual awareness and
evaluative ability to underpin a broad range of varied creative activities. You will develop the necessary skills
in planning, recording, analysis and reflection to support and communicate creative endeavour, while gaining an
appreciation of the position and context of your investigations. The diagnostic mode provides you with the
opportunity to safely and effectively experience a wide range of art and design materials, methods and
technologies within a professional practice

This unit will give a broad diagnostic view of the

creative industries that will develop your
understanding of the interrelated nature of each
discipline. The unit is designed to provide you with a
coherent body of knowledge and understanding,
alongside the broad skill base that is associated with a
range of art, design and media practices, in order
to enhance and sustain your professional
development. The type of practical skills will be
variable, depending upon the context of the work
undertaken.

The content for this unit is not restricted to but will typically cover the following:
> Investigations into research methods, including ethical perspectives
> Analysis of creative practice
> Application of creative theory in support of practice
> Exploratory and experimental investigations into manual and/or digital techniques, processes and creative
practices.
> Application of materials, techniques and processes for a variety of creative practices and audiences
> Investigations into the relationship between ideas, visual language and purpose.

This unit will be delivered through a range of appropriately structured activities and assignments in order to
enhance your exploration, understanding and application of research methods, ideas development and materials
and methods, alongside planning, recording, analysis, reflection and evaluation to support your learning and
creative endeavour. Group critiques with peers and tutors, along with group discussions will promote reflective
learning, and refine critical thinking skills. You are encouraged to be open‐minded, be increasingly autonomous
in your approach to your learning and will be expected to conduct independent research in order to gain a
sophisticated understanding of your creative practice.

Unit 1Brief: Building Blocks

The L4 Foundation Diploma is an opportunity for you to develop a variety of creative skills in order to succeed
in a demanding and competitive industry.
Whilst you may have a set goal, career aspiration or chosen path already it is vital that you explore and
experiment with a variety of disciplines in order to help you achieve that dream.

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 L4 Foundation Diploma in Creative Arts

Scenario: The initial five week Building Blocks consists of eight self-contained one day projects. Each project
will introduce you to a range of practical and professional skills that are transferable across specialist disciplines
within Contemporary Art and Design Practises.
A selection from the results of these projects will be presented and analysed in a Building Blocks exhibition at
the end of the unit.

The final four week Skills Rotations will introduce/ extend a range of more focused Art and Design Skills that
are transferable across specialist disciplines within Contemporary Art and Design Practises. These consist of
two, two week projects exploring a range of disciplines in textiles, art and design, 3D design, moving image and
photography.

You are required to design 8 one day briefs which enable you to explore and experiment with a variety of
mediums and skills that you think will enhance your future career.

This will lead on to you creating 2 small project briefs that will develop the sills you have learnt in the 8 1 day
projects.

For example: Wedding dress designer

8 projects could be:
1. Screen printing
2. Photoshop design (to promote your dress)
3. Studio work (to capture you dress on camera)
4. Studio Lighting design
5. Pattern making skills
6. Sewing machine skills
7. Basic film techniques (to film and promote dresses)
8. Embroidery design

2 week projects
1. Embroidery designs for a dress
2. Promotional material for range (studio, photoshop and filming)

Example of Scheme

Week 1:

1. What do you want to achieve in your final two projects?

2. What 8 self-contained skills can you research and experiment with that will enable you to achieve these
projects? You must cover and experiment with ALL disciplines
3. Create a plan of action detailing what you want to explore and why it will help you

NB: Once we know what skills the cohort wants to develop and experiment with we will block you together for
workshops.

Week 2:
1. Research into skill 1 (for example all those wanting to learn Screen-printing)
2. Evidence of experiment with final outcome
3. Research into skill 2 (for example Dark room)
4. Evidence of experiment with final outcome

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 L4 Foundation Diploma in Creative Arts

5. Self-evaluation on weeks skills

Week 3:
1. Research into skill 1 (for example lino printing)
2. Evidence of experiment with final outcome
3. Research into skill 2 (for example photoshop design)
4. Evidence of experiment with final outcome
5. Self-evaluation on weeks skills

Week 4 and Week 5 repeat of above

Week 6 and week 7: Applying skills

 Two week project with research, planning and final outcome (for example – 30 second stop motion)

Week 8 and week 9: Applying skills

 Two week project with research, planning and final outcome (for example – screen-print on fabric for
wedding dress design)

How to submit your work:

All work needs to be a digital web format.

Sketch books can be used but must be scanned onto the website
All 3D / models must be photographed and uploaded

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