Art and Design (Foundation) Diploma

Why choose this course?

This one-year course is designed to prepare you for entry to degree-level art and design programmes. Its fast-paced curriculum is taught within a hard-working but supportive atmosphere, helping you develop the skills you need to make the most of the next level of your education.

If you would like to progress to a BA(Hons) degree run by the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at Kingston, you can have a pre-UCAS interview for a place at the University, subject to the standard and content of your work.

What will you study?

The course provides a strong grounding in six areas:

• Fine art (including painting, 3D, mixed media and printmaking)
• Communication (including graphic design and typography)
• Moving image (film, TV and lens-based media)
• Illustration (including sequential narrative, film and photography)
• Three-dimensional design (including architecture, landscape architecture, interior, product and furniture design)
• Fashion (including menswear, womenswear, fashion PR and photo journalism)

International Intensive Foundation in Art and Design

We also run a 12-week intensive foundation course each summer for international students, with direct entry onto our BA(Hons) courses.

The International Intensive Foundation in Art and Design with English is also offered with extra support for your English skills.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Year 1

• Information and Research

• Information and Research

  This introductory programme gives you a chance to meet staff and other students in an intensive drawing and induction programme.

  You work in small groups to produce interactive work that pushes your knowledge of drawing-based practices. Using each other, your surroundings and new materials you will produce a body of work that explores new practices and ways of gathering research.

  We will also provide information about:

  • the faculty in general;
  • the library;
  • workshops;
  • photography; and
  • information technology using our range of iMacs.
  
   
• Recording and Responding

• Recording and Responding

  A series of intensive six-day projects explore a range of art and design practices, preparing you to choose a subject area for your degree application next term. Working in new subjects you will not have experienced before, you will become familiar with new concepts, ideas and methods.

  The module culminates in a location-based drawing trip where you undertake a concentrated period of research and drawing with your fellow students in a foreign location.

  
   
• Media Experimentation

• Media Experimentation

  You continue to explore a range of subjects through six-day projects, which cover:

  • graphic design;
  • illustration;
  • printmaking;
  • fine art;
  • life drawing;
  • fashion culture;
  • three-dimensional design;
  • experimental 'visual studies';
  • photography; and
  • art history with contextual studies.

  This prepares you to decide which specialist area you want to focus on next term and for your degree application. A Christmas vacation project will form the basis for the start of work next term.

  
   
• Information and Interpretation

• Information and Interpretation

  This module is delivered in conjunction with the Combined Experimental Studies module. You will begin to explore your chosen subject for degree level application in greater depth. Projects will range from two days to two weeks as staff expose you to a range of areas within your core subject.

  You will also have time to visit colleges you are considering applying to for next year. Your personal tutor will advise you on courses suited to you as an individual and previous students will return to give you their perspective.

  
   
• Combined Experimental Studies

• Combined Experimental Studies

  This module is delivered in conjunction with the Information and Interpretation module. You will begin to explore your chosen subject for degree level application in greater depth. Projects will range from two days to two weeks as staff expose you to a range of areas within your core subject.

  You will also have time to visit colleges you are considering applying to for next year. Your personal tutor will advise you on courses suited to you as an individual and previous students will return to give you their perspective.

  
   
• Media Development

• Media Development

  This module is delivered in conjunction with the Preparation and Progression module. By now you will have:

  • a great deal of knowledge of your chosen subject area;
  • decided which art college you wish to apply to;
  • had mock interviews and folder reviews with your area tutors to prepare you for the degree interview; and
  • reviewed your project work and placed it in the correct sequence within your folder.

  During the final two weeks of this stage you will write and produce your own project, which will form the basis of the next stage of the course.

  
   
• Preparation and Progression

• Preparation and Progression

  This module is delivered in conjunction with the Media Development module. By now you will have:

  • a great deal of knowledge of your chosen subject area;
  • decided which art college you wish to apply to;
  • had mock interviews and folder reviews with your area tutors to prepare you for the degree interview; and
  • reviewed your project work and placed it in the correct sequence within your folder.

  During the final two weeks of this stage you will write and produce your own project, which will form the basis of the next stage of the course.

  
   
• Integrating Theory and Practice

• Integrating Theory and Practice

  The final stage of the course uses skills gathered throughout the foundation year.

  You begin research for your final major project during the Easter vacation period. The project will form the basis of your final exhibition and will be formally assessed by both internal staff and an external examiner.

  
   
• Personal Confirmatory Study

• Personal Confirmatory Study

  The final stage of the course uses skills gathered throughout the foundation year.

  You begin research for your final major project during the Easter vacation period. The project will form the basis of your final exhibition and will be formally assessed by both internal staff and an external examiner.

  
   
• Art History lecture programme

• Art History lecture programme

  This lecture series introduces you to a range of art and design works within a theoretical framework. The focus is on 20th century and contemporary art and design practice. It covers everything from modernism and post-modernism to punk, minimalism and global consumerism.

  The range of material we look at includes:

  • art and design objects;
  • key texts;
  • films;
  • documentaries; and
  • advertising images.

  Through student-led group seminars you will develop the discursive and analytical skills needed pick out the ideas and issues embedded within the practices we study, making these works and ideas relevant to your studio projects.

  
   

Learn more about the Foundation Diploma course, meet course lecturers, current students and take a tour of the campus by atttending one of our open sessions.