Art and Design Foundation Degree (FdA): Links with business and industry

The School of Art and Design at Kingston College has close links with the art and design sector. It benefits from designers and practitioners being active members of its advisory committee.

Live projects

Live projects are an integral part of the School's courses. For example:

• it undertakes annual projects in fashion/retail with Bentalls in which students' products are sold on the shop floor;
• students design virtual digital awards for the Kingston Chamber of Commerce's annual Business Awards; and
• past students have had the opportunity to work on projects with the BBC and Kew Gardens.

The School also has strong community links through the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames' public art panel. This ongoing relationship enables it to take part in:

• live public sculpture projects;
• the placing of art and design within other community institutions (such as at Kingston Hospital); and
• community arts events.

The School takes part in events like the Big Draw and past students have been successful in annual competitions for MetroCreate and Tetley Teabags.

Guest speakers and visits

The course benefits from appropriate guest speakers. For example:

• children's illustrators Nicholas Allan and Claire Valliamy have led workshops; and
• students have been able to help Ben Johnson produce his London Panorama.

There also regular visits to art and design practitioners, as well as to galleries and museums for contextual study, both in London and further afield. For example, past students have visited:

• design company Pentagram in New York and London; and
• Britt Wikstrom's sculpture studio in Rotterdam.

See examples of some recent student visits below.

Berlin 2007

Britt Wikstrom's sculpture studio in Rotterdam