| CODE | DGA1002 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Ideas Generation and Development | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Digital Arts | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit introduces the basic approaches to creative practice and learning. It develops creative thinking in order to generate free-flowing ideas in art and design. The study-unit is aimed at developing students’ ability to create visual, concrete and abstract concepts which are contextualized through the production of imagery of contemporary relevance and understanding. The study unit makes use of a number of idea-generating techniques and develops the students’ conceptualization skills. Students are encouraged to originate ideas that address visual communication objectives and briefs; learn how to deconstruct their character as well as their creative process and will also be expected to initiate a self-reflecting journal in both traditional and digital formats. The study-unit also exposes the students to a broad cross section of work by artists, thinkers and designers in relation to their various cultural contexts. The study-unit will also introduce students to Critical Reflective Journal and the role of critical reflection in the creative process. We will approach critical reflective thinking methods and analyse their role in the ‘behind the scenes’ of communication design work. Various methods of documenting and visualizing/communicating the reflective process will also be explored. Students will be encouraged to think about their thinking and the way it develops their work. The unit will include: Critical reflective thinking skills and methods; an introduction to a selection of media/formats used in documentary and archival practices; the production of a reflective journal that logs and communicates students’ reflective and work development process rigorously. The study-unit focuses on three key aspects of the design process: 1. The deconstruction of the self; 2. Idea generation in creative disciplines; 3. Journal keeping and documentation. Study-unit Aims: - Lay the foundations of studio research and practice; - Encourage the exploration of the design process; - Nurture the practice of journal-keeping and documentation; - Foster a culture of critical, self-reflection and peer evaluation. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - exploit diverse idea-generating techniques; - implement complex ideas visually; - articulate abstract ideas using visual techniques; - comprehend the cultural contexts in which ideas are visually transmitted. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be: - able to apply different idea-generation techniques to solve diverse design problems; - conversant with the process of keeping a self-reflecting journal in both traditional as well as digital formats. Reading List: Connor, S. (2011). Paraphernalia. The Curious Lives of Magical Things. London:Profile Books Ltd. de Bono, E. (1999), Six Thinking Hats, Back Bay Books, NY. de Bono, E. (2006), Lateral Thinking: The Power of Provocation, Clive: de Bono Thinking Systems. Ingold, T. (2013) Making. London:Routledge. Jacob, M. J. and Grabner, M., eds., (2010), The Studio Reader: On the Space of Artists, Chicago: School of the Art Institute, Chicago. Leonard, N. and Ambrose, G. (2013) Basics Graphic Design 03: Idea Generation. AVA Publishing SA. Storey, J. (2012). Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction (6th Edition). London: Pearson. |
|||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Studio Practice | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
|||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Christine Lofaro |
|||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
||||||||||