International Foundation Certificate in Design

The course covers the key aspects of writing an essay. These include features of academic style, the planning process, structuring an argument, summarising, paraphrasing techniques, referencing, avoiding plagiarism, and drafting and editing. Emphasis is given to the logic underlying Western academic writing conventions, rather than simply looking at the procedural aspects. This is supported by work on the main areas of English grammar, with a particular focus on improving grammatical range and accuracy in students’ writing.

Reading skills are also developed. Textual analysis enables students to learn about cohesion, extend their vocabulary, read for gist and specific information, infer meaning, as well as develop summary skills. The texts generally focus on a background to Western thought and culture, taking into account ancient Greeks and Romans, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the influence of modernity, feminism and Marxism. There is an emphasis on how to use reading in writing: to learn from other writers’ style and using their points as evidence for students’ arguments.

To enhance listening skills, the course makes use of a wide range of texts, drawing firstly on commercially produced EAP materials to help students acquire the skills of listening for gist and specific information and taking useful notes. Later, the course moves on recordings from Goldsmiths library as well as BBC radio shows. Students are exposed to a range of challenging and interesting recordings related to the arts, current affairs, media, education and aspects of British culture. Many of the recordings are relevant to subjects studied at Goldsmiths, for example race and ethnicity, representation, identity and culture. Where possible, the recordings are exploited for vocabulary development.

To develop speaking skills, students will have to research and give seminar presentations and lead the class through discussion of their chosen topic. They will receive input on effective seminar techniques and functional language. There is also ongoing feedback on their presentations.

This course is specifically for those who are interested in design and can demonstrate through a portfolio a range of skills and knowledge associated with some form of post 16 arts and design education or appropriate work experience. This course introduces students to different design disciplines and their different definitions. In term one, Students will undertake a series of design briefs that will enable them to acquire knowledge and skills appropriate to different forms of design: 2D, graphics/typography/photography, 3D, product/furniture/craft/textile, 4D and web/video.

This course is designed to run concurrently with the What is Design? course. Over the duration of the course students will have to keep a sketchbook and a reflective journal. The Journal will be an ongoing (predominantly text based) diary to record/capture their thoughts and processes occurring during the projects, workshops, crits, trips, exhibitions and feedback sessions. It will be an important piece of assessment evidence that is submitted at every tutorial and project hand in. This document must be written in English and allow students to develop a design/creative vocabulary. The Sketchbook will be a more visual record of their research and design process and will contain drawings sketches images/photographs modelling etc relating to the set projects and the students developing body of work.

This course will introduce students to a series of methods and techniques that will enable them to realise their ideas. They will be guided through a number of exercises that will include sketching, drawing (Various types), paper modelling, wire modelling, foam modelling and proto-typing.