BA (Hons) 3D Creative Practice
Explore your creativity and refine your technical skills with this practical studio-based course. This degree will allow you to get hands-on and delve into a range of creative practices and techniques, such as textiles, wood and metal work, fine metal and jewellery, ceramics and 3D making. On this course you can choose to specialise in a particular creative practice or sit between disciplines, both of which we encourage and support.
You will experience new challenges and explore new concepts. Through learning processes and working with a wide range of materials, you will develop a broad skill base. You will be helped to apply these to your own projects, which will give you a distinct and professional body of work that enables you to become a creative professional in you chosen specialism.
Your studies will be underpinned by historical, cultural and theoretical research, as well as gaining a working understanding of the implications of making in contemporary contexts. The course tutors have many industry links and the course offers opportunities to engage in work placements and live projects in collaboration with regional and national organisations, including businesses, galleries and schools. The work of our students is featured in external exhibitions each year, providing graduates with a unique experience; often leading to exciting opportunities.
UCAS Code: W700
UCAS Institution Code: Y70
The modules are broken down in three types:
Studio Practice:
Ideas, making and materials; leading you to create your own 3D Design or Creative Practice.
Contextual Studies:
Critical, historical and theoretical learning that informs your making and thinking.
Professional Development:
Industry, business and professional experience that supports you to direct your own progression.
| Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Contextual Influence | Advanced Professional Development | Dissertation |
| Experimental 3D Practice | Audience Engagement | Studio Practice |
| Foundations of 3D Practice | Contextual Integration | Consolidated Professional Development |
| Introduction to Professional Development | Ideology into Practice |
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for this course are 32 UCAS tariff points, a Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject or A Levels. Significant relevant prior learning and experience will also be considered. You might be asked to submit a portfolio of work to support your application.
On receipt of your application, you will be asked to provide a portfolio that demonstrates your ideas and abilities creatively. This may showcase work you have done at school or college, or alternatively this may capture independently devised projects. You will then be invited for interview in which you are able to discuss the course and ask any questions you may have.
How will I be assessed?
Assessments are measured against learning outcomes and while these must be achieved, we offer as much flexibility as possible to learners to complete these objectives; we celebrate diverse and innovative approaches to evidencing learning. Studio Practice modules are generally assessed through a combination of sketchbooks, portfolios and physical outcomes. Contextual Studies modules are assessed through the use of presentation and/or written tasks. The Professional Development module leads you to create a range of resources that may include: promotion material, business plans, website, case studies, a portfolio, as well as completing live projects, written tasks and presentations.
Skills you will learn
The course provides for the development of technical skills in the workshops, but also for the development of a wide range of transferable skills such as critical and strategic thinking, time and project management, literary and research skills, information management, presentation, promotion and marketing and process materials. The course is intended to enable students to make informed choices based on sound information and critical judgement. Students are encouraged to express their ideas and to develop analytical ability through lectures, seminar, tutorials, discussions and gallery visits. Students gain understanding of their work in historical, current and professional contexts as well in relation to current debate.
Method of delivery
This studio and workshop-based course provides the opportunity to learn through experience. The programme is broad and offers the opportunity to work in art, craft and design-based areas. In encouraging experimentation, the course celebrates combining materials and processes to create innovative ideas and outcomes.
You will experience new challenges and explore new concepts. Through learning processes and working with a wide range material, you will develop a broad skill base. You will be helped to apply these to your own projects, which will give you a distinct and professional body of work that enables you to become a creative professional.
The full-time course is delivered face-to-face over three days a week, timetabled between Monday and Thursday. The part-time route is delivered 1.5 days per week, timetabled between Monday and Thursday.
Academic year runs from September to June.
Additional costs
You will need to ensure you have the correct PPE to use the workshops, and while we do provide this, you may want to purchase your own. Non stocked materials and materials in large or expensive quantities may need to be purchased and provided by students. A list of stocked materials can be found in your student handbook, and specialist staff are available to advise and help you.
Your next steps
This course is designed to be diagnostic and responsive to learners’ goals. We aim to help learners realise their professional ambitions as well as artistic ones. This may be helping you to set up your own business or helping you to access a career in the creative industries such as a Craftsperson, Community Art Worker, Designer, Crafts Educator, curatorship or administration. We will teach you the skills required to become a professional in your chosen field. Some students choose to go into postgraduate study, but several of our recent students have gone straight into work with local design companies. Many of our former students maintain a strong relationship with the department, meaning there are opportunities for work experience and guest speakers.
"This course has allowed me to experience working and creating with a variety of materials and crafts including ceramics, wood, jewellery making, and much more. A particular highlight for me has been blacksmithing, as it’s been amazing to learn something completely new.
I now plan on changing my career and would like to open my own ceramics business, using both the business skills and creative skills I’ve learned.”
Beccy graduated from the University of York, where she studied BA Contemporary 3D Crafts. Initially studying kiln-formed glass, Beccy switched to mixed-media ceramics, including textiles, wood and metalwork in her projects.
Beccy has taught at York College since 2001, primarily teaching kiln-formed glass and ceramics to a wide variety of students, from adult education to degree-level. She is currently Award Leader for BA (Hons) 3D Creative Practice. Alongside teaching, Beccy has been Chair of York Open Studios for five years and is a ceramic artist, selling work internationally. Her sculptural ceramics have been showcased in many prestigious journals, books and galleries around the world.
MA Fine Art, BA (Hons) Contemporary Art, PGCE
Charlie has been teaching in further and higher education for the last 6 years. She has a wealth of experience teaching and lecturing across art, design and craft. She is a practicing artist with background in sculpture and installation, and has exhibited her work both locally and nationally. In creating public events and exhibitions, she has gained professional skills in project management, funding bids, curation and marketing. Charlie promotes a community of learning across the degree and fosters a learner-centered approach to student attainment.
BA (Hons) in Jewellery Silversmithing and Related Design, PGCE, has been teaching art and design for the past 15 years.
Before teaching, Phil worked in industry as a designer and maker. Here he gained many professional skills and was commission to work with high profile clients including Harrods and Royal Daulton, Wedgewood to name a few. He has a breadth of technical knowledge in wood, metal and fine metals with high levels of expertise as a silversmith. Phil cares about good design and is generous with his knowledge in helping learners to foster their own professionalism.
After studying Constructed Textiles at Leeds University, Debi went on to achieve an MA in Textile Design at Winchester School of Art. She worked in industry for 14 years as a designer and maker with companies nationwide and in both teaching and community environments, working with various sectors of society.
After retraining she gained her Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector. She has a wealth of experience teaching and lecturing across art, design and craft, teaching across various art disciplines within the further and higher education for 12 years. Debi has the experience to provide students with a well-rounded knowledge and skill sets to enable students to progress and succeed in their studies.
