M ADE IN K INGS WO OD 20 19
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
ART
The department has always strived to put the pupil at the heart of the design process and to grow their individual awareness and skills to enhance their own abilities. The creative process for innovative products is fraught with challenges in form, function, manufacture and finish and the design process requires effort and commitment. The students have as always stepped up to the plate and produced folios and practical elements that pushed their abilities and developed their skills. The department aims for innovation, creativity and honed practical skills as well as the ability to reflect, and analyse is a key part of the ethos within the department. Through encouragement, hard work and imaginative concept sketching it has been wonderful to see these students shine and produce such good work.
The Art Department at Kingswood School promotes creativity within Fine Art. The Farnworth Art Centre, generously housed in a magnificent three storey building, continues to facilitate and encourage individual curiosity and to provide a balanced art education for all pupils. Year 7 and 8 pupils undertake a foundation course which covers the fundamentals of the subject whilst developing skills and confidence. Pupils learn the importance of seeing and recording through the experimental use of line, tone, mixed media, colour and three dimensions. At Year 9, pupils have the opportunity to work in much smaller groups exploring aspects of drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. At GCSE level pupils follow the AQA Fine Art specification. A Level pupils follow the OCR Fine Art specification and are encouraged to take risks and develop as artists. Academic achievement continues to remain exceptionally high and the numbers of pupils studying Art related courses post A Level is very healthy.
Design at Kingswood continues to aim at providing a gateway to a diverse range of higher education or facilitate the entry into the workplace through meeting the needs of the individual and providing the scope to develop ideas in a wide range of materials and disciplines. BARNEY BROWN
STEPHEN BROWN
AMBER
I am interested in artwork that is able to use rhetorical means to provide commentary on issues within society and that are important in today’s ever-changing world. Art that holds a meaning is art that intrigues me, which is what I aim to replicate. My art aims to portray my emotions or opinions on certain topics through the use of imagery and text. The subtleness or obviousness of the comments I intend to convey is what I like to experiment with in order to determine the most powerful outcome when getting the issues across. I focus on how imagery and multimedia can convey messages that impact our current generation, both socially and politically. I find the combination of both words and images necessary for my artwork to be successful in conveying the intended message. Whether it be further awareness of the refugee crisis, the gap between poverty and wealth, or the excessive consumption of plastic, my work aims generate more awareness for the issues that I believe really matter.
EMMA
Technically, my portraits highlight the juxtaposition between detail and the unknown - I choose implicit themes to convey a sense of mystery. My main aim is to create impact. Whether this is through confusion, painting obscure scenes that would not usually be painted, or through my colour palette and range of brushstroke sizes. I want to subordinate a viewer’s attention, and cause them to reconsider what it is about visual portrayals of humans that is so emotive and striking. I have realised that hyperrealism and detail can sometimes restrict emotion in painting, and my work has become increasingly expressive - exploring a wider range of colours and techniques within acrylic portraiture.
MA X
From my experience in the Design and Technology department I have greatly developed my problem solving skills through the design and development of a product for a specific need or problem in the real world. Using a real world client through GCSE and A Level coursework has allowed me to get a real understanding for the product market, adapting and changing my project to meet the needs of the client. The development and manufacture of my modular shelving unit in 2017 won the school’s ‘Made in Kingswood’ Gold award. I have also learnt a great deal through the coursework aspects of both GCSE and A Level, meeting deadlines and completing sections on time.
DOM
Studying Design and Technology has taught me a lot about organisation. Meeting deadlines is one of the most important components of the course. This will become applicable to all the university courses and jobs I apply for in the future. I have learnt a great deal throughout the course and the interaction with my client has been a key part of this process. My future plans in the sports training world is a little distanced from product design but I do believe that the organisation, practical problem solving and interaction with clients will be key skills I will take forward.
JOE Y
My interest in painting stems from the desire to capture human character through the processes of mixing colour and applying it in such a way to recreate the form accurately. I am particularly fascinated by the human face, portraiture is also an opportunity for the exploration of flesh, form and emotion. More specifically self-portraiture interests me as it is an opportunity to reflect on internal emotions and express them in a creative and unique way. It can be difficult to capture the emotions of another person without reflecting one’s personal perception of them and their personality.
WILLIAM
This Design and Technology A Level course has allowed me to develop several skills I will be able to apply in life. I have been able to develop my communication skills throughput this course by regularly contacting my client. This skill will be essential particularly in my desired career path as I will be required to communicate clearly on a daily basis. Furthermore this course has allowed me to improve my time management, ensuring that I met deadlines on time. This skill will be particularly essential to have when I’m older considering I would like to be a pilot. This course has taught me to be resilient as I have struggled with particular parts of the course such as SolidWorks, a software I had never used but am now quite skilled at. I am sure my training to be a pilot will be rigorous in which failure, to me, is not an option. Therefore I will need to be resilient throughout my training in order to succeed.
EMILY
Studying Design and Technology has taught me how to consider the market you are providing a service or product for, by discussing and adapting my product designs with a client. The course has enabled me to develop my design and manufacturing skills – my A Level project allowed me to focus on the needs of a specific client and therefore make a product best suited for them. This involved focused research on manufacturing techniques but also design styles. I am sure that the design and presentation skills I have learned from undertaking a variety of projects will be of great use in my Business Management Studies.
MOLLY
I’m a ‘maker’ at heart having always been interested in the process and techniques involved in creating the things we use every day. Leaders in the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris and John Ruskin, taught us that traditional crafts could be seen as true art, elevated from their everyday use and appreciated for their great beauty. This ‘art of the everyday’ such as clothes, children’s toys and textiles are living works of art that we see all around us ‘hung’ in the moving galleries of our streets and homes. My work seeks out the beauty in these functional objects – but I also believe we can’t hide from the ugliness of the concepts and ideas that they can convey. Deconstructing the materials for me is to deconstruct the myths they contain. My work makes, destroys and rebuilds to show the truth hidden in the stitches and pleats of the garments we wear and the items we use.
TOM
Studying Design and Technology has taught me how to investigate consumer needs and user centred design principles. I developed a wide range of manufacturing techniques which will be of great value in my engineering degree. My project this year has also allowed me to make an A Level out of what I love, making stuff. I enjoy the hands on approach and I feel like I learn a lot more doing, rather than listening or writing about it. I would thoroughly recommend taking DT as it really gets you engaged in problem solving. I aim to study mechanical engineering, then set up a company of my own. Who knows I might be the next Dyson!
EMA
What I love about Art is the lack of boundaries and the limitless opportunities for creativity. Artwork can be created in many different shapes and sizes, with a wealth of materials and techniques. It is a way of communicating, expressing views and thoughts in a multitude of ways. My artwork explores the interaction of materials and how they work with each other, in other words, if they are compatible or not. Because of my interest in patterns and surfaces, I have explored this theme in many ways which vary from observing and recording through photography, to the practical skills such as painting, making collages, manipulating and experimenting with different materials. Over the two years, I created many mixed media pieces of various sizes, before selecting and combining sections to construct large scale personal outcomes.
PAR M
My artwork reflects on how I perceive architecture, which has always seemed to grip my attention. Through studies of patterns, optical arts, shadows and architectural software, I was able to create sculptures which are eye-catching, to me, at least. AutoCAD and the Laser Cutter are my main mediums solely because they offer consistency and precision within my work, unlike any paint related mediums. To compensate for the lack of colour, illusion of space and depth perceptions was used in its place, which essentially gives my artwork more dimension and allows a different perspective to be seen from different angles to the sculpture.
LEO
Old Masters preparatory drawings have always fascinated me with their incredible ability to strike the viewer with their perfection yet incompletion, as well as brilliantly serving their primary purpose in the completion of the final painting. During the course of my project, I have experimented with various materials and techniques that both Renaissance and contemporary artists would use. My main aspiration in these drawings is not only to follow the rules of composition and proportion but also to create a lively piece of work, that I could always return to and redraw, to make it even more striking. My fascination with European Art has further prompted me to look at the works of Caravaggio and the Caravaggism Movement. My attempt to emulate his style and technique in painting has resulted in a long and exciting journey for me. Currently, my exploration lies within Romanticism, emphasising the aesthetical aspect of the drawing.
AMBER
Studying Design and Technology has helped me improve all my communication skills, due to the need to communicate with my client back and forwards about what their needs were for the product. The A Level Design and Technology course has been challenging but ultimately rewarding, in designing and making a unique and individual product I have solved problems and visualised and anticipated how things would be manufactured and be used. In my manufacturing process, I used a computer and produced different types of 3D models which has developed my 3D computer aided design skills for the future.
TOM
My work focuses on the documentation of sub-cultures around me, be it from Southbank Skaters, to the independent music scene around Bath. This occurs usually through the mediums of photography and video, as it allows me to capture a moment or a scene in a split second, capturing a singular moment in time. While my previous two topics have centred around my journey of learning how to shoot and manipulate video, the subject of these projects have always had some personal connection to me, hopefully allowing me to show a side of these cultures’ unseen by the audience.
JULIA
The way in which Art intrigues people and enables them to produce different conclusions from the work fascinates me. Art can be subjective and allows people to explore and relate to work on their own accord. The type of the work that fascinates me revolves around pushing boundaries and crossing lines into what is politically correct and what is socially desirable. Having underlying statements which induces questions, confusion and a desire to act and make a difference. The work I produce centres around the question ‘what is socially acceptable?’ however the underlying meaning of my work aims to convey a message to the viewer, a message to make them act. By combining photography, mixed media and text, I aspire to make people consider their opinions on a more selfless scale. My inspiration stems from issues that I have witnessed in everyday life which are constantly progressing. We tend to turn a blind eye to events that mean little to us, yet with this attitude there will be no scope for development. The process has enabled me to consider my own intentions in order to relate to these issues on a larger scale.
JA SMIN
Primarily through my interest in natural form, my work pushes the boundaries of traditional landscape artwork and combines it with aspects of abstraction within the realm of colour and expression. Therefore, the form is loose and the movement is organic, focusing on the contrast between segregation and integration which mirrors the movement of natural creation. I want my art to invite the viewer to recognise the medium between realism and imagination while also reflecting on the circular format that embodies the primary inspiration of my work; the planet Earth. My most recent work has been sculptural based, addressing the contrast between necessities and luxuries in order to concentrate on the social injustices within our society. I also incorporate the narrative of the less fortunate to hone in on the ignorance and prejudices of others.
FINN
By studying Design and Technology for A Level I have developed a breadth of knowledge in problem solving, this has helped me investigate client wants and needs and developing an adequate solution to a given brief. This is something that I will bring forward into my university degree and will help me greatly in business, specifically by meeting consumer demand for products. Furthermore, the analytical principles the subject has enabled me to make informed decisions about a design as a result of specific investigation points. I thoroughly enjoyed both the design and manufacture phases, the whole process taught to me the importance of client analysis in order to understand their wants and needs. In the business world this relates to market analysis and can help determine how successful a given product would be.
JOANNA
The A Level course has allowed me to broaden my understanding of product design, both in industry and within a school setting and has been very important in building skills I hope to take with me into an architecture degree at university. My coursework piece this year was heavily influenced by Scandinavian design and the Mid-Century modern aesthetic as I think it gives greater precedence to the function of the product rather than its aesthetic value. Much like the products designed by companies like IKEA, my product has no specified user. It’s intended to be a product that works and can be personalised by any user and I have tried to achieve this by giving the client multiple choices in the design of the product and how it functions. I’m really interested in furthering my understanding of bettering client/product interaction at a higher level, as I think this is particularly important in subjects like architecture where this relationship is one of the cornerstones to becoming a good architect.
JOANNA
The Art A Level course has allowed me to delve into the theoretical world of architecture whilst letting me create in response to my findings. My initial focus on ornament in architecture allowed me to research into the theory and history of the subject. This then developed into building a creative approach that culminated in learning new skills such as projection work. This was exciting as this form of presentation is being explored as a method of both entertainment and architectural ornamentation by many architects today in the form of projection mapping. For my exam project, I decided to take a new path away from architecture and explore social commentary in Art. However, despite the very different paths I have taken with each project I think that they link to the idea of architecture by understanding where architecture and humanity have been and where they now are in the present. This understanding is so important in a subject like architecture where humanity and history are at the core of what an architect produces. Therefore, understanding these at their creative level unlocks the key to success in a subject like architecture.
CHARLIE
All the way through my Design and Technology A Level course I have had the opportunity to develop skills using computer systems to make models and produce parts of my project. As well as my work on a portfolio, this has given me a realistic insight into communication and presentation skills needed to cooperate with a client. Also, showing the importance of organising, and meeting deadlines. My project this year focused on technology and how to make a range of products to a good standard, while keeping the costs as low as possible. All of these points have also tested my design and time management skills, which will be vital in a future career.
HAMISH
Design and Technology at Kingswood has been a really valuable A Level that has taught me numerous life skills I can apply in my future. Learning how to use solid works throughout my time here has been undoubtedly the most valuable skill especially when looking to apply it in design and architecture jobs, as I learnt during my work experience in PB weir electrical. As well as learning practical skills in the workshop the theory side has helped me gauge a better understanding of materials and allowing me to develop a product orientated around a specific specification. By understanding the key concepts of Scandinavian styles it helped me win Gold award in the 2017 Design and Technology exhibition by creating a unique corner lamp. I am sure I will be able to apply these skills I have learnt over my time studying DT into my intended career of architecture or product design.
EMILY
An artwork’s ability to stimulate emotional and physical reactions has always been fascinating to me. The personal associations that someone makes when engaging with an artwork can potentially be as, if not more, emotive than what the work itself portrays. My practical portfolio has questioned the conventional idea of family through sentimental objects. Using my christening gown, I created a number of photograms; the physicality and repetition of this process enabled me to explore “traces” of objects, much like memories clouded with the distance of time. The complex nature of family history can leave lasting impressions that are initially “unseen”. My external assignment explored ageing. How does this differ between the natural and manmade world? I came across the Japanese ideal of Wabi-Sabi; my work now questions the current view of beauty as perfection. I want the audience to be lured in to appreciating the exquisite beauty of minute and “unseen” details in nature.
HOWARD
My work stems from my interest in architecture, facades and structure. My artwork is a development of concepts, an investigation on what I find intriguing in order to explore towards a resolution. My coursework is an angular sculpture with translucent patterns on top, it links together the medium and methods that I have experimented with, a conclusion of my sheets. For my exam project, I looked at spaces that are not usually associated with art, exploring the theme of toilets though its graffiti, stains and usage overtime. My timed exam piece is a sculpture that interprets my research in a fun and engaging way that will encourage the audience to interact with my work.
ALE X
Throughout the past two years studying Art, my work has revolved around my interest in Architecture and its relationship with the environment. I have explored this theme through the contrast between the philosophy of Organic Architecture and the Constructivist Movement. Both my digital and sculptural outcomes are underpinned by a narrative relating to the social issue of overpopulation.