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A student of THREE DIMENSIONAL DESIGN can graduate with the following awards
BA (hons) Three Dimensional Design
BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design (Jewellery) BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design (Ceramics & Glass) BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design (Product Design)
The Three Dimensional Design degree enables students to explore the contexts, concepts and production processes to realise ideas for work within the Product Design, Jewellery, Ceramic, and Glass pathway areas. The course encourages students to discover their own individual pathway by providing the opportunity to explore connections and interactions between disciplines. Project briefs focus on technologies, materials and processes to turn concepts into realities. Ideas are at the heart of what we do, and learning to develop ideas through a clear design process, through digital and physical prototyping and real world production methods is how students learn to affect change through design. Our graduates emerge with confidence, multi-disciplinary design experience and a clear understanding of professional networks. We aim to ensure that students emerge as designers with a commercial and professional edge that is relevant to the chosen area of study.
Fig 32 Cara Walker. Glass. 2014
Fig 33 Yvette Estelle Jeffrey. Accessory/body adornment. 2013
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CCS Critical and Contextual Studies
Course Structure and Content
Year 1 develops the core research, design development and making skills; it challenges perceptions and thinking skills. In this year we help students explore the foundations of three d imensional design processes through practical, creative, critical thinking and making. Students are guided by staff throughout activities in the studio and workshops; they are introduced to new ideas, new concepts and new ways of working and thinking through the projects briefs and technical inputs. Students will participate in seminars, critiques, design forum discussions and tutorial sessions. Year 2 will build on previous knowledge and experience gained in Year 1 whilst further exploring core skills within 3D Design practice. Projects are detailed and varied with more potential for self-direction. Project briefs are delivered within both studio and workshop environments with further introduction and direction on more advanced creative thinking methods and systems, materials and making processes. New technologies and computer aided design and visualisation are core within the curriculum.
Year 3 is more externally focused through engagement with live projects, external contacts, and competitions. Students will take part in cross-disciplinary projects, working in teams from across the design departments with Communication Designers, Fashion & Textile Designers and 3D Designers working together on common design projects with external clients.
Studio practice is underpinned at all stages by a contextual and critical studies programme. This allows students to critically engage with history, theory and contemporary practice within each studio specialism. The CCS programme is delivered through blended learning, including lectures, seminars and group tutorials. Students engage with research, analytical critical thinking and are offered various models of communication for assessment, from essays to multimedia digital submissions. In Year 4 students propose their own topic that leads to the submission of a professionally presented body of research.
Students undertake increasing levels of self-directed study and studio project work enabling a greater focus on developing specialist interests in preparation for Year 4. Opportunities to participate in a range of external collaborative projects and placement activities develop students’ professional aptitudes. Year 4 is all about working independently; with guidance from staff, students will develop their self-directed proposal for work. This relates directly to areas of specific interest and questions of research. Staff will guide students in scoping out this field of study and provide on-going support. This occurs through a series of one-to-one tutorials, reviews, peer learning and group presentations, and ends with a final Honours assessment and degree show.
Guests @ Gray’s In addition to our course lecture programme, we also have our Guests @ Gray’s lecture programme. Here, we invite national and international artists and designers to the School to speak about their work. We have had a phenomenal list of speakers that have visited the school in the last few years. Why not visit our blogsite to review them. www. graysartschoolaberdeen.com/ category/guests-grays/
Graduating students have the opportunity to present their work amongst their peers from other UK institutions at ‘New Designers’ graduate shows in London.
Fig 34 Vicki Shennan. Jewellery collection. 2013
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Student Placements External Engagement
What our graduates go on to do
Students have the opportunity to participate in a diverse range of external activities throughout the duration of the course including international field study trips, national competitions and live collaborative projects with a wide variety of external partners. We offer students the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus European Exchange Programme and industry-based placements with leading companies and designers. There are also a number of university clubs and societies and local creative collectives including Offset 57 (student business initiative) that offer a range of extra-curricular activities.
Our 3D Design graduates leave with a lifelong understanding of the power and reach of design. Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the course, our graduates are employed in a variety of sectors with many of them finding roles as designers within agencies and studios locally, nationally and internationally. A number of graduates have founded new design companies and successful businesses in areas such as consumer products, industrial design, furniture, ceramics, glass, and jewellery design. Along with business and vocational success stories, our graduates have enjoyed success in securing post graduate study at masters and PhD level in some of the most prestigious institutions in the UK and abroad. Recent graduates can also apply to our Graduate in Residence (GiR) scheme which supports the next stage of their professional journey whether this involves setting up a business, applying for post-graduate study or building a portfolio.
Fig 35 Ewan Gray. Ceramic Collection 2014
Fig 36 Cara Walker. Glass. 2014
Fig 37 Clare Bevis. Product Design/ Interactive Design. 2013
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Fig 38 Ewan Gray. Ceramic Collection 2014
Fig 39 Jamie Brown. Product Design/ User customisation/table. 2014
Fig 40 Vahid Smart. Product Design/ Commuter’s portable scooter. 2014
A Case Study of Alumni
Nick Ross | Product Designer | Location: Stockholm Fig 38
Fig 39
Nick Ross studied design at Gray’s School of Art, where he was awarded the Arts & Heritage prize for his graduation project, Stray, in 2008. In early 2009, he moved to Rotterdam to work under Tomá Gabzdil Libertíny and in spring 2010 he moved to Stockholm to work for FRONT. Nick became a tutor at Gray’s School of Art, and continued to work there until enrolling in the Master’s program in interior architecture and furniture design at Konstfack in Stockholm, where he received his Master’s in Fine Arts in 2013. Immediately after graduating, he began working as an assistant to Swedish designer Matti Klenell until establishing his own selfnamed, Stockholm-based studio in 2014.
Fig 40
His work has been included in numerous exhibitions, including Design Anima at Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Milan, Wood Punk at Scandic Anglais, Stockholm, and Ung Svensk Form at Designersblock, London (all 2013); Design for a Liquid Society at Spazio Rossana Orlandi and Ventura Berlin at Qubique, Berlin (both 2012); and The Shape of Things to Come at the Gin Palace, Glasgow (2009).