This module is concerned with the development of your own personal practice as a designer / maker through the integration of research with practice. During this module you will be encouraged to explore the wealth and richness of historic and contemporary design practice, to reflect on different genres of work, the theories that underlie them and/or the reason for their creation, and to use this information as a source of ideas to develop and inform your own personal work. The module seeks to encourage innovative contemporary design ideas and will necessitate the understanding of past and current practice.

You may wish to interpret your research and ideas in whatever manner or context you feel best suits your particular area of interest. For example you may wish to make individual craft pieces, produce ideas that are more applicable to batch or industrial production, make functional, decorative, narrative or content/issue based work.

The work created for this module will be exhibited at a venue that is open to the public. The planning and designing of the exhibition space and other aspects of organisation necessary to the staging of the exhibition will be integrated into the timetable.

You will present a body of coursework for assessment, as outlined in the module information pack.
This will include the following elements:
- Collated research folder, documenting historical and contemporary practice. [Learning Outcomes 1,2&3]
- Design development workbook/s showing how your design ideas have been informed by historical and contemporary theory and/or practice. . [Learning Outcomes 1,2&3]
- Design prototypes, maquettes and material tests. [Learning Outcomes 2&3]
- A Finished body of work. [Learning Outcomes 3]
- The curation of a professional exhibition of work to the public. [Learning Outcomes 3]
- Undertaking a verbal presentation to peers and tutors reflecting on your completed work. [Learning Outcomes 4]

Technical skills modulettes, as appropriate.
Experimenting with materials, carrying out design development and the production of a body of work to a brief.
Organised and independent visits to exhibitions.
Presentations to both staff and peers during group and individual critiques of work in progress and on completion.
Participating in the organisation and curation of an exhibition to the public.

Specialist workshop facilities, as appropriate.
Library and slide library
Word processing facilities
Internet access

a-n magazine ISSN 02613425
a-n web http://www.a-n.co.uk
Crafts. ISSN0306-610X
Crafts Council http://.wwwcraftscouncil.org.uk
Arts Councilhttp://.www.artscouncil.org.uk
International Crafts Martina Margetts, Thames and Hudson 1991 ISBN 0500015228
The Art of The Maker: Skill and its Meaning in Art, Craft and Design. Peter Dormer. Thames and Hudson 1997 ISBN 0500277788
The Crafts in Britain in the Twentieth Century. Tanya Harold. Yale University Press 1999, ISBN 03000077807
Organising Your Exhibition, Debbie Duffin, 1988, AN Publications ISBN 0907730-28-0
Fundraising, Susan Jones, 1989, AN Publications, ISBN 0907730-20-5
New Directions in Jewellery, Jivan Astfalck, Paul Derrez, Black Dog Publishing ISBN1904772196
Design Sourcebook: Jewellery, David Watkins, New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd., 2002. ISBN1859742572
Danish Chairs, Noritsuga Oda, Chronical Books, 1999. ISBN0811822575
Art Deco furniture: The French Designers. Alastair Duncan, Thames & Hudson, 1992. ISBN003000098
The Nature and Art of Workmanship. David Pye, Cambiumt Press 1995, ISBN1871569761
The Nature and Aesthetics of Design. David Pye, Cambium Press 1995, .ISBN0713652861
M. Ostermann, 2004, The Ceramic Surfacer, A & C Black, S4279