This module is about the way that any professional art or design practice is informed by the work and ideas of other people and other times. To achieve this you will attend a number of lectures on the range of courses that are available to you, at these lectures you will take notes on the subject and the thoughts and ideas of the practitioner delivering it. You will learn about how and why other artists and designers do the things they do, and will understand how your own work can benefit from this knowledge.You will undertake at least one study visit and will use it as the basis for further research. Throughout the Semester you will record and reflect your research in a visual diary that will contain images (photographs, drawings, etc), published material and, most importantly, your own notes, observations, ideas and thoughts as well as your responses to the things you hear, read and look at. All of the written work you produce will be to an academic standard using the Harvard referencing system.

A visual diary, containing material gathered through the study visit and related research, as well as fully written-up lecture notes that relate to the progress pathways, this will be equal to 1500 words. This will include personal responses to the ideas and information encountered through lectures, research and study visits ( LO 1,2,)

Seminars
Study visit(s)
Tutorials
Independent research
Progress Pathway Lectures by Award Leaders

Burnham, D. (2006) Studying Independently: Writing Better Essays, Exams & Presentations, Faculty of Arts Media & Design Booklet
Davies, B. (1990) Study Skills: a Student's Survival Guide
Cooper, D. (ed., 1992) A Companion to Aesthetics, Blackwell, Oxford.
Cooper, R and Press M (1995) The Design Agenda John Wiley ISBN 0471941069
Hughes, R. (1991) The shock of the New ISBN 0500275823

Data projection facilities
Library
Access to IT facilities
Staffordshire University Study Skills Handbook
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.