You will undertake practical skillsets that explore a range of process methods across a variety of materials that will develop your practical understanding and technical skill in becoming a more informed designer/ maker. Like most processes, great practice is required to make objects successfully in any material and so you are encouraged to develop your expertise early on in the module by experimenting and making outputs that demonstrate the skills and processes that you have learned.

The emphasis of this module will be on experimentation and precision followed by skill. A feel for these core materials will be gained through practice and a ‘learn by doing’ approach. You will be shown a variety of processes in a series of studio and workshop demonstrations, and you will be expected to use your independent study time to explore these processes fully and fulfil a series of tasks.

Once you have gained skill, you must develop your expertise producing examples of the skills and processes learned that focuses on Form, Surface, Placement, Connectivity and Precision. Your outputs will demonstrate your skills and approaches learned through each material rotation, pushing the boundaries and challenging your knowledge and understanding.

Practical work weighted at 100%:
A technical logbook of processes acquired, with evidence of sampling and experimentations. A range of physical 3D outputs that demonstrate material investigation.

[Learning Outcomes 1-3]

Learning strategies adopted for this module will be in the form of:
Technical Instructions (TI’s), technical demonstrations and workshop practice enabling you to handle equipment, processes and materials safely and effectively and to a high standard.
Tutorials where you present your work in progress in order to receive constructive criticism.
Independent study where you will engage in unsupervised activities including the development of your technical and practical skills. Execution of a practical work that is produced to form your Material Investigation body of work for assessment.
Practice based learning delivered across the variety of materials as appropriate, including technical instruction, demonstrations and workshop practice will be delivered in the following areas to enable you to handle equipment, processes and materials safely and effectively.
Tutorials - individual and group where you will present your work in progress and receive constructive criticism and feedback.
Independent study - where you will engage in unsupervised independent learning where you will put into practice what you have learned, improvement of technical skills and the execution of practical outcomes for assessment.

Module Learning Outcome
1. Respond coherently, creatively and within agreed deadlines to material investigation briefs using basic methods of making in safe and effective ways.
University Learning Outcome
Application

Module Learning Outcome
2. Deploy a range of tests, maquettes and design development work through material investigation in the formulation of a body of work showing an awareness of the key principles.
University Learning Outcome
Enquiry

Module Learning Outcome
3. Identify and exploit the dominant physical, visual and tactile characteristics of materials, demonstrating competence in a number of materials, processes and approaches with a good level of 3D making skills, and develop lines of reasoning and sound judgements in line with basic theories and concepts.
University Learning Outcome
Knowledge & Understanding Learning

Dedicated Design Studio
Specialist 3D Workshop facilities
Smart Zone – 3D Printing, Laser cutting, VR, 3D Scanning
Clay Modelling studio
CAD Labs
Seminar & Presentation Rooms
Access to relevant software (to include: Alias, Rhino, SolidWorks, Adobe CC, Microsoft Office, Keyshot, Keynote)

The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module.

In addition to the suggested reading list below, you should determine your own extended reading list appropriate to your discipline and work. You are expected to take advantage of the extensive physical and digital library resources available within the University.

Your extended reading list should include websites, journals, magazines and newspaper articles, as well as texts relating to your appropriate discipline and the wider creative industries.

Our full course reading list can be found on Blackboard.

Bloomfield, L. (2018) Handbook of Glaze Recipes. Herbert Press.
Bullar, J. (2013) The Complete Guide to Joint-Making. GMC Publications.
Creswell Bell, A (2017) Clay: Contemporary Ceramic Artisans. Thames & Hudson.
Lefteri, C. (2017) Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design. Laurence King Publishing.
Mursall, J (2009) Windsor Chairmaking. The Crowood Press Ltd.
Thompson, R. (2017) Materials Sourcebook for Design Professionals. Thames & Hudson.
Kapsali, V (2021) Biomimetics for Designers. Thames & Hudson.

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During your first workshop-based module you will be introduced to a range of core materials and processes. We will underpin your learning experience through a selection of approaches in physical practice, enabling you to use the extensive workshop facilities independently but also gaining the essentials for high levels of craftsmanship. Your skills learned in this module will form the grounding to your exciting future creative career.