DRWG06013 2019 Visual Literacy

Have gained an awareness of visual elements and their application in a variety of real world contexts

Demonstrate an ability to gather, observe, generate and reflect upon visual information.

Show experience in the use of a variety of drawing media and approaches.

Have acquired skills in communication and expression through visual and plastic forms.

Demonstrate awareness of convergent and divergent thinking.

Each practical class will be prefaced by a lecture that sets a context for the related exercises. Each exercise is introduced and then expanded upon as necessary as the project evolves. The tutor(s) will supervise and critique projects throughout the class as well as providing a concluding summary where necessary.

The drawing exercises are designed primarily as a problem-solving tasks that seek to challenge and develop the students' creativity, lateral thinking and visual communication skills.

Practical work will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.   Each project is assessed independently and the aggregate grade for the projects will be the final mark for the semester. Where students work in teams they will share the same grade for their output. 

Students will be given repeat project briefs which will be issued at the end of the academic stage and submitted at the beginning of autumn.

The lectures will begin with an explanation of the various gestalt principles that shape how we respond and react to visual stimuli. The student will also be introduced to the idea that all visual data has three simultaneous components: Representation, Symbol and Abstraction.

As the semester progresses the lectures and practical classes explore the formal elements of basic visual vocabulary:  Dot, Line, Tone, Colour, Movement, Rhythm, Repetition, Shape, Form, Material, Texture, Pace, Scale, Proportion, Composition, Space and Negative space. The lectures will also discuss visual conventions and how various approaches to organising visual data can convey ideas, values and meaning: Decoration, Restraint, Deception, Persuasion, Propaganda and Ethics are among the topics outlined here.

Exercises:

1. 20 lines on a page/ black square problem

2. Tone exercise.

3. Colour Collage.

4.  3-D Expressing a concept exercise (working in a small team)

5. Slow contour drawing.

6. Road Sign design problem.

7. Gesture drawing.

8. 3D Mask exercise

9. Negative space/ imaginative drawing exercises

10. Colour/pattern themed collage.

11. Word and Image/ Surreal image.

12. 3-D Animal exercise.