Foundation Course Descriptions

Below you will find brief descriptions of Foundation courses.

• CRFT 1010 / DSGN 1010 Material Exploration and Expression
  Material and hand-crafted process are explored through iterative form-making and expression. From paper, plastic and wood to textiles, metal and clay, students aquire new strategies for 2D and 3D design thinking while developing tacit knowledge and understanding. Material properties are examined to create variations in structure, funtionality and aesthetic. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students become aquainted with methodolgies and practice in the jewllery, textiles, and ceramic and design studios.

 

• DRAW 1100 Drawing l
  This course introduces fundamental skills of representation in drawing. Spatial awareness will be emphasized through the study of proportion, perspective, line quality, contour, positive and negative shapes, value and volume. Drawing from observation will be the primary focus of exercises and assignments. A variety of media will be introduced.

 

• DRAW 1500 Drawing ll
  This course is a further investigation into the practices of observational drawing as encountered in Drawing I. Emphasis will be placed on achieving a higher degree of competence in rendering, construction of spatial relationships and formal principles of drawing.

 

• CRFT 1015 Materials and Colour
  This foundation-level studio based course explores the principles of colour theory and its application within material-based practices. The use of colour in craft, art and design depends on a solid foundation in colour nomenclature, colour identification, and an understanding of colour interactions. Through projects, lectures and demonstrations, students will work individually and collectively through various craft media to explore the relationship of colour theory and principals of colour us to two dimensional to three dimensional design.

 

• CRFT 1030 Digital Tools for Making
  Digital approaches to image manipulation, vector drawing and basic 3D modelling are introduced and explored, toward activating digital fabrication resources, including laser cutting, 3D printing and other related technologies. Students will access and begin to acquire skills in various industry standard 2D and 3D software (Adobe Creative Cloud, Rhino 3D and Fusion 360). Individual and group projects will challenge students to design and realize components, objects and assemblies: cut wood and plastics that can be bent or slotted together, stencils for resist work in textile, printmaking and beyond. A focus on experimental and layered uses of materials and process will illuminate a range of digital strategies for hands-on making.

 

• DSGN 1000 Digital Tools for Designing
  This foundation course focuses on developing an introductory understanding of the knowledge and skill a designer must have to effectively communicate with digital tools. The course focuese on demonstration, practice and application of digital software. For example, introduction to imaging basics and composite images are explored through Photoshop; vector drawing in illustration, page layout fundamentals through InDesign, and 3D rendering with Rhino. Other core conceptrs of digital images are covered, such as colour, font, file formats (file size/dimension, DPI, images type fiiles and when to use JPEG, PNG or GIF etc) and designing with code (processing). Skills acquired in this course are fundamental to further develop creative and professional practice.

 

• DSGN 1510 Creativity in Design Practice
  What is design? This foundation course brings together theory and practice to explore the spectrum of design, that embraces different approaches to designing that are rooted in principles and values. Through thinking, saying, doing and making students are introduced to creative practice from a design perspective.

 

• ARTS 1000 Wood and Metal
  The foundation-level course introduces the general use of wood and metal in art, craft, and design.

 

• DSGN 1520 Visual Thinking: Drawing and Modelmaking
  This foundation course focuses on developing on developing the knowledge and skill of an interdisciplinary designer to visually communicate both 2 and 3D cocepts through design drawing and modelmaking. It provides insight into how analogue communication and making processes are important to design ideation, development and presentation. This course focuses on developing the knowledge and skill for a designer to communicate visually through drawing, layout, model making, prototyping and other visual mediums. Students wishing to enter the BDes Interdisciplinary Design will require either DSGN 1XXX Visual Thinking: Drawing and Modelmaking or CRFT XXXX Material Exploration and Expression.

 

• DSGN 1500 Design Fundamentals
  This course intorduces students to the fundamentals and methods of design thinking. The goal is to promote the exploration of design ideas in the context of design processes.

 

• FILM 1000 Moving Image
  In this foundation-level course students will learn the fundamentals of moving images technology including recording and editing using film and video. Students will learn aspects of narrative, documentary, and exprimental approaches to the medium and learn about the context of moving image culture.

 

• MDIA 1000 Expanded Media
  This foundation-level class teaches students to challenge the boundaries of conventional art categories. Through studio assignments, this course introduces

 

• PHOT 1000 Photo
  This foundation-level course is designed to teach basic photographic skills and to introduce issues associated with photography and the history of photography. Topics include the Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera operation and introductory digital image processing and printing. Students taking this course are expected to have prior experience with the basic use of computer operating systems.

 

• PNTG 1500 Painting
  This foundation-level course introduces technical and aesthetic issues in painting, with an emphasis on various modes of representation and pictorial organization. Assignments in oil and acrylic media will explore such subject matter as self-portraiture, the figure, still life and landscape.

 

• PRTM 1500 Screen Printing
  This foundation-level course is an introduction to basic technical, and thematic concerns of Screen Printing. Students will learn to create original prints using a variety of processes with relationships to a broad range of media and methodologies. The class include technical demonstrations as well as intoductions to theoretical, historical, and thematic concerns specific to print media through presentations, experiential exercises, discussions of readings, the viewing of original printed artwork, and class critiques of student projects.

 

• PRTM 1510 Relief Printmaking
  This foundation-level course is an introduction to basic technical, and thematic concerns of Relief Printmaking. Students will learn to create original prints using a variety of processes with relationships to a broad range of media and methodologies. The class include technical demonstrations as well as intoductions to theoretical, historical, and thematic concerns specific to print media through presentations, experiential exercises, discussions of readings, the viewing of original printed artwork, and class critiques of student projects.

 

• SCLP 1000 Sculpture
  This foundation level course introduces students to the fundamental principles of sculptural practice, using the various materials, working methods, and concepts with which sculpture is traditionally associated. Projects in modeling, casting, carving and construction are supplememnted with technical domonstrations, slide lectures and critiques.