Your Year Of Art And Design
The University of Edinburgh offers a carefully curated range of Art & Design Short Courses that will allow you to progress and develop your skills.
From exploring the basics of printed textiles to investigating the world of moving images, from using digital media to develop illustrations to experimenting with wire to create jewellery pieces – the creative possibilities are endless within our range of Art and Design Short Courses!
And what’s more, all courses are designed to be flexible and put you in control of your learning journey. Courses are offered during the day as well as in the evening and there are some great options if you’re looking to get just a taste for something.
However… if you’re looking to immerse yourself in a subject or continue to develop specific skills, we have a range of pathways through a variety of disciplines that will support you to do just that!
Take a look below for some ideas of how you could plan your Art and Design courses over the next year…
Digital Media & Photography
Term 1 | Introduction to Adobe Premiere Pro
Whether you’re new to Adobe Photoshop or just need a refresher, this course will guide you through the industry-standard digital imaging tool. By the end of the course, you’ll understand and be able to use its key functions such as importing and exporting images, working with layers, colour and paint features.
Term 2 | Introduction to Digital Photography
This course will introduce you to the creative controls of working with a digital camera through a range of creative, photography and computer-based projects. You’ll be introduced to the elements of developing a photographic visual language and using Adobe Photoshop to digitally enhance, adjust and process images.
Term 3 | Digital Photography Projects
This course is perfect for students with some basic digital photography experience who are looking to develop their knowledge and skills. You’ll explore how concepts, ideas and mood can be communicated through photography and engage in a photographic research project. By the end of the course, you’ll have a series of photographic works for an exhibition, themed photo-book project or professional photography portfolio.
Illustration
Term 1 | Introduction to Illustration
This course will introduce you to storytelling through images through the exploration of narrative illustrations and the investigation of visual interpretations of themes and texts through drawing and mixed media approaches. You’ll be taken through a series of illustration briefs and explore the planning and development stages of illustration as well as the context.
Term 2 | Developing an Illustration Project
This course is designed for students who are looking to create an ambitious personal illustration project. You’ll be supported to discuss and test ideas using a range of traditional and non-traditional techniques, methods and concepts as you research, plan and develop your project.
Term 3 | Children’s Picture Books: The Art of Visual Narrative
With a particular focus on children’s picture books, this course introduces students to the art of sequential imagery and visual narratives. Through practical exercises and workshops, you’ll explore aspects of creating a picture book and have the opportunity to develop your own illustrative style to create an engaging picture book narrative.
Sculpture
Term 1 | Miniature Sculptures
In this course, students will explore the concept of miniature sculpture. You’ll be encouraged to create, collect and experiment with your own ideas and materials as you transform them into small artworks – which could be single or multiple pieces.
Term 2 | Introduction to Sculpture: Appropriation and Assemblage
This introductory course will allow students to explore the origins, traditions and possibilities of using found, appropriated and ready-made objects in art. You’ll explore the potential of plaster and clay and have the opportunity to develop a personal project that explores your own choice of materials and interests.
Term 3 | Contemporary Sculpture
This course aims to develop an understanding of contemporary sculptural practices. Referencing sculptural techniques from the 1960s to the present day, you’ll investigate the use of materials and ideas of form and space. You’ll be encouraged to explore relationships between a wide range of found, recycled or other materials to conceive, create and present a range of sculptural forms.