Art & Design 2020

www.eca.ed.ac.uk

How to Apply ART & DESIGN 2020

Laura Sewell, Illustration BA (Hons), 2019

Important Dates

Mid-September 2019 UCAS Apply opens

2 December 2019 EUCLID Portfolio opens

15 January 2020 UCAS guaranteed consideration deadline*

28 January 2020 Portfolio deadline

* UK/EU applicants need to apply by this date to be considered. Applicants from outside the UK/EU may be considered after this date, subject to availability.

Do not leave your application and portfolio to the last minute. Late portfolio submissions will not be accepted.

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Application process

This leaflet provides some information on the application process to undergraduate Art and Design programmes in Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh. There are two important stages in the application process to Art and Design programmes at the University of Edinburgh: the UCAS application, and the portfolio.

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UCAS application Portfolio Deadline Wednesday 15 January 2020 Deadline noon Tuesday 28 January 2020 Applications to Art and Design programmes are made via UCAS: As part of your application to a programme in Art or Design at the www.ucas.com University of Edinburgh, you will be You will be asked to complete an asked to submit a digital portfolio to application form and provide personal provide evidence of your artistic information, a record of your grades aptitude and potential. and achievements to date and a personal When you submit an application to statement about what you want to study UCAS, the University of Edinburgh will and why. provide you with login details for the Your application form will also contain University’s web portal, MyEd. You will a reference from your teacher or tutor, use the EUCLID channel within MyEd giving further information about your to access the portfolio system and suitability for the choices you have made upload your work. and predicting your future exam grades.

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STANDARD entry requirements International Baccalaureate Award of Diploma with 34 points overall Given the nature of our degree and grades 655 in Higher Level subjects programmes, we are looking for Standard Level: English at grade 5 a strong academic profile alongside your portfolio submission. HNC

If you do not meet the standard entry Overall pass with B or above requirements as detailed below, we in the graded unit are unlikely to make you an offer. National 5: English at grade C For entry requirements to MA (Hons) HNC subjects Fine Art, see: 3D Computer / 3D Design / Animation / www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees Art and Design / Contemporary Art Practice / Creative Industries / First year entry Fashion /Jewellery /Photography / Textiles / Visual Communication SQA Highers Other subjects may be considered, ABBB by the end of S5*. If you haven’t contact the Admissions Office for advice. achieved this by the end of S5 we may consider your application based on a Second year entry strong performance in S6. A minimum Entry to the second year is available. of BBB must be achieved in one year Successful completion of a Foundation of S4–S6. Diploma (at Merit grade), a relevant HND * ABBB by the end of S6 for widening access or equivalent is required. Applicants applicants, see ‘Widening access’ on page 5. completing a Foundation Diploma will normally be expected to have met the National 5: English at grade C entry requirements for first year entry GCE A Levels as well (Highers, A Levels, IB, etc.). A B B In some of our less competitive programmes it may be possible to GCSE: English at grade C consider applicants presenting ABC BTEC/UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma (or equivalent) at A Level. These grades in Art and Design must have been achieved in a single first sitting. D M M (BTEC) or M (UAL)

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Applicants completing a relevant Other qualifications HND will have met first year entry Other qualifications may also be suitable requirements with a B in their HNC for entry. graded unit. Please contact the Admissions Office If you qualify for second year entry, you for further information. will not be considered for first year entry.

Widening access We believe everyone deserves an equal Contact opportunity to study at Edinburgh, but we know that not everyone gets the same If you have any questions regarding chance to show their academic potential admission to Art and Design programmes at school or college. That’s why, when you (non-standard qualifications, year of apply to study here, we consider lots of entry etc.), please contact: different factors alongside your exam results, and we provide support along College of Arts, Humanities the way to help you make a strong and Social Sciences application. Undergraduate Admissions Office 57 George Square For more detail, and to find out about our University of Edinburgh applicant support programmes such as Edinburgh Access to Creative Education in Scotland EH8 9JU (ACES) visit: Tel: +44 (0)131 650 3565 www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/ Email: CAHSS.UGAdmissions access-edinburgh @ed.ac.uk

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Interviews MA (Hons) Fine Art (UCAS code W150) We do not interview applicants to programmes in Art and Design. The MA (Hons) Fine Art is a five-year Our programmes are some of the degree programme combining academic most competitive in the UK and study with practice-based studio work. we have designed our admissions process to enable applicants to show The theoretical and historical elements us their potential via a system which of the degree are principally taught in is accessible and fair to all. the School of History of Art while the visual research and studio-practice Our portfolio system was one elements are taught in the School of of the first to be introduced in the Art, both within Edinburgh College of UK and allows applicants to spend time Art. It is unique in its five-year duration selecting their best and most interesting and 50/50 balance of theoretical and work for us to assess. We do not believe practice-based study. it necessary to undertake a second assessment of work, and so offers While studying within the School of Art, are made following portfolio assessment. you will work in purpose-built studios in All successful applicants will be invited a friendly and challenging environment, to attend an Offer Holder Day. supported by a team of committed staff. The other half of your studies will be All applicants will have the opportunity spent studying the intensive Art History to visit our facilities and meet programme component of the programme. Second staff and current students before making year entry is not available to the MA final decisions – we want to be sure that (Hons) Fine Art. your decision to come and study with us is the right one for you.

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Adult returner or mature What happens next? applicants We will contact you with our decision An adult returner is a student who has by the end of March. If you are made had a continuous gap of at least three an offer, you will be invited to attend years at some point in their formal an Offer Holder Day. education. Offer Holder Days

Adult returners will be applying to the If you are made an offer, you will University from a range of backgrounds, subsequently be invited to attend an with a variety of different qualifications Offer Holder Day. and having had very different life experiences prior to their application. Offer Holder Days typically take place in The University values the contribution March and April and are opportunities that such students make to the diversity for successful applicants to learn more of the student community. about their subject areas and life as a student at Edinburgh College of Art and There is one stipulation we make for all the University of Edinburgh. You will adult returner applicants – they must have meet with academic staff and current undertaken recent and relevant accredited students from your programme, tour the study within three years prior to entry to studios and other facilities and attend their chosen degree programme. general information sessions. You We accept a range of academic will also get the chance to visit other qualifications, including access University facilities such as the main programmes, HNC/Ds and Foundation library and sports centre. Diplomas and encourage potential students to contact the Admissions Office for further advice. Contact details can be found at the end of this leaflet. Some adult learners may have already achieved an undergraduate degree. While this does not prevent you from applying to the University, you should be aware that where competition is high, preference will be given to students who have not had a previous opportunity to study at degree level. You may wish to discuss this with the Admissions Office prior to making an application. 7 ECA: ART & DeSIGN HOW TO APPLY 2020

Degree Programmes

BA (Hons) Art (1st year entry only) W100 BA (Hons) Intermedia Art W900 BA (Hons) Painting W120 BA (Hons) Photography W640 BA (Hons) Sculpture W130 MA (Hons) Fine Art (5-year degree, 1st year entry only) W150 BA (Hons) Animation W615 BA (Hons) Fashion W230 BA (Hons) Film and Television P390 BA (Hons) Graphic Design W210 BA (Hons) Illustration W220 BA (Hons) Interior Design W250 BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing W721 BA (Hons) Performance Costume W451 BA (Hons) Product Design W240 BA (Hons) Textiles J420

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PORTFOLIO GUIDAnce Requirements For applications to Film & Television Introduction you should upload one digital video file (or a URL link to it), up to five minutes As part of your application, you are in length and accompanied by a short required to submit a portfolio as evidence passage of text. In addition you will of your artistic ability and potential. You be asked to give written answers to should begin to plan your portfolio as three questions. soon as you decide to apply. For applications to other Art and Design Assessors are not necessarily expecting programmes we require: a showcase of final work, but rather an indication of work in progress showing – up to 10 images of your development/ how you approach an idea or subject and sketchbook work (minimum of develop the work from initial thought, 5 images) through experimentation and enquiry, – up to 10 images of your resolved work to resolved work. (minimum of 5 images) In this guide, you will find details of what – up to 5 images which demonstrate your we are looking for and how your work influences (minimum of 2 images) will be assessed. You will also find some general tips on how to plan and present You are encouraged to include some brief your work and what makes a strong supporting/explanatory text (maximum portfolio in different subject areas. 100 characters) in the space provided alongside each image. The images demonstrating your influences may be images of work or objects which have inspired or influenced your work e.g. people working in the same medium or for the same audience, now or in the past; people interested in the same subject or theme, now or in the past; natural or man-made phenomena, objects, places or events which have inspired or provoked a response.

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Assessment – Selection and Resolution shows how well you judge which ideas have the Portfolios are assessed by a team of most appropriate potential and your academic staff who are particularly ability to bring them to a level of interested in how you research and completion appropriate to your develop ideas in a visual way and how intended outcome. you engage with your chosen discipline. This is broken down into four main – Contextual Awareness shows the extent areas of assessment, briefly summarised of your knowledge of the subject you as follows: have applied for and how your work relates to it. – Visual Research and Enquiry shows the level of your engagement in How the content of a portfolio provides intelligent, structured visual enquiry evidence for the above categories will and how well you communicate this. vary enormously depending on the person and the subject being applied to, – Idea Development shows your ability and no two portfolios will be the same. to appropriately explore and develop ideas, and your level of skills in the use of materials or techniques.

Saskia Cameron, BA (Hons) Illustration, 2016

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Planning and Presentation Each image can be accompanied by a small amount of text, and applicants are Assessors are interested in how you have strongly encouraged to make use of this decided to put your portfolio together. opportunity. You should avoid including This means that your portfolio should titles or descriptions of the work and be carefully planned and well presented. instead explain the ideas behind the work, Assessors will be judging your ability the challenge undertaken or any other to edit your work, so be selective and significant factors. It may also be useful to strategic in your choice of material. explain why you have included the image Aim to show a clear narrative or sense in its particular category (development of the themes in your work, as well as work, resolved work or influences). the connections between the pieces. Consideration should also be given to the graphical layout of the portfolio. If you have lots of high quality work, Remember that assessors will be looking include it. It can show that you have at your work on a screen so the digital talent in breadth and are hardworking image you present to them is what they and committed. If you haven’t, select your assess. Poor quality photographs and bad best: these key gems can show us that scans of your work will not create a good you know what you are good at, and how impression. Take the time and care to to show it. Resist the temptation to pad make your work look as good as possible. out your portfolio with mediocre work.

Imogen Richards, Painting BA (Hons), 2019

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Art (including Art, Fine Art, Ideas are more important than technical Intermedia Art, Painting, ability and assessors want to see work Photography and Sculpture) with conceptual underpinning, not just a random selection of images – be A strong portfolio submission will show selective and strategic in your choice evidence of independent work beyond of work. Above all, assessors are looking school/college projects. Assessors are to see a reflection of your true interests looking for work which shows original and a real commitment to the ambition thinking as well as depth, personality to study Art. and visual understanding. Look out into the world, slow down and examine your surroundings honestly and inquiringly.

Brandon Logan, Fine Art MA, 2019

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Animation – Practical animation experiments – we want to see your attempts at animation, A strong portfolio is likely to display regardless of quality, as evidence of the following: your experience of the level of effort – Confident use of a variety of drawing required to create animation. media and techniques. – An awareness of animators, as well – Originality in content, style and as animated films. execution. In addition, applicants to 2nd year – Observational drawing – evidence of should display: ability to draw the things that you can – Evidence of practical animation see, not just the things that you imagine. beyond character design, layout and Life drawing can be one of the best storyboarding – a completed film is indicators of this ability. the best indicator. – Evidence of sequencing or pattern in – Familiarity with at least some of the folio (e.g. drawings/prints of objects following software: 3D modelling changing state, drawings/prints of & animation packages e.g. Maya, repeating pattern etc.) 3D Studio Max; 2D painting or photo – Evidence of narrative or storytelling manipulation packages e.g. Photoshop, such as written evidence, storyboarding, Painter; compositing software comic strips, scripts etc. e.g. Premiere, After Effects. – Self-initiated projects beyond school/ college work. Isabella Avery, Animation BA (Hons), 2019

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Fashion Film & TV

A strong portfolio is likely to display The portfolio is made up of written the following: answers to three questions (below) and a short film. The film should consist of a – Excellent drawing skills (e.g. creative dramatic, documentary or experimental fashion illustrations, life drawing, work. The film should be no more drawing clothes on people, still life) than five minutes long and ideally be a in a range of media with evidence of complete work, or else a strong excerpt a personal illustration style. that shows your ability to express a story – An awareness of contemporary art, or concept through audio-visual material. design and fashion. If your film is not in English it should include English subtitles. – Strong research skills from primary and secondary sources. We are looking for a clear understanding of what it means to employ film/video as – A good understanding of the a mean of artistic expression and as such development process through portfolios consisting of showreels, music to final piece. videos, travel reports or storyboards are – Consideration of professional unlikely to meet our criteria. presentation and styling of finished – What kind or research and preparation work. did you carry out to produce this film? In addition, applicants to 2nd year (Maximum 250 words) should be displaying: – Give a short description of the two – Evidence of experimental 3D creative main roles that interest you in a film pattern-cutting. production. What do you consider to be the main responsibilities and activities – Sewing skills and ability at garment of these departments? Why are you manufacture. interested in performing these roles? (Maximum 250 words)

– If you were given the assignment to make a short 3-minute film with the theme ‘Cultural Diversity’, how would you carry out the research, plan the budget and realise the production of this short film? Present a concise and clear plan. (Maximum 500 words)

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Julian Vogel, Film & Television BA (Hons), 2019

Alex Sixuan Fan, Fashion BA (Hons), 2019 15 ECA: ART & DeSIGN HOW TO APPLY 2020

Graphic Design In addition, applicants to 2nd year should display: A strong portfolio is likely to display the following: – Evidence of more lateral thinking. – Evidence of concepts and problem- – Experimentation and risk taking. solving. – Graphic application, i.e. use skills with – Experimentation with materials and typography and a larger volume of text, how ideas develop into resolved pieces. leading to compositions. – Typographic skills. – Ideally some work on a client or more commercial brief. – 2D and 3D skills. Illustration – A broad range of projects undertaken with a variety of outputs not just one A strong portfolio is likely to display idea, technique or theme. the following: – Above all, while drawing and digital – Evidence of a confident and expressive skills are desirable, assessors are visual language. looking to see ideas. Ideas should – A clear narrative or evidence of themes. be evident at the centre of any work presented. – Imagination, inventiveness, vitality, flair. – Visual perception. – Intelligent, original communication of ideas and stories.

Victoria Underwood, Graphic Design BA (Hons), 2019

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Interior Design Jewellery and Silversmithing

A strong portfolio is likely to display A strong portfolio is likely to display the following: the following: – An aptitude for hand sketching – Drawing in its widest sense, including (in situ as opposed to from a – but not restricted to: collage, test photograph), in any medium, of pieces and experiments with materials, a variety of interior environments visual source material, photography, showing an understanding of 3D painting and digital design. spaces and perspective. – A selection of observational drawings – Evidence of ability to engage with the of personally selected subject matter unfamiliar, such as projects that show (architecture, objects, people, nature etc.) an understanding of materials and – Three-dimensional models in a range evidence of experimentation. of materials clearly presented in an – Interior-based projects beyond those accessible way. focused on a domestic interior. – Resolved work that shows a – Projects that show evidence of an combination of creativity, hand skills, understanding/engagement with care and attention and an interest people, either in who the projects are for in materials and their properties. or what they hope to achieve in relation – An awareness of contemporary to atmosphere and environment created. makers and designers in jewellery – The development of your work showing and silversmithing as well as a wider how initial inspiration/research has interest in art and design and inter- resulted in your final solution, and related disciplines. the journey taken in-between. – Evidence of individuality, curiosity, – A thoughtful approach to the content patience and professional practice. and graphical layout of the portfolio itself. Zhan Shi, Jewellery & Silversmithing MFA, 2019 – Basic understanding of computer programmes such as SketchUp, Photoshop and AutoCAD is desirable but not essential. – An awareness of key players in modern architecture, and engagement in the wider design world in general.

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Performance Costume – Unexpected and creative conjunctions of materials and ideas or references, A strong portfolio is likely to display and their synthesis. the following: – Practical implementation of costume – Strong drawing ability and image- design, e.g. involvement with costuming making ability. performance, perhaps a school play or – Engagement with textiles. amateur theatre group. – Experience of costume design for – Engagement with contemporary design, character, often evidenced through awareness of contemporary trends, school project or personal project. designers, film, drama, exhibitions. – Manual skill in making, e.g. millinery, costume, models, puppets etc. – Evidence of creative thinking through design development, experimentation with materials, interesting and varied research.

Rowan Leckie-Howell, Performance Costume BA (Hons), 2019 Guillaume Gauvrit, Product Design BA (Hons), 2019

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Product Design Textiles

A strong portfolio is likely to display A strong portfolio is likely to display the following: the following: – Evidence of explorations through – Well-developed, relevant and media that demonstrate strong original work. drawing and image-making skills. – Evidence of personal enquiry – Evidence of making. Some level of and direction. prototyping, modelling through – Some consistency of thought or theme. diverse media, with evidence of experimentation. – Commitment to the study of textiles. – Design process. Demonstration of – Some personal and/or independent iterative thinking and designing work. including sketchbooks. Individual – Strong drawing skills. creativity in response to mundane briefs. Demonstration of personal interests. – Research sensibility. Indication that Claudine Stiles, Textiles BA (Hons), 2019 applicants look beyond their own imagination for inspiration – images of people in their work, of things in the world, photographic studies, sketches, stories, cinema and wider culture.

19 CONTACT For further information please contact:

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Kirsty Webster-Crowe, Interior Design BA (Hons), 2019 Undergraduate Admissions Office 57 George Square University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH8 9JU T: +44 (0)131 650 3565 E: CAHSS.UGAdmissions @ed.ac.uk

Front cover: Sophie Fields, BA (Hons) Textiles, 2019

All information is correct at time of going to print. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the University. June 2019 / Issue 6 / print.

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