Progression Assingment
- 1. Progression Assignment Units 10 and 85
- 2. Kingston University Undergraduate Art Degree Show 2016 There was a large mix of work on show at the exhibition. Due to their being little explanation about what was on show, and no one on hand to explain. From what I could gather there was a mix of disciplines, one specific thing I found of interest was a room model (to the right) which could be an interior design or set planning. This was most of interest to me due to my interest in stage design, the model of a room was a new concept that I hadn’t seen before and hope to pursue in future. From going to the show I found that Kingston offers a wide range of disciplines all of which shows a high standard of work. I was impressed with the illustrations and creations of books and mini animations, I thought they were really well thought out from looking through their sketch book and seeing how much annotation and experimentation was done to come to their final result. I’ve learned that sketchbooks are key to creating a well finished thought out final outcome. A large amount of the worked showed that all the courses started with sketchbook work coming to different outcome, however the initial approach was similar across all the disciplines. It seemed as though for model making and 3d that they used a range of sketchbook, computer and experimentation work, as whilst looking you could see the different areas that were used to create the final outcome. As I could only find one area that showed a specific interest to me there was little information that I could find out from it other than creating mini to scale rooms or designs that went alongside research and experimentation to create this mock up.
- 3. Kingston University Undergraduate Art Degree Show 2016 This was the most intriguing piece of work for me, as this is the pathway that interests me the most for my future. As my pathway of interest is 3d design specifically set design for either film or TV. This specificarea reallyinterested me to see the mock up of a room and the attention to detail, as this is the first time I have seenanything like this before and this is something in future I would like to experiment with. The materials used seem to be easily durable but light materials like paper or card that can create an effective look of a room. The sketchbook helped to explainthe development toward thispiece that there were plans and inspirations creating the look of this design, by working and developing the aspectsof the brief for which this room is created. Mock up Room Design and Sketchbooks From this I have discoveredmore aboutwhat is needed to create a room design which relates in some ways to set design. I realised that planning anddissectingwhat you are designing or the brief for it to work out a suitable designfor the room. However Kingston university doesn't’t offer set design for stage or TV as a degree course, so unfortunatelythis wouldn't’t be one of my options for further study. However the degree show was insightful into learning how to create sketchbooks and it gave me ideas for other project, for example if in the next year we do animation or illustration their work on these areas was very interesting and there was a wide range of different styles and ideas which I want to use as influence for my work.
- 4. Kingston University- Student Opinions Although when visiting the degree show there were no students on hand to talk to I have done some research into Kingston university and what's on offer within the university. I’ve also done some research into the dynamics of the university and the interactions and opportunity's they have whilst at the university. Through research I have found that due to the size and location of Kingston university there isn't a huge amount of space for example studio space and work is spread equally inside and outside of the uni. Specifically for art courses there is also high demand when looking at which university comparisons its seems as though on average for the art based courses that around 50% of those applying get an offer. However some positives from the students is that the courses are very lenient and you can largely focus on specific areas that suit you as long as it suits the course you can do whatever you are interested in. There is also the strong area of the location as you can easily go to some of the most prestigious gallery's in the UK and many art events are held in and around London. This also creates room for a lot of opportunity due to its location, work experience is quite easy to get and when leaving jobs are largely easier to come across and apply for. Overall Kingston has mixed positives and negatives, but the courses alone seem well regarded and are positively spoken about, however as I am most interested in set design it is unlikely I would come to this University.
- 5. Kingston University- What’s on offer There is a range of art and design courses on offer at Kingston University, as you can see to the right. However there is stage or television design on offer so this would not be an offer for me. The video below is an open day video, it is short but gives you an idea of the facilities and what’s on offer at the Uni.
- 6. UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts Degree Show There were several different areas and courses on display here. I took photos and found informationfrom all that was on show. I also managed to gain some information on the universitywhat it had to offer and tried to see some of the facilities although it was difficult as they were mainly closed off. For me this exhibition was more helpful that Kingstonas it showed me more of what a course can consist andthe various different options that can varyfrom course to course. It was very eye opening and amazing to think that some of the work on display is something I could possible move on to do for my future career. The exhibitionconsisted of: BA Fine Art- Painting BA Fine Art- Sculpture BA Theatre & Screen- Costume Design BA Theatre & Screen- Costume Interpretation BA Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen BA Theatre & Screen- TechnicalArts and Special Effects BA Theatre & Screen- Theatre Design
- 7. UAL: Fine Art- Painting and Sculpture The photos here are a mixture of work from the two fine art courses painting and sculpture. I am going to touch on this briefly as the work was incredible and there was such a wide range on show, it really showed how lenient the courses were and the extent to which you can do your own thing. The level of painting was incredible and I much preferred the painting to the sculpture as the sculpture was difficult to understand as there was little explanation, and overall I just felt the level wasn’t quite as advanced as the painting. However whilst exploring these areas there was a large amount of studio space and facilities available as each course has its dedicated areas and buildings.
- 8. UAL: Theatre & Screen- Costume Design, Costume Interpretation, Technical Arts and Special Effects These 3 courses were incredible the level of skill was something I’d never seen before for example in the technical arts and special effects display the likeness of real people to the wax figures created was amazing. This really intrigued me and I would have loved to have found out more about what exactly these characters and costumes created were for and how exactly the artist had come to create these. One thing I noticed through looking at the work was the sketchbooks are much less used to look pretty but are made to show clear development and planning, which is something I will find difficult as I worry to much about how much sketchbook looks and not necessarily what's in it.
- 9. UAL: Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen/ Theatre Design There were two courses thatreally stood out to me and could definitelybe somethingI look into for the future, as set design for screen or stage is something that I have a large interestin for a career. I learned that the two courses are very much hands on, models and props are sourced and made to create these amazingmini and life size set models. These are two videos that give a little idea aboutthe two courses and what they involve, by two previous students in 2014 talking about their work and the degree show. Both courses are highlyregarded, popular courses that have created manyalumni who have worked on bigger projects including Will Pearce who hasworked on the Lion King production in the West End after graduating in 2003 and many otherswho have gone on to be successful. BA (hons): Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen BA (hons): Theatre & Screen- Theatre Design
- 10. UAL: Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen/ Theatre Design To get a better view of the courses and the uniin generalI spoke to some students and did some of my own research into what the course entails andhow successful it is. The courses have an acceptance rate of applications between 50-60% receiving offers. Overallthere is a student satisfaction rate of 76% this score takes into account the feedback from tutors, facilities and how interesting the staff make the subject. The only weaker point I found from this researchwas some students didn’t feel the teachers gave as helpful feedback or sufficient supportas they could have. However the course is likely to work better for people who are independent and don’t feel they need as muchsupport or too muchcontact time. Wimbledon has amazing facilities on site that are available most of the time including 3D workshops, theatre, audio visual department, digital media center, print workshops and costume workshops. These are all wellkept and have equipment that is new and used in the industries today.
- 11. 3D Design/ Interior Definition of Interior Design: the art or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building. 3D design can involve anythingthat leads up to creatinga final 3D outcome there are many different approaches as an example furniture, stage, events or buildings it is highlyplannedout throughmaking mock ups, using online software and making finished models. It involves technical drawingand drawing in detail using scaling. It is creating a three dimensional representation of any 3D object. Its primaryuses are 3D models, computer aided design, visualeffects, 3D display and more. The process of interior design involves working out areas and planning the insides of a designated area, and combining 3D and interior can lead to set designing. Some well known practitioners in thisarea are Stuart Craig who was the production designer for Harry Potter he designed sets and workedwith the set decorator on all of the Harry Potter films to dates and has been nominated for many awards. Another famous 3D designer would be Frank Gehry anarchitect who designed the Guggenheimand the Walt DisneyConcertHall. Definition of 3D Design: 3D modelling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensionalsurface of an object (either inanimate or living) via specialized software. The product is called a 3D model. Walt Disney Concert Hall The Guggenheim
- 12. Poster
- 13. Discipline: Set Design (Scenic Design) Set Design (Scenic Design): the creation of theatrical as well as film or television scenery. There's a range of different routes and pathways involved in scenic design, including production designer, dressing the set, finding locations and designing things according to the area they’re taking the information from. Through research into different university courses there is a range of approaches some courses use more computer based work and others less so. For example on the Wimbledon course for screen it looks at computer aided design, conceptual visualisation, lens angles, lighting, location surveying, metal work, model making, script breakdown, storyboarding, stop motion, technical drawing, video camera work and woodwork. However the courses vary depending on there focus whether its screen or theatre.
- 14. Stuart Craig (Art Director) Stuart Craig is an English set production designer/ art director. Who has won multiple awards and has worked on the Harry Potter films which is his most notable work, he is still working today on films yet to be released including the Legend of Tarzan and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Stuart Craig studied at the Norwich University of Arts, however the course he studied has changed due to the differences in age, however he studied a course along the lines of set and stage design. Norwich offers a range of art course with theatre focussing on different areas involved but has less of an interest on set. He learnt how to technically draft sets, camera angles, story boarding and creating models. There is a necessary skill of visualisation and imagination involved you have to be able to create visualisation from what's on paper in a book to a large life size scale, ensuring that you have created a high quality attractive representation of what you are creating, which Stuart Craig was extremely good at and was a perfectionist right to the little details. Stuart Craig works with sketches from detailed analysis of the books and working with the authors or writers to enable their visions and try and crate something that very much represents the design. As you can see to the right there is a sketch at the top that is represented in the film as the final set in the picture below, they have created the shops and quirkiness of the street, it very strongly represents the image and text from the book.
- 15. Jo Meilziner Jo Meilziner was an American scenic and lighting designer, who is very well known for his work for the stage. He is described as the most successful designer in the golden era of Broadway. Before being as successful as he was Meilziner studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, which led onto his brother into recruiting him as stage manager for a summer stock show which is where he found an interest in set. He spent 13 months in education before going to New York as an assistant stage manager. He has many creditable projects including the original productions of South Pacific, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy and Carousel. During his career he was nominated for twelve Tony Awards seven of which he won. During his career he introduced new more modern techniques into the creation of sets, one of which was the use of a skeletal frame work enabling separate time and places to be shown simultaneously. This was something that at the time opened up new doors and innovations in theatre enabling them to do so much more
- 16. This piece of work to the right is by Stuart Craig it is a technical drawing of the Harry Potter set for diagon alley a street from the Harry Potter books, he did this throughanalysing the book in detail and creating drawings of the way he felt it should look. The work is difficult to analyse, however the work of all set designers are different some spend more time on sketches to perfect drawings whereas others prefer models and developingtheir work from there. I think the detail in Stuart Craig’s drawing really helps to create what it may look like, its also easier to add improvements to and creates a more representative look inthe finaloutcome. The route to a final outcome is similar in theatre and television to begin it is usually technical drawingsand storyboarding to create aninitialidea, thatcan be worked throughand then moving onto modelmaking. After this the processes begin to differ as for stage design youare focusing on one single audience view and a specific sized area of the stage. They have to think about ensuring they create a intriguing space in a small area, without missing anything key to the story or scene. Differentlyin television youcan use many locations and sets however you have to be aware of camera angles whichwhen doingthis design you must take into account. The work of Meilziner is veryinteresting and I think it works well for the time to create an amazing stage design for theatre, much of which is still used in theatre today. I especially like the way for this specific show Meliziner has decided to use a house on stage that has an upstairs that really sets the look as oppose to doing different rooms you really get the realistic feel of a house. It is difficult to compare the two pieces of work as they are different to one another due to the differenttimes and one being theatre, one being stage. I think both designers really wanted to express the beauty of the words they were trying to represent, the both been extremelyinventive by creating these looks from no realidea of what they are making other than the help they get from the scripts.
- 17. Progression Route 1: University Course To go into set design it is quite important to have a degree due to the competitiveness of this field. In the UK there are a range of courses available that include set design. Including courses at Bath Spa, Central Saint Martins, South Wales, Wimbledon and more, there are around 20 courses that include set design. Applying: To apply for these courses the majority are based on a portfolio interview, where the Uni’s are looking for work that shows interest into the chosen area and showing skills. Some take into account UCAS points and grades but it varies from course to course and the average expected for the BTEC is DM.
- 18. Progression Route 1: University Course Top Two Universities UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts Wimbledon has two course I am interested BA (hons): Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen & BA (hons): Theatre & Screen- Theatre Design Entry Requirements: The entry requirements for both courses are the same and consist of a mixture of art foundation, A levels, BTECs and GCSEs grade c or above. What is looked for in a portfolio: interest and commitment for studying the subject, an understanding of the subject, ability to communicate visually, verbally and in writing, a range of skills, evaluation of works and spatial ability. Facilities and Opportunities: Our students have the chance to take up work placements on professional film and TV productions in and around the city, as well as gain hands on experience through student film collaborations with directing, writing and cinematography students from other University of the Arts London colleges, the London Film Academy and Goldsmiths College. Students can also study abroad as part of the second year Erasmus scheme. Universityof South Wales As oppose to Wimbledon, South Wales has a combined course that involves both theatre and screen which there is much less of around the country.Which makes this course appealing as you are more versatile when you come out of it. Entry Requirements: The entry requirements are a mixture of Alevels and Btecs, along with a strong portfolio. For Alevels a BBC is neededincluding an art and design subject and for a BTEC DMM is expected. What is looked for in a portfolio: Your portfolio should demonstrate strong artistic anddesign abilities. Your portfolio should be a carefully constructed selection of your work, preferably produced during your most recent course of study, and can include any personal work or projects that you feel are relevant to the course.All work should be well organised and presented. You should be prepared to discuss your work at interview as well as the designers and/or artists who have influenced you. Facilities and Opportunities: Studying TV and Film Set Design in Cardiff, you’ll benefit from being near major BBC facilities and other producers,and opportunities to work on real projects with industry. Previous partnerships have included experience on Doctor Who,Atlantis, Casualty and Wizards vs Aliens.
- 19. Another possible route to a career in set design would be an apprenticeship, which gives you a more hands on experience and can get you straight into work. Many large companies have apprenticeships available including the Royal Opera House and BBC Productions. However the difficulty with getting on to an apprenticeship is there are few available and for example the Royal Opera House only takes on 6 at a time. The Royal Opera House takes on apprentices in the areas of technical theatre, scenic art and scenic carpentry. The application process is much more like a job interview than a university application process. The positives of an apprenticeship is you are able to get immediate hands on experience which makes you employable and shows you and demonstratesyou have the skills. Progression Route 2: Apprenticeships