NEW STAGE 2 PATHWAY BRIEF

1. Edexcel (BTEC) Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art & Design
Stage 2: Pathway Stage
Unit 4: Information & Interpretation in Art & Design
Unit 5: Personal Experimental Studies in Art & Design
Unit 6: Extended Media Development in Art & Design
Project: Specialist Area Experience
Start Date Monday 5th December 2011
End Date Monday 20th February 2012
Assessment week starting Monday 20th February 2012
Aims
-To develop an understanding of contemporary, historical and related contexts, to inspire
creative work and develop personal intentions in preferred pathways
-To encourage students to bring together and develop skills in working in a range of
materials and techniques as well as knowledge and understanding of the creative process.
-To develop the student’s ability to propose ideas and solutions that exploit the
characteristics and properties of selected media
Objectives
UNIT 4
1 Be able to explore historical, cultural and contemporary practice
2 Be able to reference historical, cultural and contemporary practice when developing
personal ideas and solutions
3 Be able to produce a personal targeted response.
UNIT 5
1 Be able to initiate and undertake experimentation
2 Be able to reflect on creative intentions
3 Be able to research materials, techniques and processes
4 Be able to meet self-identified objectives.
UNIT 6
1 Be able to research and select media to suit creative intentions
2 Be able to accommodate limitations and extend the potential of media in own work
3 Be able to manipulate media, techniques and processes safely
4 Be able to analyse and review technical and aesthetic qualities of development work.
Assessment Criteria
Please refer to course handbook

2. Rational
At this stage, students are expected to have a clear view of their chosen specialist
pathway. The units in this stage provide the opportunity for students to establish future
aims, and progression routes should be confirmed and consolidated through targeted
research and innovative and creatively developed art and design solutions, evolved
through the development of personal study.
UNIT 4
Creative practitioners use their understanding of the contemporary visual world and their
awareness of cultural and historical developments to inspire and inform their own work.
This unit will enable students to develop an understanding of the key concepts which
influence the creative intentions and practices of contemporary artists and designers. It
will also encourage an awareness of environmental, global, social and political references
which have impact upon and can affect developments in areas of art, design and
communication
UNIT 5
This unit gives Students the opportunity to creatively explore and review a range of
suitable materials, techniques and processes, and evaluate results in terms of inventive
outcomes and aesthetic qualities that can be applied to current and future work. Students
will be expected to keep detailed and sequential records of study including preparatory
research materials and samples, experimental techniques and processes, test pieces,
annotations and records in your Artist Journal.
Students will be made aware of health and safety requirements and be expected to
observe safe practice throughout the duration of the unit.
UNIT 6
Students will focus their attention on their selected pathway. They will be encouraged to
identify their own areas of interest in a more personal and individually focused way,
engaging in sustained enquiry and recognising these processes as a positive learning
experience. Students will apply personal understanding and informed thought processes
to their work in order to enhance awareness of their own creative intentions. This will be
enabled through extensive experimentation with specialist media, techniques and
processes and by taking an increasingly independent role in the application of intellectual
and analytical skills to creative development and the making processes.
Project: You may choose one of several given common themes as the
basis for your work & you are free to select from a range of possible
outcomes in each discipline.
You must write a self-initiated assignment brief following the guidelines
given

3. UNIT 4
Produce art work based on comprehensive research for one of the six pathways listed
below.
It is important that you base your research on a theme or a core interest which will form
the bedrock of your research (your theme may be provided for you in graphic pathways).
Many of you have already evolved themes in your work to date which can be transferred
and built upon into your Pathway Stage. There are themes that have remained common
in artists work throughout the ages and you are required to carry out comprehensive
research into historical, cultural and contemporary practice to choose an area to base your
work on. You should consider a range of theories and conceptual frameworks and record
your ideas in your Artist Journal
Common Themes
Human Life Identity Machinery
Natural Forms Structure Urban Scene
Working Environments Leisure At Home
Landscape Belief Conflict
Your research should show ability to research using different methods;
 Firsthand sources; i.e. visits to museums and galleries and be evidenced through
annotations, notes and photographic records where permitted.
 Second hand sources i.e. books, periodicals and internet sites.
Through the analysis and evaluation of your research you should consider the influence of
contextual factors on the work of others and in the development of your own project.
The week after the Christmas holiday you will present your initial research to the class, this
will form the basis of a Pecha Kucha presentation, which will explain the pathway that you
intend to develop and present your initial thoughts and concepts within a theme. You will be
expected to carry out further diagnostic research as your project develops, to extend your
field of enquiry and to propose alternative possibilities.
UNIT 5
You should initiate and undertake extensive media research and experimentation, which
should be documented, analysed and evaluated in your Artists Journals along with
relevant health and safety codes, COSHH. To meet self identified objectives.
UNIT 6
You should use your research to enable you to create your self identified intentions, using
analysis and evaluation in order to accommodate limitations and extend the potential of
media in your own work.
Final Evaluation to review technical and aesthetic qualities in your development work,
assessing the qualities e.g. strengths, weaknesses, successes, failures, effectiveness,
appearance, presence, interactivity, wearability and identify new and existing
possibilities.
Bibliography
For a complete reading list for these units please refer to your Course Handbook

4. Pathways
Fashion Design
Design & make one of the following:
- An experimental garment for a member of the opposite sex.
- A fashion garment or accessory based on military wear.
- A garment for a character from a theatrical performance for your choice.
- A hat worthy of Royal Ascot Ladies Day.
Fine Craft
Design & make one of the following:
- Architectural ceramics for a public building
- A hand built ceramic vessel
- A jewellery piece/set
Three Dimensional Design
Design one of the following & make a scale model of your concept:
- A piece of furniture
- A Meeting Place
- A kitchen waste bin
- An interior for a commercial or public building
- A stage set
Textiles
Design & make one of the following:
- A sculptural textiles piece.
- A wall mounted textile piece in high relief.
- A series of large samples of surface design in textiles.
Fine Art (includes all traditional & non traditional art media; textiles, ceramics, metal etc)
Produce a representational or conceptual response to your theme using as many or as few
of the following as you wish:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Sculpture/assemblage
- Installation
- Photography
- Computer
Graphic Design
- Design 4 posters to advertise Belfast City’s Lost Property Office.
- Advertising campaign for a ‘Must See’ Movie
- ‘Take the Train’ campaign to promote the use of public transport
This list is not exclusive and you can choose an outcome of your choice as long as you
discuss it with your tutor.

5. Outcomes
●A written statement of Intention (word processed) compiled under the headings listed
below. This must be a clear proposal of your intentions as you undertake the project. A
formal Statement of Intention is required by Edexcel before commencement of the Final
Stage of the course, so see this as a good opportunity to practice writing a precise project
proposal.
Audit & Rationale
Give your reasons for your choice of project at this stage of the course. (100 words)
Research
Outline your starting points; what is your theme and how and where will you start your research,
which historical and contemporary artists will you use for inspiration? Include a bibliography.
(100 words)
Project & Realisation
Outline what you intend to do & how you intend to achieve it. This should include the research
techniques & general sources to be used & the physical resources you will need. (100 words)
Timetable of Actions
Show a clear schedule for each stage of the project.
Review & Evaluation
State what methods you will use to analyse your progress on an ongoing basis throughout the
project. (50 words)
●Evidence of comprehensive research using primary & secondary sources into both
theme & pathway.
●A series of drawings/studies of subjects associated with your chosen theme.
●Evidence of development of your theme in relation to your chosen pathway (idea
sheets/mood board)
●Series of design/idea sheets
●Media research and experimentation
●Experimental pieces/maquettes if appropriate
●Finished outcome (actual or scale model)
●Record of progress and ongoing analysis and evaluation in Artist Journal
●Final Evaluation
- No late submissions, no excuses