Postgraduate Diploma in Art and Social Design

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to enable learners to develop a unique personal voice while demonstrating an expanding understanding of contemporary art, design and creative practices in their local, national and the global level contexts. Learners will be required to blend media within new cultural contexts and integrate research and critical analysis into their work.

The aim of this qualification is to enable a learner to understand social change through design research and/or practice and community engagement.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Art and Social Design is designed to provide a learner with deeper understanding of cultural, socio-political and economic factors within a community. This qualification will also enable them to examine the designer/artist creative role and responsibility in society that positively impact our world through design practice and design thinking and also look at the interface of art, design and civic engagement.

As a progression from the Advanced Diploma in Studio Arts, this qualification focuses on a series of projects and a research project that looks for synthesis and integration of the learner's voice, concepts and insights with the variety of production possibilities against their project briefs.

It encourages learners to explore and find directions of creative practice and application of creative technologies within the 21st Century that show an awareness of the world outside the studio.

Rationale

CUT has sought to implement this vision in respect of its curricula and support mechanisms through the process of the Strategic Transformation of Educational Programmes and Structures (STEPS). The STEPS process identified several imperatives and criteria to shape an 'ideal curriculum'. This culminated in calling for a complete review of the course offerings of the then School of Design Technology and Visual Art. The STEPS process pointed out that the many different qualifications offered by the then department were unviable, because of the limited number of students registering for the different courses. A task team recommended the implementation of a Diploma in Design and Studio Art, which would prepare the students more appropriately for industry engagement or for further Higher Degrees study. This programme, which forms the basis for the undergraduate programme in the now department named Department of Design and Studio Art, was approved in 2011. After the implementation of this new undergraduate programme at SAQA level 6, the Advanced Diploma in Studio Art, at SAQA level 7 was developed to articulate with the undergraduate diploma. The intention of this Advanced Diploma is to prepare graduates for employment, self- employment, or further higher degrees. However, for graduates to pursue further higher degrees, such master's and doctoral degrees a qualification at level 8 was required, this led to the development of the Postgraduate Diploma in Art and Social Design (this application). Besides preparing graduates for further higher degrees, graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Art and Social Design will be well prepared the pursue careers as creative practitioners, or creative collaborators and partners across a diverse range of creative disciplines, which include jewelry, fashion, digital and communication design, visual arts practice and curatorship, It is envisaged the many of the these graduates will be able to pursue meaningful careers in the medical field where, the field of digital medical modelling is fast gaining popularity world-wide.

Today, the boundaries within the visual and design arts disciplines are blurred. The Postgraduate Diploma in Art and Social Design acknowledges the growth of hybrid industries. Technological developments spur innovative developments, where collaborative projects are commonplace. Questions are posed around very narrowly defined parameters, requiring multi-disciplinary skills of creative practice and application of creative technologies. This qualification aims to adequately prepare graduates for the of real world demands of creative ideas, initiatives and collaboration, as defined by continually emerging hybrid industries. One of the fastest developing hybrid industries is that of medical design. Designers are called upon their creative and technological skills to create medical models, mostly produced via additive manufacturing, for various reasons, including diagnosis, prosthesis and implant manufacturing. Other fast developing areas requiring the skills of creative practitioners include the communication media, modern manufacturing, computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, textiles and jewelry making. Graduates will not only be able to work in a wider range of varying places and in an increasing number of social sectors, they will be able to join agencies and design groups, but also seek to establish their own agency-based practices and creative units.

In structuring the content and desired outcomes for these qualifications, the Department of Design and Studio Art collaborated with various industry stakeholders as well as other institutional stakeholders as to ensure that the programme will be aligned to meeting the strategic goals of:

• Fitness for purpose of the learning.
• Academic programme excellence.
• An enabling environment for the students.
• Articulation to further study opportunities with CUT or other institutions where different specialisation opportunities exist

Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Art and Social Design will be employable by various industries, and in particular many hybrid industries that are continually coming to the forefront. Typically, examples of employment are in the medical, textile, jewelry, gaming, film and communication industries. However, more recently the engineering industry is seeking skilled designers with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing experience. Furthermore, many commodity manufacturing industries also employ creative practitioners, for example toy manufacturers.

In the Department of Design and Studio Art, students start their careers by following the multidisciplinary 3-year Diploma in Design and studio Art at SAQA level 6. From this qualification graduates can continue at SAQA level 7 with the Advanced Diploma in Studio Art, after which they enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Art and Social Design at SAQA level 8. Graduates of the Diploma in Art and Social Design will be prepared to continue with a Master's qualification and, finally a Doctorate.

This qualification promotes a study and understanding of cultural, socio, political and economic factors within a society.

Through practice and community engagement or consideration it aims to

• Understand social change through design.
• Examines the designer's role and responsibility in society.
• Positively impact our world through design.
• Look at the interface of art, design and civic engagement.
• Learn to apply creativity, collaboration iterative processes and tolerance for new ideas, research, intuition, and synthesis of process/media and objectives.

Students are encouraged to interrogate how their practice addresses, engages or impacts on the world's significant problems for the greater good. Furthermore, this qualification breaks down boundaries in the academic and corporate worlds, bringing together students, lecturing staff, societies, and businesses together to work collaboratively on identified problems while understanding and growing the students own voice and practice.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Provision is made to achieve the qualification in part or as a whole through the Recognition of Prior Learning. Selection of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) learners will be conducted on an individual basis in accordance with the RPL policy of the institution.

RPL applications for the institution are received by the Centre for Assessments and Graduations. The candidates are required to complete a RPL application document. Accompanying the RPL application must be certified copies of all previous qualifications and a comprehensive portfolio of evidence, reflecting on extensive work and/or learning. Once the institution's RPL coordinator has deemed the RPL application as being complete, the portfolio will be sent to the Faculty of Humanities for assessment. The faculty's RPL committee assesses the candidate's portfolio thoroughly against the relevant outcomes.

This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of relevant prior learning and/or through prior experience as a practitioner in another field of Design and/or Studio Art. The university will develop structured assessments for learners which will be assessed against the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification on an individual basis and in accordance with the institutions' accredited RPL policy. Such procedures and the assessment of individual cases are subject to moderation by independent assessors. The RPL policy outlines that the candidate must have:

• Complied with the admission requirements for the qualification, including the admission requirements of the module prescribed for the qualification.
• Been assessed and found competent in all the competences and skills prescribed for the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement to this qualification is either

• A three (3) year Bachelor's Degree, Level 7.

Or

• An Advanced Diploma in Art and Social Design at Level 7.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules

• Research Project, 18 Credits.
• Studio Intensive, 18 Credits.
• Community Collaborative Practice, 24 Credits.
• Social Design and Design Citizenship, 24 Credits.
• Critical Studies, 36 Credits.

1. Engage and demonstrate versatile and integrated knowledge of the qualification, research methodologies, methods and techniques with detailed knowledge of social design and design citizenship.
2. Apply, demonstrate and interrogate multiple sources of knowledge according to both the subject and the industry needs.
3. Research and understand the target market and identify how they respond, understand their individual needs, and tailor the product accordingly by applying a range of methods to unfamiliar problems.
4. Communicate effectively in relation to the product(s), in order to mediate design and studio art for industry needs and take decisions and justify those decisions in specialised contexts.
5. Communicate with academic/professional discourse offering creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems.
6. Access, process and manage knowledge of the design and studio art industry and the ability to critically review, so as to develop creative responses.
7. Evaluate, understand and interpret diversity in the South African context, in order to accommodate industry developments, and identify and solve social problems.
8. Manage processes across variable contexts in order to self-evaluate and solve sequenced real world visual problems with well-structured arguments and solutions.
9. Demonstrate sound entrepreneurial, administrative and managerial skills in diverse contexts in order to ensure a conducive working environment.
10. Exhibit a positive work ethic, display appropriate values, and conduct oneself in a manner which befits, enhances and develops the design and studio art profession.
11. Critically reflect on own practice in liaison with their professional community of colleagues, industry and community in order to constantly improve and adapt to evolving circumstances, while taking accountability for processes used.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be assessed in an integrated manner across all the Exit Level Outcomes:

• Demonstrate versatile and integrated knowledge with regard to a specialist area related to visual communication, research methodologies, methods and in-depth knowledge of social design and design citizenship.
• Apply concepts, principles and interrogation of multiple sources and theories applicable to the needs of the subjects, specialist areas and industry.
• Develop and apply tailored specialised products for an identified target market with a range of methods.
• Apply effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills with the ability to take decisions and actions drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches within a supported environment.
• Demonstrate and apply a sound knowledge of communication skills in the form of proposals and projects.
• Access, process and manage knowledge of the design and studio art industry in the unpacking, planning and development of suitable and creative products.
• Critically evaluate and use diversity in South Africa to solve social problems.
• Demonstrate effective management of diverse processes through defining and solving of sequenced real world visual problems.
• Effectively apply sound entrepreneurial, administrative and managerial skills to adhere to a conducive working environment.
• Recognise, apply and integrate positive work ethic into related activities in design and studio art profession.
• Critically evaluate reflection of own practice through a peer-review by a professional community of colleagues and social community and demonstrate the ability to take full responsibility for own work.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Assessment takes the form of a variety of assessment methods for example: written and oral examinations, problem-solving assignments, projects, presentations, case studies, portfolios, visual diaries, journals, field work and the assessment of competence through simulated and actual work integrated learning. This variety of assessment methods help to increase assessment opportunities and encourage the academic success of learners. It also provides the opportunity for all learners to excel in one or more methods of assessment creating a culture of success. Continuity and alignment across the different modules which include the integration of principles into Studio Practice is encouraged. These practices ensure reliability and validity in assessment.

The qualification will be awarded to a learner who has provided evidence to the satisfaction of the assessors that the qualification, as detailed in the stated Exit Level Outcomes, has been achieved, either through education and training within the qualification or though experience that complies with the stated RPL policy.