A Space To Create
Studio Environment + Practice
One of the beautiful elements of taking an art and design course is the ‘hands-on’ learning experience that the discipline offers. Courses are studio-based, in that a large portion of the class period is dedicated to ‘making’ in the studio. Our studio environment is a shared space that provides students with an atmosphere where it is safe to take risks, a platform for students to be intuitively creative, and an environment, which also embraces the reality of guides and constraints. Our studio is a facility that supports the synthesis of theory, critical thinking, and aesthetic awareness.
Students during a drawing unit creating from the exploration of light and value.
Students navigating ways to translate observable nuances of fabric + texture while considering composition.
The Learner
Our goals and desires are for our students to be come life-long learners. Everything that the learner interacts with and experiences is designed to develop their creative traits, to show them ways to enrich their lives in the present, and to help them become individuals who find joy in knowing more. It is recognised that learners need to nurture his/her curiosity and take necessary risks within a safe environment. Our studio is an environment, which appreciates and supports multiple learning styles and an ideal setting to support students in making strides in areas they wish to improve and develop.
Beyond The Studio
Art + Design in Seoul
While Art and Design is intricately intertwined in our daily lives and culture, Seoul offers a vibrant art and design scene. Seoul has provided our students amazing experiences to have access to the work of acclaimed historical, contemporary, and local artists who artist who show work all over the world. Trips often provide students an informative experience with which to reflect and respond in a creative way, whether directly through a class project, or potentially later in the future. Collaborating and interacting with professionals who have developed a refined and focused creative practice servers as exposure new ideas and inspires students to see and dream beyond the classroom walls.
Beyond The Studio
The Exhibition
For students and learners to have a comprehensive visual arts experience, their art needs to be shared, published, and exhibited. The exposition of student work is a way he/she to correspond with other within the community. Creating a tradition of using these types of events and platforms to present culminating bodies of work affords students space to send a message, to celebrate accomplishments, and to reflect on his/her creative endeavours with others. Working with local galleries to curate shows in a city like Seoul is special. Giving our community a chance to celebrate the artists we support and produce is invaluable to a visual arts program.
2013 Poetry Slam Performance on opening night of the AP Exhibition.
AP Studio Art Exhibition Posters / 2013 (Si-Jac Gallery) + 2014 (Pink Gallery)
Culminating Project / AP Studio Art student designed publication of portfolio work.
Culminating Project / AP Studio Art student designed publication of portfolio work.
Culminating Project / AP Studio Art student designed publication of portfolio work.
Developing Critical Thinkers
The Sketchbook
Students actively maintain a sketchbook and use this ideal space for dreaming, design-ideation, media manipulation, and creative problem solving. Sketchbooks are personal ways to document navigation, problem solving, and the process. Students also use this space for reflect upon ideas which relate to broader questions and concepts delivered in class and critique. Maintaining a sketchbook is a critical part of helping students develop traits of artists who go beyond aesthetics and technical skills to think critically about their work.
Visual Design students participate in a critique on designing with type.
Developing Critical Thinkers
The Critique
Reflecting is often an overlooked activity today, however in a visual arts and design setting it is an integral part of the process. Learners are encouraged to consider the visual world around them and develop a heightened sense of awareness of their surroundings through this process. The critique is a platform where students can expand and implement design vocabulary, develop critical discourse, and participate in the evolution and growth of their peers. In these critiques, students will become comfortable in applying the four principles of criticism (observation, analysis, interpretation, and judgment). Aims are to help students not only grasp the importance of reflection, but to become people who are reflective in a variety of other aspects in their lives.