BA (Hons) Creative Intelligence & Innovation
How will we experience life in the Future? Working at the intersection of art, design and technology, this course in Creative Intelligence & Innovation will enable you to understand and respond to the rapidly changing world around us, and to produce work of your own that engages with, and responds to, the challenges posed by these changes. In addition to the creative practice, and drawing on philosophy, media, sociology and history, the theoretical understanding provided by this course serves to support and drive innovation and experimentation in a range of creative disciplines and mediums.
While studying BA (Hons) Creative Intelligence and Innovation, you will be given the space to use your voice and the freedom to experiment with and develop skills in a variety of art and design disciplines and techniques. Not only is this course about creative discovery, but of self-discovery, as you respond to challenges and projects in your choice of medium (for example: image making, 2D and 3D design, craft, digital and physical artworks, visual and audio performance). Creative briefs and self-directed studio-based projects will focus on your individual approach to contemporary creative enquiry with the intent of developing and presenting new ways of understanding and transforming the world through creative expression.
Over the three years of this course, one of the fundamental skills you will learn is how to face new challenges and situations and to respond with creativity, intelligence and innovation, and with the confidence that comes from awareness of the self, and of the world around you. You will be encouraged to participate in a range of enrichment activities such as exhibitions, collaborative projects and symposia in collaboration with the wider intellectual and social community of Cambridge. The future doesn’t just happen – it is created, and this course will enable you to develop the skills, concepts, perspectives and values with which to contribute confidently to that vital process.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS COURSE
YEAR ONE
The first year of this course is designed to equip you with knowledge of both historical and contemporary creative practices and perspectives, by means of a series of introductory and developmental creative briefs, practical and theoretical sessions, experimental workshops, individual and collaborative projects, lectures, field trips, seminars and tutorials, which collectively introduce you to the possibilities presented by this course.
Guided by our expert tutors, you will be supported to develop and research your own ideas and outcomes in relation to a series of innovative project briefs. There is a focus on introducing you to specialist skills, technologies, materials, approaches and methodologies, intended to help you develop your capacity for creative and critical enquiry in creative practice.
YEAR TWO
In the second year, you will continue to develop your own emerging personal identity as a creative innovator. Individual and collaborative projects, exhibitions and publications will build on the foundations established in your first year, expanding on your existing skills to further develop your distinctive voice within your respective fields of practice.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop your ideas and understanding of materials through a choice of experimental briefs representing significant contemporary themes. You will also begin to recognise the importance of ethical perspectives in relation to creative practice research. You will develop a personal Manifesto in the form of a video essay, which helps you towards the identification and selection of a dissertation topic, as well as a module which culminates in a public exhibition.
YEAR THREE
Your final year is the link between college and your career in the creative arts. It consolidates and develops your ability to direct and plan your own work through the production of three areas of work – a sustained piece of critical writing (Dissertation), professional context outputs (Positioning Your Practice) and an Independent Major Project (Showcase).
With the expert support of our tutors and industry specialists, you will have developed a sense of the possibilities of your creative practice, as well as the means to visualise those possibilities.
Your final year is designed to aid you in identifying and pursuing your academic, professional and personal ambitions. There are opportunities to focus on applying to postgraduate courses, through focussing on defining a portfolio of creative practice, writing a personal statement, and developing study proposals. Students are also encouraged to participate in a range of enrichment activities, often in collaboration with the University of Cambridge.
WE PROVIDE
- Your own individual workspace in the studio.
- You will be allocated personal use of an iMac.
- Studios are open 7 days a week.
- Lectures are based in your studio 5 days a week.
- One-to-one with tutors.
- Access to an extensive range of UK wide practitioners, connecting you to industry and building industry contacts.
- Small group and one-to-one assistance with essay and dissertation writing.
- Guaranteed Graduate Show in London, with no extra costs.
- Free colour printing.
- Access to an in-studio library, printmaking, and photography studios.
- Access to music recording studio and dance studio.
THE AWARD
Upon successful completion students will be awarded a BA(Hons) Creative Intelligence & Innovation accredited by Falmouth University.
“We’ve had an amazing team of tutors, people that genuinely care about you, people that genuinely care about the work that you output, they’re people who value a lot the work that we do.”
Francisco –
BA (Hons) Graphics and Illustration graduate
HIGHLIGHTS
No course specific highlights found.
OVERVIEW
Course Location
Cambridge
Course Length
3 years (6 semesters)
Course Start
September
Tutor Support
Specialist tutor support available 5 days a week.
Studio Access
Students have access to our studios 7 days a week, from 8am to 8.30pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm at weekends.
Awarding Body
Falmouth University
English Language
Up to 5 hours per week if required
How your Work is Assessed
Visual projects with occasional written assignments and a Dissertation in Year 3.
Guest Lecturers
Our course is enriched by programmed lectures and workshops from a range of leading creative professionals.
Your Space
Each of our students has their own workspace and is provided with free colour printing. Students will also have access to an in-studio library and our photography and printmaking studios.
How we Teach
Throughout this course, students will be taught through projects, specialist workshops, guest lecturers, regular one-to-ones, and group tutorials.
Progression
Art Conservation, Art/Design/Technology Writer, Art/Creative Direction, Art Therapy, Contemporary Art/Craft Practice, Coding for Design, Concept Design, Creative Entrepreneurship, Creative Technology, Curatorial Practice, Design for 3D Products, Advertising, Animation, Design for Augmented/Virtual Experience, Design for Digital Innovation/Direction, Design for Exhibitions & Events, Film & Television, Games Artwork Design, Design for Global Innovation, Design for Information, Design for Innovation, Design for Spatial Environments, Design for User Experience/User Interaction, Design for Interiors & Interior Experience, Design for Museums, Design for Performance/Stage, Design for Retail & Retail Futures, Design for Products & Product Futures, Design for Urban Spaces, Design for Fashion and Costume, Design for Textiles & Textile Futures
Results
100% of students praised our lecturers’ dedication to supporting their learning*
100% of students said that they had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth*
*National Student Survey 2024
UCAS Institution Code
C06
UCAS Course Code
W900
W901 with Integrated Foundation Year
ENTRY
Age
18 years +
Educational Level
72 UCAS points (or equivalent) gained through a Foundation Diploma or Extended Diploma, International Baccalaureate or two A Levels (or similar international High School qualification).
Students who do not meet these entry requirements will still be considered on their own individual potential to succeed.
English Level for International Students
IELTS 5.5+ (with no element below 5.5)
Portfolio
A portfolio of work showing personal work, schoolwork, finished and prepared is required for this course. Your portfolio is the chance to show us your skills and your passion. Download our guide to see what we look for in a portfolio.
STRUCTURE
YEAR 1
The first module you will study focuses on creative thinking as a means to identify, respond to, and resolve problems in the world around us. Instructed by our excellent team of tutors, you will investigate the historical perspectives and philosophical foundations of the purpose of questioning and enquiry. On completing this module, you will have fostered a critical understanding of the role questions and problems play in shaping creative thinking and problem-solving.
You will take part in hands-on exercises and workshops designed to enhance your ability to craft questions that inspire exploration and discovery, equipping you with the skills to formulate meaningful and impactful questions, taking into consideration context, audience, and creative objectives.
Experimentation is an essential part of discovery and invention encouraged by this course. Be curious, play, take risks and explore unchartered territories in your creative practice.
This module is focused on ‘making’ as a form of creative practice. You will be provided the freedom to explore and become familiar with a range of physical and digital media, techniques, approaches and methods in the creative field as you complete problem-based assignments.
Drawing on the theoretical and conceptual discussions in the companion module: Approaching Problems, you will explore creative responses utilising the technical and practical skills you’ve gained as you bring your ideas to life. Throughout this module you will be asked to reflect critically on the ways in which practice informs thinking, and thinking informs practice.
Theories in Practice introduces you to a variety of theoretical ideas relevant to informing your creative and interdisciplinary practice. Through the completion of both written and design briefs, you will develop an understanding of how theories can inform and shape practical and innovative responses to real-world issues and problems in the fields of art, design, and creative technology.
You will develop your critical writing skills as you being to form and articulate persuasive arguments based on your research into theoretical ideas and case studies. Your visual communication skills, and the thoughtful and strategic use of visual elements to convey complex ideas, will be employed through the creation of a poster presentation that visually communicates your research findings, theoretical ideas, and creative response.
Explore the rich possibilities where the physical and virtual worlds collide. Through Material Encounters, Digital Dialogues, you will be challenged to engage with the complexities of contemporary culture and society by exploring the intersections between the material world and digital technologies.
In this module, you will be introduced to a variety of digital skills, including animation, 3D modelling, virtual and augmented reality, and the exploration of AI models. With the support of your tutors, you will develop a project that explores the simultaneous use of material and digital media. This assignment encourages experimentation as a means of uncovering new possibilities and pushing the boundaries of creative projects.
YEAR 2
This module provides you with a rich and comprehensive introduction to, and exploration of, contemporary identity and community, within the context of creative intelligence and innovation.
Workshops, assignments and briefs will give you the opportunity to incorporate a variety of creative and technological media, from visual arts to sound and performance, into your work as you explore themes centred around concepts of identity and community. You will be encouraged to employ experimental approaches as you produce innovative creative solutions to project briefs addressing real-world challenges and opportunities.
Supporting your practical work, critical thinking skills are developed through the analysis of historical and contemporary artworks, designs, and technological interventions that address issues of identity and community. As you create, you will be encouraged to begin to assess the ethical implications of your creative work in the context of identity representation, understanding your professional responsibility as a creative.
Image, Object, Space & Place challenges you to explore the ways in which elements of image, object, space and place come together and influence one another within the realm of artistic expression, design, and creative technology.
This module focuses on the concept of place-making. With the support of your tutors, you will be guided in developing projects that contribute to the identity, character, and functionality of a place, considering the social, cultural, and environmental aspects of place-making, emphasising the significance of lived and direct experience in shaping creative responses to real-world spaces or places. You will explore and integrate into these projects relevant theories, methodologies, and contextual information while exploring ‘place-making’.
There are opportunities to engage in fieldwork research as well as class fieldtrips, contributing to the theoretical understanding required for the module. Through creative briefs, you are encouraged to consider the ethical, social, and cultural implications of your creative work and its potential contribution to positive change.
Manifesto provides the knowledge, skills, and platforms necessary for you to advocate for your own creative practice through the creation of a group manifesto and the research, development and production of a compelling essay, which can be in text, visual or video format. The emphasis on multimedia, interdisciplinary practice, and critical engagement contributes to the development of well-rounded and articulate creative practitioners.
A manifesto is a written declaration of the intentions, motives or views of the author. This module begins by establishing an understanding of how manifestos have been used historically and their relevance in contemporary creative practice. Initially, you will be encouraged to explore and address real-world issues and concerns within culture and society through a co-designed manifesto, which needs to reflect the collective ideas and values of you and your classmates.
You will then be guided in the development of an individual manifesto, which take the form of a video essay. Your personal manifesto should articulate your creative vision, themes, topics, and approaches to your evolving identity as a creative practitioner and the multi-dimensional nature of contemporary communication.
During this module, you are supported in acquiring multimedia skills, including moving image, experimental animation, editing, and foley/sound design skills, developing their creative identity by means of moving image, work-in-progress video, archival footage, and experimental writing.
The module culminates with a public screening of everyone’s video essays, at which you will have the opportunity to elaborate on the ideas and approaches presented in your video essays in a Q&A session, thereby developing skills in promoting public dialogue and engagement.
Through this module, you will be introduced to the concept of fiction as a method for creative exploration, developing practical and theoretical understanding of how storytelling and speculation can be powerful tools for advocating for your ideas and exploring and engaging with real-world issues within culture and society.
You will develop a research-led approach to the design and development of a speculative project, emphasizing storytelling as a key method for understanding and impacting real-world questions, concerns, and problem-resolution.
Theoretical sessions will allow you to investigate historical, philosophical, and psychological contexts of ‘truth’ to deepen your understanding of the complexities surrounding truth in contemporary culture, society and politics.
The module culminates with the exhibition of final creative outcomes, which encourages you to be mindful of the impact of your work in different contexts, emphasizing the significance of presenting creative work to diverse audiences.
YEAR 3
This module focuses on you and your creative future aspirations. Through Positioning Your Practice you will be introduced to the diversity of professional futures for artists, designers, and creative technologists, empowering you to advocate for your own ideas within the context of your creative practice and supporting research into areas of professional practice relevant to your creative ambitions.
Focusing on your future, you are encouraged to explore the realities and opportunities that postgraduate study might afford you, looking into potential courses and universities that align with your academic, professional, and creative ambitions. We will support you in reaching out to professionals in your intended creative field to provide insights, allowing you to develop professional networking skills to engage with practitioners beyond the studio. You will reflect on your developing academic and professional ambitions through the writing of a professional context report.
You will be guided in researching and developing a project proposal for a substantive creative, practical project. Our specialist staff will work with you to refine your project ideas and approaches outlined in the proposal.
This module will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake a comprehensive written research project from conceptualisation through research and culminating in a completed dissertation.
With the guidance of your tutors, you will identify a research question which is relevant to your creative practice, as well as relevant to contemporary contexts, before refining your research question, building upon skills developed earlier in the course.
Initial lectures and seminars will prepare you in the development of persuasive argumentation through the careful selection of appropriate case studies, rigorous use of academic references and theoretical frameworks, leading to substantive conclusions. At the end of the module, you will present the findings of your dissertation in an assessed presentation.
This is the final module of the BA (Hons) Creative Intelligence & Innovation programme. This module will provide a comprehensive and transformative experience, giving you the opportunity to generate an idea, research, develop, realise, resolve and showcase your innovative creative practice in a final major project.
Here, you are given a platform to apply and integrate the conceptual, theoretical and technical skills you have developed over three years of study. Lectures, seminars, project supervision and guided independent learning facilitate the research, development, and realization of your interdisciplinary, enquiry-led project. You are encouraged to push the boundaries of your creative potential, exploring innovative approaches to problem-solving and expression.
The culmination of the module is a public exhibition, which showcases students’ final major projects and celebrates the achievements of you and your classmates, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride at the culmination of the BA (Hons) Creative Intelligence and Innovation programme.
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