The VSS Diploma: Visual Arts  is an intensive multi-disciplinary three year programme.
This programme provides students with theoretical knowledge, visual communication and technical skills in traditional print media, fine arts, digital and interactive media, as well as photography. The aim is to develop holistic multimedia practitioners who have the capacity to apply their knowledge over a wide and multi-disciplined field in the creative media industry, including photography, graphic design, web design, motion graphics, fine arts, signage, etc.
Supporting subjects include communication (verbal and written), professional practice and introductory business subjects.

Curriculum:
1st Year:

• Theory of Photography I
• Applied Photography I
• Visual Communication I
• History: Art & Photography
• Digital Graphic Design I
• Communication I
• Professional Practice I

Certificate: Photography SAQA ID: 73298

2nd Year:

• Visual Communication II
• History: Art & Photography II
• Photography II
• 2D & 3D Design
• Fine Arts (Drawing, painting, sculpture, screenprinting)
• Digital Graphic Design II
• Communication II
• Professional Practice II

Certificate: Visual Arts SAQA ID: 78003

3rd Year:

• Visual Communication III
• History: Art & Photography III
• Digital Graphic Design III
• Applied Photography III
• Professional Practice III
• Web Design
• 2D Animation
• Interactive Media Production & Sound

Certificate: Interactive Media SAQA ID: 49121

Students receive a national certificate after each successful year of study and additionally receive the internationally accredited VSS Diploma: Visual Arts on successful completion of the third year.

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION

• Com fundamentals
• Key com skills
• Cross-cultural com
• Information seeking strategies
• Write/present/sign for a wide range of contexts
• Audience and context needs in communication

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

• Client relations
• Public relations
• Marketing concepts
• Business structures and functions
• Entrepreneurship
• Best practice
• Teamwork
• Business Ethics
• Pricing structures

INTERACTIVE MEDIA

• Design interactive media content by applying a range of techniques and media
• Edit interactive media content
• Edit sound
• Web page design
• 2D Animation

GRAPHIC DESIGN

• Manage work flow & time
• Access approaches to drawing
• Conceptualise and plan a design
• Realize and review design
• Use principles of 2D and 3D design
• Use visual communication techniques to represent a concept

HISTORY: ART & PHOTOGRAPHY, VISUAL COMMUNICATION

• Integrated in other credits

  • Art Appreciation
  • Photo Appreciation
  • Movie film Appreciation
  • Art critique
  • Art critical writing

FINE ARTS

• 2D art - develop hand eye coordination and artistic skills
• 3D art - Sculpture - concepts and solutions including land art
• Presentation and interpretation of an installation
• Preparing final portfolio and exhibit

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Photo Science
• Photo Technique
• Conceptualise & pre-visualise images
• Plan & organize logistical requirements
• Use camera to capture  photographic images
• Select and present images
• Post-processing