Credit Points: 30
Study Time: 300 Hours

The ability to research into, engage in and reflect on commercial aspects of the creative modelmaking profession is important in the development of the reflective and responsive model designer. Contemporary professional modelmakers must be capable of analysing and applying specific commercial understanding in response to developments within the profession.

This unit enables and encourages you to explore and evaluate focused commercial aspects of a professional area of interest to your continued professional development. These could be through actual experience of the commercial environment, process or material investigation or analysis of specific subject demands of the profession. Risk assessment and heath and safety are an integral part of this. It is envisioned that this will help develop your awareness of the demands of modelmaking in the creative industries and your ability to develop life-long learning approaches to managing and reacting to change.

This unit will also encourage you to explore career and future planning through carrying out analysis and self-reflection on your personal direction as well as introducing professional skills of CV production and portfolio design.

Outline Syllabus
An indicative guide to the content covered by this unit.

The programme of study will vary according to the academic needs and interests of individual students. It will entail the negotiation of a body of work exploring an aspect or aspects of the commercial modelmaking profession. The body of work which you will commit yourself to will be defined in a learning agreement. Specific content for all students will consist of the following:

• Use of learning agreements
• Exploration of emerging issues in chosen professions
• Work release and work experience practice and policy
• Health and safety and risk assessment
• Sector analysis and employment opportunities 
• Career research and planning
• Assessing personal strengths and weaknesses 
• Professional roles and responsibilities 
• Project management and costing evaluation 
• Preparing a CV and a personal portfolio
• Multi-media presentation. Visit to a company

Method of Delivery
Learning agreements, lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials, work experience, company visits, workshop practice, demonstrations, independent research and study on a group and individual basis.

Aims

A1 To promote informed critical analysis, evaluation and reflection with regard to future career direction.
A2 To encourage personal professional direction through focused exploration of current and emerging issues within the commercial area of your interest.
A3 To promote understanding and the application of learning through development of modelmaking knowledge and project management.
A4 To promote continued self-evaluation and review as an essential part of personal and professional development and help encourage lifelong learning.
A5 To provide practise in the preparation of CV and portfolio materials and developing appropriate professional responses.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Carry out informed critical analysis; reflect on and evaluate commercial aspects of the chosen field in line with your own professional intent.
LO2 Demonstrate a focused awareness of issues facing the contemporary modelmaking graduate.
LO3 Apply previous learning to expand experiences through the continuous development and application of learning with appropriate project management.
LO4 Continuously review your strengths and weaknesses and establish an action plan for personal development.
LO5 Prepare a CV and personal documentation in support of your ambitions to an increasingly professional standard.

Reference Material

References will vary according to the nature of the learning agreement.

Key
Jay, Ros. (12007). Brilliant Interview. Prentice Hall.
Bright, Jim (2007) Brilliant CV, Prentice Hall
Cottrell, Stella (2003) Skills for Success: The Personal development handbook, Palgrave Macmillan
ISCO (2009). The art and design directory.
ISCO Publications UCAS (2009) Progression to Art and Design 2009 Entry. UCAS

Recommended
Houston, K. (2004). Winning CVs for first-time job hunters. Richmond: Trotman.
McBride, P. (2002) CVs and applications – how to present yourself creatively. Trowbridge: Trotman.

Websites
 The Knowledge Online // Career Advice - Monster.co.uk // Totaljobs Group Ltd. //  Business Link // Graduate prospects Ltd. // Creative Review