The Personal Investigation is an extended personal coursework project that enables learners to develop personal artwork demonstrating critical and analytical understanding from a given starting point or theme.
Students will: develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations; produce visual and written research into contextual and other sources that informs the development of their practical work; explore ideas, techniques or processes appropriate to their chosen focus; record observations from sources relevant to intentions; critically reviewed and refined their work as it progresses and design and create final outcomes that realise their intentions.
Student are afforded the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of media including (but not limited to): Appliqué, batik, reverse applique, layered printing techniques, monoprinting, felt making, silk painting, couching, machine work, embroidery, bondaweb, weaving, fashion design, construction techniques, mixed media, dying processes, Adobe Photoshop, sublimation printing as well as a variety of Fine Art media.
Alongside their Personal Investigation practical portfolio students will study and research in depth the context within which their practical work sits. They will develop a critically engaged related study that helps inform and further their own practice.
The aim of the related study is to enable learners to develop their ability to communicate their knowledge and understanding of art and fashion historical movements, genres, practitioners, designers and artworks, considering the way that these change and evolve within chronological and other frameworks. It also builds their understanding of the relationship between society, art, textiles and fashion: fashion and textile design terminology, concepts and issues; methods of researching, investigating and analysing; and how works are interpreted and evaluated.
The Personal Investigation and related study equates to 60% of students overall A level marks.