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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 382"
COURSE NAME: "Contemporary Art and Design Studio Practice l"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Gabriele Maria De Santis
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: T3:30 PM 6:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: Prerequisites: AS 102, AS 260, AS 262 or permission of the instructor. This class requires a materials fee of €75/$85 to cover all basic art supplies.
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This interdisciplinary course will encourage students to develop creative agency. The course is designed to support students in exploring their own individual research projects and developing technical and conceptual skills specific to their areas of interest. This studio intensive course is designed for junior standing students who have already taken multiple Art and Design courses. A variety of briefs and project prompts, supported by lectures, screenings, and visits to galleries and museums, will foster an awareness of issues relevant to Art and Design and how students might position their work within these debates. The course will support students to define frameworks, materials, and techniques which will be catalysts for their future development within the program.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course combines intensive studio practice with research-driven inquiry in contemporary art and design. Students develop individual projects through hands-on experimentation, thematic lectures, curated screenings, and visits to galleries, museums, and artists’ studios. Emphasis is placed on process, critical reflection, and conceptual development. Structured critiques, project prompts, and individual tutorials support the refinement of technical skills and the articulation of a clear research framework, culminating in a cohesive and professionally presented body of work.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Develop and execute independent researchand artisticprojects in Art and Designand critically engage with contemporary debates and issues in Art and Design.

  • Produce original artworks that reflecta high levelof personal and academic inquiryas well ascommunicate their artistic process and outcomes through presentations andcritiques.

  • Demonstrate the ability to engage with a variety of techniques and materialsin order toexplore creativity and visual expression andadvanced technical and conceptual skills in their chosen mediums.

  • Demonstrate technical competence in the knowledge of techniques and material and attest an ability to coordinate them creatively and sensitively.

  • Develop and execute independent research projects in Art and Designanddemonstratean ability to analyze and evaluate both the individual creative process and, importantly, the work and practice of other professional artists of the field.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Repeat / Repeat ProjectStudio-based project exploring repetition, daily actions, and process as archive25%
Research PortfolioDocumentation of research processes, including sketches, notes, visual studies, and critical reflections.20%
PartecipationActive engagement in class activities, discussions, critiques, workshops, and visits10%
Final Major ProjectA major project synthesizing learned skills and concepts into a cohesive and professionally presented body of work35%
Final PresentationOral presentation articulating the research process, conceptual framework, methodologies, and outcomes10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality shows excellent mastery of the course content along with exceptional levels of technical skill, artistic awareness, originality, resourcefulness, commitment, quantity of work and improvement. There has been excellent collaboration and leadership in group projects, and there have been no attendance problems.
BA highly competent level of performance with work that directly addresses the content of the course, with a good quantity of work produced.
CAn acceptable level of performance: the work shows awareness of the course content, but is very limited in quantity, quality, commitment and skill.
DThe student lacks a coherent grasp of the course material and has failed to produce much work.
FNegligent in attendance, academic honesty, engagement with the course content, or production of work.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

WEEKS 1–15

Repeat / Repeat Project: Daily Actions as Archive

Students explore repetition and daily actions as creative methodology, developing a daily archive that investigates process, routine, and embodied practice as research.

Week 1: Introduction to Contemporary Art and Design
Course objectives, structure, and expectations. Introduction to key concepts in contemporary art and design. Orientation lecture and initial brainstorming for the Repeat / Repeat Project.

Week 2: Research Methods and Project Development
Exploration of research methods specific to art and design. Development of research questions and project proposals. Individual meetings to discuss proposals.

Week 3: Conceptual Frameworks and Initial Sketches
Development of conceptual frameworks. Creation of initial sketches and visual mapping. Group discussions and feedback sessions.

Week 4: Techniques in Contemporary Practice I
Introduction to contemporary techniques and experimentation across media (mixed media, digital tools, traditional methods). Hands-on workshops supporting development of the daily archive.

Week 5: Gallery or Studio Visit and Reflection
Visit to a local gallery and/or artist’s studio. Reflective discussion connecting the visit to individual projects.

Week 6: Developing Technical Skills
Workshops and tutorials focused on strengthening technical proficiency aligned with individual research.

Week 7: Mid-Term Critiques
Formal presentation of works-in-progress with structured peer and instructor feedback.

Week 8: Lectures and Screenings on Contemporary Issues
Thematic lectures and curated screenings addressing current debates in art and design, followed by group discussion.

Week 9: Studio Work and Individual Tutorials
Intensive studio work period with one-on-one tutorials.

Week 10: Museum Visit and Critical Analysis
Guided museum visit with critical analysis exercises and reflective writing.

Week 11: Advanced Techniques in Contemporary Practice II
Exploration and application of advanced approaches such as installation, performance, and digital media.

Week 12: Thematic Group Critiques
Critiques focused on conceptual clarity, technical execution, and creative innovation.

Week 13: Final Project Development
Intensive studio production, individual consultations, and peer review.

Week 14: Final Presentations
Formal presentation of final projects articulating research process, conceptual framework, and outcomes.

Week 15: Course Review and Portfolio Submission
Final group critique, course review, and submission of final portfolio and reflective essay.