Drawing on the Archive: Re-evaluating Copying for the Design Curriculum

Abstract

This report of research currently in progress describes an investigative project prompted by concerns about the negative effects on student work of digital copying directly from archival and other visual sources. In the initial part of the investigation the authors themselves experimented with different copying techniques and through discussion of this process devised a formal workshop, the Constructive Copying Workshop, the main intention of which was to explore the use of paper-based drawing methods for copying from archival material in varied and structured ways. The specific aims of the workshop were to enhance student awareness of the stylistic characteristics of archival reference, to improve student expertise in effective copying techniques, and to encourage students to become more reflective about their own practice of drawing for design. In the second part of the investigation this workshop was first conducted with a group of second year, printed textile design, students, then modified and conducted with another group of similar students. Both groups of students were asked to work from an image of a classic textile pattern and to consider particular copying strategies or approaches prompted by the terms set out in a Copying Vocabulary Matrix. They were also asked to record their thoughts in a reflective journal. Initial findings from the analysis of student comments and the drawn outputs of the workshops indicate that, in general, the aims of the workshop were met, but that the choice of archival reference provided could affect student drawing strategy. A third part of the investigation is planned which will encompass good practice garnered from the conduct of the first two workshops and extend the range of the specialist fields of the student groups participating to other textile/fashion disciplines and year groups.

Keywords:

• Paper-based drawing
• copying
• textile design
• practice-based design research
• archive utilization

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pam Schenk

Dr Pam Schenk is a Research Professor at Heriot-Watt University and leader of the Drawing Research Group in the School of textiles and Design. She is a Fellow of the Design Research Society. Her recent book Drawing in the Design Process: Characterizing Industrial and Educational Practice represents over 30 years of investigation into the changes effected by digital technologies on the design studio. She has published in journals such as Design Issues, Design Studies, Art Design and Education in Higher Education, TRACEY and Visual: Design: Scholarship. She has taught and managed postgraduate programmes at Manchester Metropolitan University; Glasgow School of Art; Birmingham Institute of Art and Design; Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee; and has taught at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Contact address: School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University, Scottish Borders Campus, Galashiels, United Kingdom. [email protected]

Mark Parker

Mark Parker is Director of Studies for the Design for Textiles Programme at Heriot-Watt University and a member of the Drawing Research Group there. He has over 30 years of teaching experience and has led workshops at both UK and Chinese Higher Education Institutions. He is currently the external examiner for the Textile Design and Retail pathways at Birmingham City University and has served on validation panels for textile degree programmes at Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Huddersfield and Bradford School of Art. He has presented at international conferences including TRIP (Loughborough 2011) and IJADE (Chester 2011). As a practitioner, he has produced artwork and gallery pieces for leading interior and fashion textile companies and gallery spaces across Europe, America and Australia. His designs have been taken up by companies such as Liberty (London), Sheridan Textiles (Australia) and Scalamandre (USA). Contact address: School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University, Scottish Borders Campus, Galashiels, United Kingdom. [email protected]