Bachelor of Craft and Design is a four-year experiential-learning-based undergraduate program for craft practitioners, innovators, aspiring designers and creative individuals. The degree aims to provide practical, historical, and philosophical expertise in the fields of crafts and design as well as their intersection with other disciplines, including art, technology, business, and culture. The course will also cover current concerns in the field, such as the role of tradition and innovation, the relationship between form and function, the social and ethical implications of crafts and design processes, and sustainability and climate challenges. Furthermore, the course will emphasize the need to connect local craft practitioners’ indigenous knowledge and intergenerational skills with the innovations and technological breakthroughs of designers and engineers.

The curriculum offers students information, skills, and creativity through tutored and supervised courses, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or continuation of the learner/s’ craft practices. The course covers art and engineering studios, design studios, material sciences, independent practices, and various subjects for professional development. Students will learn about the history of craft and design and current trends and techniques. Students will be engaged with various materials and processes throughout the course, including metal, wood, jewellery, stone, ceramics, natural fibres, animal products, textiles, to digital fabrication. This exposure will provide them with a diversified skill set and the capacity to experiment with many materials, which may be applied to various craft and design disciplines such as furniture design, fashion design, product design, interior design and more. They will also gain hands-on experience through independent projects and peer learning seminars, allowing them to excel in their craft practice and develop their design idioms and approaches.

The students will also be introduced to the newest industry technology and tools, such as 3D modelling software, digital fabrication equipment, and computer-controlled machinery, to make them competent in the craft and design-related labor market. Students will also learn to promote their work, build a portfolio and promotional materials, and network with industry leaders and stakeholders as part of the course.

To strengthen their knowledge, the students will also enroll in elective courses to develop a specialized and interdisciplinary skill sets and acquire a deeper understanding of their respective areas of interest.

Hence, Bachelor of Craft and Design is a unique degree that offers a comprehensive education that blends theory, practice and real-world situations and provides students with the skills and information required to thrive in the craft and design industry.

AIMS

The main aims of the Bachelor of Craft and Design course are:

• To provide the opportunity for academic advancement to the traditionally-trained craft persons and encourage them to be more adaptable, resourceful, and creative for domestic and international markets.
• To foster students’ technical abilities in craft and design subjects and develop creativity, originality, and inventiveness in skill-based craft practices, design, and production technology.
• To propagate the urgency to collaborate between existing craft practices with innovation in design and technological advancement, recognize the evolving craft industry landscape, and prepare them for a sustainable future through craft and design.
• To educate students with fundamental and advanced knowledge in craft and design and to prepare them to work across other disciplines, such as manufacturing and technology industries.
• To introduce students to the various disciplines of crafts and design as a professional, service-oriented, and career-oriented discipline and to assist them in pursuing additional training in these fields.

LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGIES

Bachelor of Craft and Design is designed an experiential-learning program to be continuously supported and monitored by master artisans, designers, engineers, artists, cultural experts, craft leaders, social scientists and professionals of the fields. Every individual subject will be instructed and managed by experts of the concerned areas. The independent practices are planned as intensive studio works at selected craft-workshops either mentored by experts or as on-the-job trainings. The frequent visits to different related experts, organizations and institutions will be a part of regular academic calendar. This course is intended to participatory class tutorials, continuous studio practices, home assignments, research and writings and self-motivated or guided projects.

The main teaching strategies are –

• Studio-based supervised sessions, demonstrations and presentations covering different aspects of craft and design under guidance of experts.
• Practical sessions as introductory sessions to art, design and engineering workshops.
• Theory tutorials with interactive and participatory sessions using multimedia projection, interdisciplinary teaching methodology and as supplementary modules to the main practical components.
• Competitive and innovative projects as self-motivated or tutored assignments.
•  Self-tailored electives and craft practices as experiential learning.
• Regular visit to experts, organizations, internship and apprenticeship, research projects, community-based projects and developing liaison with professionals for the future purposes.

DURATION AND CREDITS

The total credits required to earn the Bachelor of Craft and Design Degree is 135 credits. The duration of the course will be of 4 years, each year consists 2 semesters. The 120 credits will be offered as obligatory courses while students will earn 15 credits more with 5 Electives of their choices. The students may enroll for more Electives as per their need and capacity.

ELIGIBILITY

Higher Secondary (+2), or equivalent qualification in any discipline with minimum 40% aggregate

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION

All lectures and written work will be in English and Nepali. Examinations will be in English as well as Nepali. Nepali will be used informally in practical sessions and with outside instructors.