VA501 Studio Project I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
TBA
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course provides graduate students with the framework to develop an independent, research-based studio project. Students will integrate theoretical inquiry, experimentation, and production to create a substantial artwork or body of works. Through critical design approaches and experimental media practices (AI, AR/VR, interactive installations, video, digital art), students integrate theory and practice into a substantial artistic outcome. The course emphasizes conceptual depth, experimentation, iterative prototyping, critique culture, and public dissemination.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Dunne, Anthony & Fiona Raby. Speculative Everything: Design, Fiction, and Social Dreaming. Barrett, Estelle & Barbara Bolt. Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry.Manovich Lev.
Additional Literature
The Language of New Media. Elkins, James. Visual Studies: A Skeptical Introduction. Bishop, Claire. Artificial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship.Groys, Boris. In the Flow.Teaching Methods
The course combines seminars, studio practice, independent research, and critique sessions
Students explore theory through readings and discussions, apply ideas in hands-on workshops, and develop independent projects with iterative feedback from peers, instructor, and guest critics
The semester concludes with portfolio preparation and a public exhibition, emphasizing the integration of theory and practice, personal artistic development, and professional presentation
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction & Studio Culture. Discussion on independent artistic practice. Project ideas. | Barrett, Estelle & Bolt, Barbara. Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry (Introduction). |
| 2 | Research Foundations & Proposal Development. Draft project proposal (1–2 pages). | Sullivan, Graeme. Art Practice as Research: Inquiry in Visual Arts |
| 3 | Theories of Visual Communication & Critical Design. Analyze a critical design project. | Barthes, Roland. Image–Music–Text (Essay: Rhetoric of the Image). |
| 4 | Studio Practice I: Concept & Moodboards. Developing concept sketches and scenario building. | Kandinsky, Wassily. Concerning the Spiritual in Art |
| 5 | Experimental Media Exploration: AI, AR/VR, interactive media. Authorship and originality. | Manovich, Lev. The Language of New Media |
| 6 | Studio Practice II: Iteration & Prototyping. One-on-one reviews with instructor. | Schön, Donald. Design as a Reflective Conversation with the Situation. |
| 7 | Critique Session I (Mid-Crit). Group critique on prototypes and progress. | Elkins, James. Why Art Cannot Be Taught (Ch. 3: The Critique). |
| 8 | Midterm Submission: Proposal (5–7 pages), prototypes, and visual presentation. | |
| 9 | Visual Argument & Artist’s Statement. Draft artist’s and visual statement. | Mitchell, W.J.T. Picture Theory |
| 10 | Technologies of Seeing: images, algorithms, perception, mediation. | Flusser, Vilém. Towards a Philosophy of Photography. |
| 11 | Independent Artistic Practice & Personal Voice. Refining personal style, tone, and aesthetic. | Bourriaud, Nicolas. Relational Aesthetics. |
| 12 | Media, Memory, and Identity. Connecting projects to memory and cultural narratives. | Assmann, Jan. Cultural Memory and Early Civilization |
| 13 | Critique Session II (Pre-Final). Peer + guest critique for refinement. | Elkins, James. Art Critiques: A Guide |
| 14 | Exhibition & Portfolio Preparation: curation, installation, documentation. | O’Neill, Paul. The Culture of Curating and the Curating of Culture(s). |
| 15 | Final Presentation & Reflection: public exhibition/screening, portfolio submission. | Schön, Donald. The Reflective Practitioner |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA501.1 | Course | Tuesday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.24 (MAC Studio) | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 11:00 | B F3.15 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 11:00 | B F3.15 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Project Proposal
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Artist’s Statement & Visual Argument
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Midterm Submission
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Participation
35 hours ⏳ (7 week × 5 h)
Midterm and Reviews
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Final Assignment
28 hours ⏳ (4 week × 7 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA501] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | LO 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Project Proposal | 1 | 15 | LO 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Artist’s Statement & Visual Argument | 1 | 15 | LO 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Submission | 1 | 30 | LO 3 - 5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Participation | 5 | 7 | 35 | Midterm and Reviews | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Final Assignment | 7 | 4 | 28 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 29/09/2025 | |||||||||