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�Elective Modules 2026��Dates + Times:�22nd January – 23rd April 2026�Thursdays from 2pm to 5pm

NOTE:

Only NCAD Fine Art students (who are NOT participating in D8 Neighbourhood Residencies) can choose the IADT electives.

The electives are not available to the Design students.

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�Elective Modules 2026��Dates + Times:�22nd January – 23rd April 2026�Thursdays from 2pm to 5pm

  • Creating Digital Maps with Cyril Connolly (On Campus)
  • Ways to Research; The Art of Collecting, Looking, Recording and Changing Focus Kathleen Moroney (Online + 1 field trip) 
  • Applied Psychology for everyone with Hannah Barton and AP Team (On Campus)
  • Introduction to video production with Timm Jeschawitz (Online)
  • Introduction to Comics with Michael Connerty (On Campus)
  • Life drawing with Shane Cullen (On Campus)
  • Digital Imaging with Adrian Heffernan and Seán Kelly (On Campus)
  • Introduction to Performance Art with Ciarán O’Keeffe (On campus)
  • How to Sculpt an Ear & Eye with Paul Mc Donnell (Online)
  • An Introduction to free|slow|deep art writing �with Dr Jessica Foley (On campus)
  • Designing Japan: Creativity Across Disciplines with Stefan Pax Berrios  (Online)
  • Generative Design with Joachim Pietsch (On Campus)
  • Web Design with Grainne Carroll (On campus)
  • Co-Design with Children with Dr John Greaney (On Campus)
  • Electronics for Climate Creatives with Dr Sivakumar Ramachandran (Ganesh)�(On Campus)
  • Yes judgment with Elaine Mc Devitt (Online/On Campus blend)
  • Worldbuilding in the Metaverse with Rob Griffin

 

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Elective Module Aims

  • Provide the learner with an opportunity to study outside of their normal discipline and to encounter a range of practices, themes, ideas, creative and critical approaches which are new to them.
  • Allow learners to work with students and staff from across the Faculty to collaborate and encounter new areas of study.
  • Provide professional development, networking and learning opportunities with peers and lecturing staff from across the Faculty.
  • Gain a basic level of proficiency in a specified practical skill through workshops OR develop their critical understanding of disciplines in the Faculty and the associated research skills through lectures and seminars.

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Elective Module Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key concepts and approaches to work in a discipline.
  2. Research the historical and cultural context for their project.
  3. Develop a project that demonstrates proficiency in a specified skill OR a critical understanding of a new discipline.
  4. Maintain a reflective journal of work undertaken and knowledge/insight gained.
  5. Present final project work.

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How will you be assessed?

  • This module is entirely Continuous Assessment (100%) Graded A-F.

Assessment could include:​

  • Reflective journal.
  • Final project portfolio and/or presentation and/or exhibition.
  • Up to the Lecturer delivering the module, they will assess you!

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Creating Digital Maps with Cyril Connolly (On Campus)�

  • Create your own digital maps using contemporary data, e.g. property prices, derelict buildings, tourist attractions, accommodation providers, etc.
  • Learn about open-source and other software tools used for map-making
  • Software and data will be provided
  • No prior knowledge of mapping or software will be assumed. 

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Ways to Research; The Art of Collecting, Looking, Recording and Changing Focus Kathleen Moroney (Online + 1 field trip)

  • How can objects/Imagery from the past and the present inspire new narratives, and how can the juxtaposition of gathered material/stimuli and how it is arranged and installed create and change the narrative?

In this elective , students will:

  • explore how artists use museum collections to inspire work; and vice versa
  • explore the art of display; the installation process, exploring how one can compose and arrange work to inspire narrative
  • look at our own unique way of collecting, focusing on the how and why, exploring the potential to merge narratives to create new narratives.
  • This elective aims to inspire you to explore the past to re-create new work that reflects on time, memory and narrative.
  • In this elective, students will keep a reflective journal and present a final piece of work for assessment. This is an online workshop. Student participation will be an important part of the class as well as taking part in one field trip to a museum.

Image credit: Orhan Pamuk.

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Applied Psychology for everyone with Hannah Barton and AP Team (On Campus)

This taster in psychology sets out to allow students to look at psychological theories, conduct experiments, do personality tests and see how psychology can be applied to any course. 

It is a hands-on approach to learning psychology.

It will introduce different topics such as personality, intelligence, perception, memory, groups and group dynamics, the self and identity, developmental psychology and sport and health psychology.

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Introduction to video production with Timm Jeschawitz (Online)

  • Introduction to video production using your smartphone and DaVinci Resolve. 
  • Learn skills needed in the pre‐production, production and post‐production process.
  • Applying your skills to produce an ‘Explainer Video’ explaining an important concept to you.

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Introduction to Comics with Michael Connerty (On Campus)

You will have the opportunity to create original works of sequential graphic narrative throughout the module.​�​�We will examine ‘how comics work’ by focusing on elements, for example, the representation of time, space, sound, narrative, and characterisation. ​�​�You will be introduced to some of the critical literature on comics, and we will evaluate a wide variety of works created by specific artists. ​�​�The module allows you to encounter key events in the history and development of comics in the U.S. and the U.K. and consider comics’ relationship to other arts and media.​

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Life drawing with Shane Cullen (On Campus)

  • Drawing sessions
  • Create a varied portfolio of life drawings for the assessment
  • No previous drawing experience necessary
  • €20 Art Materials required, paper is supplied

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Digital Imaging with Adrian Heffernan and Seán Kelly (On Campus)

  • The Digital Imaging elective is an introduction to digital photographic practice. This includes making images using a digital camera, working in a photographic studio space and exploring the basics of digital photographic software.
  • Basic instruction will be given on how to make a correct exposure and become aware of light, shape, texture and colour when making photographic images. We will also examine lenses and how they influence the image’s appearance. In addition, we will look at how image research and visual literacy play an important role in making our own images.​�​

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Introduction to Performance Art with Ciarán O’Keeffe (On campus)

  • When we think of art, we tend to think of painting, sculpture, photography, etc. However, many contemporary artists produce work with themselves as the physical focal point. Such works incorporate voice, spoken word, stand-up comedy, movement, gesture, dance - essentially, anything you want, all expressed through your own physical presence. All that is required is your curiosity and enthusiasm.
  • The workshops will allow you to explore such artistic expression and creativity across a series of accessible and friendly exercises, each session delivered by a contemporary performance artist. The aim is to open your thinking, creativity and expression in confident, new and exciting ways.

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How to Sculpt an Ear & Eye with Paul Mc Donnell (Online)

Module Aims

  • How to Sculpt a Double size Ear & Eye using Michael Angelo’s David as reference

You will learn the following:

  • How to recognise and name simple anatomy of the ear.
  • How to sculpt from 2D & 3D reference. What to look for.
  • Understand how to work with the materials and tools.
  • Blocking out the sculpt.
  • Adding detail.

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An Introduction to free|slow|deep art writing �with Dr Jessica Foley (On campus)

“When writing is treated in all of its fullness… it engages ethics and a sense of risk and responsibility. It becomes consequential, dramatic, dangerous, demanding, rewarding, and capable of changing self and others.” Deborah Brandt

Curious Bodies is an elective that will expand your understanding of reading and writing through embodied engagement with art in context and through generative experiments with different forms of writing and moving image.

You will enlarge your understanding of writing as a powerful and playful creative process of analysis, translation and transformation that can bring us closer to our own experience of the world and to the worlds of others.

The module will involve field trips, seminars and workshops that will allow us to explore how art and writing can be powerful ways of making meaning, critiquing culture and forming community.

Along the way, we will explore theories and practices of:

Free Writing | Slow-Looking | Deep Listening

As well as keeping a reflective journal throughout the module, we will create zines and moving image sentences in response to our encounters with art and our experiments in writing together.

On campus, occasionally online, and field trips to art venues across Co. Dublin.

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Designing Japan: Creativity Across Disciplines with Stefan Pax Berrios (Online)

Designing Japan invites students from all disciplines to explore Japan’s unique mix of tradition, innovation, and creativity - from anime and architecture to technology, fashion, everyday life and toilets. Each week dives into a new aspect of Japanese culture and by the end, you’ll link something you’ve discovered in this elective to your own area of study - turning inspiration into creative insight.

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Generative Design with Joachim Pietsch (On Campus)

  • Uses the Computer as an automated drawing tool��Generates a set of rules (algorithm) by using a computer program��You will learn to create images using code as an automated drawing tool

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Web Design with Grainne Carroll (On campus)

  • In this web design elective, you will be introduced to the world of designing and building your very own website. Throughout the course, you will gain a deep understanding of the essential principles behind effective user interface design. Simultaneously, you will acquire the necessary skills to construct a web page from scratch using HTML and CSS.��By the end of this elective, you will have the expertise to code your own interactive website utilising modern web design techniques as well as designing your UI in Figma.

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Co-Design with Children with Dr John Greaney (On Campus)

Learn how to create engaging and relevant educational content to support learning

In person module

Working in teams

Same children who did last year’s yr1 module

Codesign storyboards relevant to their lives

Three classes on Wed mornings 9am for school visits (spaced fortnightly)

Thurs afternoons create interactive content (e.g. storyboards, books, games) that brings the children’s ideas to life

Module will run till the end of March (total number of sessions same as other modules)

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Electronics for Climate Creatives with Dr Sivakumar Ramachandran (Ganesh)�(On Campus)

  • Art and design with electronics creativity
  • Theme: Climate Change in art installations and problem-solving design
  • Practice based learning; basic electronics
  • Group Project to develop a climate related, artefact with electronics-based sensors, actuators: audio, visual and kinetic elements
  • Individual Reflective Journal involving some research into creative applications and skills learnt in exercises, and also during the project

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Yes judgment with Elaine Mc Devitt (Online/On Campus blend)

An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Critical Thinking and Creative Assessment

What makes something creative, effective, or good? 

Explore how to establish meaningful criteria for assessment, tackle questions of taste and bias, and examine the risks of censorship and conformity. From redefining "good design" to applying 1950s censorship standards to modern films, this module is a deep dive into the art and science of judgment.

Through a mix of interactive lectures, group discussions, and class projects, ‘Yes judgement' is your chance to sharpen critical thinking skills, collaborate across disciplines, and rethink what it means to evaluate creativity.

Delivered both in person and online (TBC)

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Worldbuilding in the Metaverse with Rob Griffin

  • This workshop will introduce the theory, application, design and development of virtual spaces. Students will learn the basics of Unity3d and create their own virtual world. ​​

  • Concepts such as composition, interaction and audience perspective will be explored practically through designing and learning to build a simple prototype. ​​

  • The Students will work in pairs; prior knowledge of 3D software is helpful but not essential. There will be no coding involved in this module, but it will be an opportunity to explore the possibilities of using VR for your own practices.​