Three-Dimensional Design and Craft
Three-Dimensional Design and Craft tests whether you can think in form: structure, volume, material behaviour, joinery, function and finish. A drawing of an object is not enough - the examiner looks for a resolved three-dimensional outcome, or a clearly reasoned design for one, with evidence of how it stands up, joins together and suits its purpose.
Form, structure and material
Form has volume and mass; structure is what holds it up. Choose materials for their properties: clay is plastic when wet and brittle when fired; wood has grain and direction; wire bends but needs triangulation; paper gains strength through folding and lamination. A maquette or model tests proportion and joinery before you commit.
Joinery and construction
In clay, score and slip joins, avoid trapped air, keep walls even, and dry slowly. In wood, pre-drill holes, use appropriate joints, and work with the grain. In mixed media, make the connection mechanically sound, not just glued and hidden.
Function, surface and safety
Ask who uses it and how. A handle must fit a hand; a base must resist tipping. Surface treatment should support form, not disguise weak construction. Keep tools sharp, secure work, wear eye protection when cutting, and know the kiln/firing rules.
Worked example: a coil-built clay bowl with a cut rim. Sketch three profiles, choose one, make a small paper maquette to test the curve. Wedge the clay, roll even coils, score and slip each join, and alternate coil direction for strength. Support the walls internally, dry under plastic, then bisque-fire before glazing. The reasoning: profile controls proportion, coil joins control strength, and drying control prevents cracks.
Traps: thick uneven walls, dry joins that split, trapped air, decoration over bad form, ignoring scale or function, and unsafe cutting or firing.