Why Our Foundation Year is Your Creative Playground

The Ultimate Launchpad: Making the Most of Your First Year

The Foundation Year at Montserrat is often the most exciting time for our students. It’s a dedicated year for intensive exploration across a wide range of media and core concepts before you commit to a concentration.

This structured exploration is critical for three main reasons:

1. Building a Universal Creative Vocabulary

All BFA programs—whether they lead to Animation or Sculpture—are built on the same core principles: line, shape, color, light, composition, and space.

• Required Core Courses: In Foundation Year, you will take courses like Drawing, 2D Design, 3D Design, and Time-Based Media. This curriculum ensures that whether you’re working with charcoal, clay, or code, you understand the fundamentals of visual communication.
• Interdisciplinary Muscle: This early exposure helps you integrate different techniques later on. A painter who understands 3D form from sculpture is a stronger painter. A designer who understands color theory from painting is a stronger designer.

2. The Pressure-Free Discovery Zone

Did you know that many students change their intended concentration during the Foundation Year? This is completely normal—and encouraged!

• Testing the Waters: You may have applied for Illustration, only to discover a passion for Animation in the Time-Based Media class, or realize your knack for branding in your 2D Design course.
• Informed Decisions: By the time you declare your concentration, you are making an informed decision based on hands-on experience, not just assumption.

3. Mastering the Art of Critique

Foundation Year is where you learn to give and receive constructive criticism—the lifeblood of any art school. Your studio professors will guide you in articulating why your work succeeds or where it needs refinement, building a collaborative, professional mindset from day one.

The Foundation Year is the engine that powers the rest of your education, ensuring you have the skills, confidence, and context to master your chosen concentration.