IN-PERSON: Learning. Life. Work

Abstract

The Graphic Skills Portal is a brand-new learning resource launched in September 2022 to support Bartlett School of Planning (BSP) students on their graphic skills learning journey, which has been developed thanks to the Bartlett Innovation Fund.  Graphic skills proficiency is a requirement of many taught modules across all BSP programmes and an extremely valued asset towards professional development. The BSP Graphic Skills Portal is an easy-to-use free resource that presents in a clear and systematic way a set of step-by-step guides and tutorials aimed at supporting the development and learning of graphic skills of students at the Bartlett School of Planning.   The Portal is a starting point for extended learning aimed at: – helping students to understand and develop core urban design and planning concepts and techniques – improving students’ software knowledge and skills – providing students with an easy to navigate out-of-the-classroom educational tool to develop their ideas and proposals. The new resource has replaced the 10+ year old Urban Skills Portal on a UCL learning platform and integrates new and updated guidance (i.e. videos and handouts) on both graphic theory, techniques, and software. It is hosted on a dedicated section of the BSP website, under Student Resources. The launch of the Graphic Skills Portal and the reorganised Graphic Skills Module provides students with the confidence to engage with all aspects of their learning, particularly those who come from non-design backgrounds who may not be familiar with graphic techniques and software. I am currently working on further developing the content of the portal into a Continued Professional Development (CPD) blended course: a graphic skills learning path available to both the wider UCL student/staff community as well as Local Authorities’ officers and other built environment profession from a non-design background.