This subject is also called as basic design, visual studies, visual fundamentals, studio foundations and maybe any other name. The training of a visual artist, or the manner in which the training was imparted in the past is not known. Very little history has been documented. Most educationists in the field of visual study are disagreeable on the fundamental principles or fundamental (basic) theories which, are essential to the education of the visual artist.

Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus curriculum, started using this word for foundation studies. He developed a course in Visual Studies for Architectural Foundation. Obviously such a foundation course was aimed at Figurative Design Solutions for buildings. But subsequently the whole body of information formed the basis for education in visual studies.