Graphic Communication

Graphic Communication is to design for a purpose, to promote, to advertise, to inform, to challenge and to raise awareness. It develops on Art and Design skills and explores techniques such as photography and digital design. Graphic Communication is about thinking creatively and producing images that are both useful and visually appealing.

Year 9

Students can choose to follow Graphic Communication in Year 9. The Year 9 curriculum will allow students to start to develop the digital knowledge they will require for the GCSE Graphic Communication course. They will follow a project structure and assessment criteria that is similar to GCSE study.

Students will learn to produce ideas that fulfil a design brief, and build skills and knowledge of hand drawn and digital design, creating work that incorporates both typography and image.

Year 9 Curriculum

Students will complete three projects during the course of Year 9, with opportunities to develop branding, promotional and packaging designs.

Project 1: Exploring Text and Image. Students will learn how to begin to combine text and image into a design.

Project 2: Urban Shoe. Students will develop branding and advertising for a shoe company.

Project 3: Soft drinks. Students will design and develop packaging for a new soft drinks company.

Students will focus on core skills including:

Developing ideas by investigating artists and sources.
Learning how to experiment with different starting points and design ideas.
Exploring ideas by experimenting with materials and processes.
Recording ideas through photography, found imagery, drawing and making images.
Presenting a personal response to a design brief.

GCSE (Year 10-11)

Examination Board: AQA – Art & Design: Graphic Communication 8203

Course Description

In Year 10 students will learn how to develop creative ideas in response to a design brief. They will explore how the use of image and text can be used to promote, advertise and inform. There will be opportunities to work with a range of media and techniques such as photography, digital design, painting, drawing and mixed media in order to create a variety of outcomes. The work that is developed will form a personal coursework portfolio. Students will be given school set design briefs that will allow them to experiment and develop their understanding of Graphic Communication.

An example of a design brief: Investigate relevant sources and design publicity material using a typographic approach for the launch of a new radio station, ‘Radio Box’. The station is aimed at young people and intends to bring to its audience a mixture of contemporary music, chat and arts features.

Year 10 Project Titles:

Introductory Project: Exploring Text and Image
Disguise

In Year 11 students will complete the development work for their personal coursework portfolio and produce final outcomes for all project work. This could take a variety of forms such as poster campaigns, packaging, branding for clothing or ‘on screen’ designs. In the spring term students will work on the externally set assignment. They will be required to choose a design brief from a selection set by the exam board and develop designs before producing finished outcomes at the end of April in supervised, exam conditions.

Year 11 Project Titles:

Zoo
Exam Unit

Students have use of PCs with Adobe Creative Suite software, sublimation printing (heat transfer printing), large scale printer, merchandise for printing and A4/A3 colour printer. However the work is not just digital. We broaden students’ skill base by exploring illustration, collage, mixed media, photography and sublimation printing alongside digital design.

Assessment

Component 1: Personal Coursework Portfolio. Students produce three projects during the course based on school set design briefs. This accounts for 60% of the qualification.

Component 2: The Externally Set Assignment. Students select one design brief from the exam paper written by AQA. They develop a project based on this brief for roughly 12 school weeks. Final outcomes are then created during a two day, ten hour exam. This accounts for 40% of the qualification.

Sixth Form (Year 12-13)

Examination Board: AQA – Art & Design: Graphic Communication 7203

Course Description

What is Graphic Communication? Most people have a vague idea of what a graphic designer does. Creating logos for businesses? Working with images in Photoshop? Making magazine ads? Many designers do these things, but really they are just elements of a much bigger picture. Graphic design and communication is all around you. If you are trying to communicate a concept in a visual way, then you will be using graphic design to get your message across. From pouring your morning cereal to waiting for the last bus home, you will find yourself looking at the work of a graphic designer.

In A Level Graphic Communication you will explore a range of materials and techniques. You will experiment with Illustration, CAD (Computer Aided Design), Packaging, Photography, Drawing, Printmaking and Typography alongside learning how to document your ideas and project development.

As the course progresses you will be able to focus and expand your knowledge in those areas in which you are most interested in.

Assessment

Students will be committing to a two-year linear course with all units examined at the end of Year 13. The course is assessed as 60% portfolio, 40% practical exam.

Entry Requirements

Students are required to have a GCSE Grade 5 in an art-design-based subject (Art, Fine Art, Graphic Communication, 3D Design, Photography or Textile Design).

Where might it lead?

A Level Graphic Communication can help open doors to careers in:

Advertising/Marketing
Animator
AutoCAD Technician
Creative Director
Concept Artist
Digital Marketer
Events Promotion
Exhibition Designer
Game Design
Graphic Designer
Multimedia
Packaging Design
Print Designer
Printmaker
Production Designer – theatre/television/film
Illustrator
Interior Designer
UX Designer
Web Designer

St Bartholomew’s School, Andover Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 6JP

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