Art and Design (Graphics)

This is very much a practical course with the first part of the AS course spent developing and experimenting with a range of media, techniques and skills that are key to AS and A-level courses. You will work in a variety of medias via sophisticated techniques such as brusho, lino printing, air brushing, mono printing, marker rendering, marbling and many, many more. Work will be based on a choice of themes, 2 will be your personal choice and 2 will be exam briefs set by the exam board. Briefs range from water, textures, seasons, space, cities, aquatics right through to the physical form. Work will be underpinned with the use of sketchbooks to record thoughts and processes. You will develop an understanding of content related to graphic design: • Understanding of a variety of materials and genres. • Understanding of meaning, function, style, scale, colour and content. • Awareness of intended audience or purpose. Ability to respond to an issue, concept or idea. Appreciation of the relationship of form and function and, where applicable, the constraints of working to a brief. • Appreciation of the appropriate use of typography. • How ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted in images and artefacts created in graphic communication. • Historical and contemporary developments and different styles and genres. • How images and artefacts relate to social, environmental, cultural and/or ethical contexts, and to the time and place in which they were created. This is an exciting course where you have the opportunity to create a substantial portfolio of work which can be used to support entry into a range of higher/degree level courses in art and design. FUTURE STUDY / CAREERS Students who complete this course usually go on to higher education to study for a career in graphic design, computer graphics, photography, film and TV, packaging or illustration.

If you have a range of good GCSE results and are strongly motivated then you can be successful in this subject area. Typically we would expect that you have completed a GCSE in Graphics or Art and Design and attained a 'C' grade pass or better. You should also be able to work independently and should be keen to experiment with a range of different media, ideas and concepts

A Level follows the same format as AS, with 60% of the marks coming from coursework carried out during the year. In year 13 the controlled test is extended to 15 hours. This task is set by the examination board and accounts for the remaining 40% of the A-level award.