Art and Design (Graphics)
Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College - Darlington
01325461315
Vane Terrace, Darlington, DL3 7AU
Course summary

Graphic Communication is a design course for all those interested in pursuing a career in the creative industries. Graphic Communication opens endless potential career avenues – from Illustration, game and character design, architecture, product design, brand identity, animation and motion graphics, to stage set, vehicle and costume design. The course examines the basics of design, including design problem solving, allowing you to select, investigate and work in your specific areas of interest. You will be exploring a range of traditional drawing and painting media, stencilling, and collaging as well as learning to use industry-standard software packages such as Photoshop and Illustrator and their equivalents. The department is well equipped with digital drawing tablets, scanners, digital cameras and access to a range of colour printing facilities. This allows you to develop and create professional quality work that will take you on to the next stage of your education, apprenticeship or career. Students will participate in a series of skills workshops and be expected to demonstrate their creative ability in the following areas; typography, photography, digital image manipulation, fine liner illustration, cross-hatching, continuous line drawing, branding, logo design, monoprint, cell drawing, and digital colour. Students have flexibility in their approach and can specialise in an area of design or explore a theme through graphic processes; such as illustration, animation, game design and architecture. You will learn to develop skills and knowledge using Adobe Creative Suite to create digital compositions of final artworks, produce illustrations using a graphics tablet and also motion graphics.

Entry requirements

5 GCSE grades at 4 or above including Maths or English. Minimum entry requirements are GCSE grade 4 in English as well as a genuine interest in Graphic Design. It is advisable to have studied a creative subject at GCSE in Art or Media; grade 4 or above is required. Students wishing to study Graphic Communication who do not have an art-based GCSE will still be considered. A GCSE grade of 5 is a minimum requirement if you want to take two or more art and design subjects. Anyone wishing to do this should speak to a member of the art department during enrolment.

How you'll be assessed

Component 1: Personal Investigation (60% of the A Level) Students present an individual project based on a personal idea or genre which can be presented in a sketchbook or online portfolio and includes written work of 1000 to 3000 words that supports practical work. Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40% of the A Level) Students respond to a stimulus issued by Eduqas and a body of work is produced on one of the visual or written briefs. The finished outcome or series of outcomes is created during 15 hours of supervised time. You are required to work in one or more of the following areas: • Advertising • Package design / 3D model making • Illustration • Communication graphics • Branding • Motion graphics

School Info

About Education Provider

RegionNorth East
Local AuthorityDarlington
Ofsted Rating
Gender TypeCo-Educational
AddressVane Terrace, Darlington, DL3 7AU