Art and Design (Graphics)

Course summary

A Level of Graphic Communication is a fascinating subject that allows you to explore areas such as advertising, packaging, design for print, animation, web design and film, through both traditional and new technologies. A-level Graphic Communication is a fascinating subject that allows you to explore areas such as illustration design for print, advertising, packaging design, communication and computer graphics and multimedia using traditional techniques, digital manipulation software, design equipment and apps. This course has a strong emphasis on establishing a thorough understanding of the design principles and encourages you to develop your powers of observation ideas, imagination, problem-solving, knowledge of contextual studies and practical skills. Having an awareness of the intended audience and the purpose of your design work will develop, alongside an appreciation for colour, form and function and most notably the appropriate use of typography and its meaning You will attend technical workshops throughout your first year, where you will be taught traditional and digital Graphic Communication skills and respond to current issues, concepts and, or a working brief. Our approach is to develop design skills whilst encouraging visual freedom and experimentation. During the first part of the academic year, you will explore the fundamentals of composition, typography and colour through an investigating and making process. A critical understanding of this subject will be developed to build your contextual knowledge and include international examples from the past and more recent times. These new skills will form a foundation for the second part of the academic year, which consists of an exam unit, where you will draw upon previous learning experience to devise your response to a design question. Throughout this creative journey, you will be guided and supported by experienced teachers with commercial expertise who aim to identify and encourage your interests and skills to help you achieve your potential.